Head-to-head reliability
Mitsubishi Galant vs Honda Accord
How the Mitsubishi Galant and Honda Accord compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Mitsubishi Galant vs Honda Accord: The Galant averages 31.7 complaints per year, while the Accord averages 443.8. Galant owners report shattering windows and air bag issues; Accord owners report engine power loss and forward collision system glitches. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mitsubishi Galant or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mitsubishi Galant
The Mitsubishi Galant is an older sedan with a modest complaint rate of about 32 per year. Owners report issues with windows and sunroofs shattering without impact, which can be startling and dangerous. There are also concerns about air bag deployment and dashboard separation, as well as brake problems that may require repeated repairs. Structural issues like loss of control and sunroof shattering suggest potential body integrity concerns.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord has a much higher complaint volume, averaging over 440 per year, reflecting its popularity. Owners frequently report engine problems, including loss of power and warning lights, as well as electrical issues like tire pressure monitoring failures. A significant number of complaints involve forward collision avoidance systems that may activate unexpectedly or show errors, which can be annoying and potentially hazardous. Brake system complaints are also common, with reports of failures and warning messages.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mitsubishi Galant | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 317 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 10 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 40 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 31.7 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 37 Better | 144 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 2 Better | 3 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Mitsubishi Galant
- 01VISIBILITY61
- 02STRUCTURE58
- 03AIR BAGS50
- 04SERVICE BRAKES37
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM35
Owners report driver windows and sunroofs shattering without cause, sometimes while parked or driving, creating a risk of injury and loss of control.
There are reports of abnormal vehicle maneuvering and loss of control, as well as sunroof explosions that can startle drivers and cause accidents.
In some crashes, air bags did not deploy, leading to injuries. Other owners notice the passenger air bag rising or separating from the dashboard, indicating a potential deployment issue.
Brake problems include scraping noises, premature pad wear, and a wire sticking out near the steering wheel, suggesting possible brake system or steering column issues.
“THE DRIVER WINDOW IS BREAKING WITHOUT CAUSE. HAS HAPPENED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. DID NOT TAKE PICTURE. BUT INSURANCE FIXED THE MOST RECENT SHATTERING INCIDENT--SO IF PICTURE NEEDED CAN OBTAIN IN THE FUTURE. ONCE OCCURRENCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN MOTION. A…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report unusual noises, loss of power, and warning lights for brake, hill descent, and ABS systems, sometimes leading to speed loss on highways.
Issues include TPMS warnings followed by tire failures, and rodent damage to wiring harnesses, which can cause electrical malfunctions.
The system may activate unexpectedly or show intermittent errors for adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, and automatic high beams, which can be distracting and reduce driver confidence.
Complaints include brake system failures and warning messages, sometimes related to the ABS or hill descent systems, which could compromise stopping ability.
“I purchased this vehicle at 0 miles in July 2025 from Honda Accord in Pensacola Florida. I reported in July 2025 that there was a noise and I was unhappy with the vehicle and would like to exchange the vehicle within the 30 days months later, the noise got lo…”
“Vehicle drove normally in the morning commute. In the afternoon commute it started normally and as i approached highway speeds the alarms started showing up. the Brake, hill descent system, abs, critical failure. the vehicle started losing speed and could not…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Mitsubishi Galant — 10 recalls
The defect: MITSUBISHI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 GALANT VEHICLES. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER PIPE ASSEMBLY ON SOME VEHICLES MAY HAVE INSUFFICIENT PLATING TO PREVENT CORROSION, IF THE PIPE SHOULD DEVELOP A HOLE DUE TO CORROSION, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKAGE MAY OCCUR.
The risk: ATF IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY RESULT IN A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD.
The fix: DEALERS WILL HAVE THE AFT OIL COOLER PIPE ASSEMBLY INSPECTED. IF INSUFFICIENT PLATING IS FOUND DURING INSPECTION, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE AFT OIL COOLER PIPE ASSEMBLY WITH NEW PARTS CONTAINING APPROPRIATE ANTI-CORROSION PLATING. THIS S…
The defect: MITSUBISHI IS RECALLING 45,988 MY 2005-2007 ENDEAVOR, GALANT, ECLIPSE COUPE, AND MY 2007 ECLIPSE SPYDER VEHICLES. THE BRACKET THAT IS THE ATTACHMENT POINT FOR THE LEFT REAR FUEL TANK MOUNTING STRAP MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY FORMED DURING A METAL STAMPING PROCESS. THE PROCESS MAY HAVE CAUSED THE META…
The risk: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT TO SEE IF THE LEFT REAR FUEL TANK STRAP MOUNTING BRACKET HAS SPLITTING BEYOND A SPECIFIC LIMIT. VEHICLES WITH MODERATE TO SEVERE SPLITTING WILL BE REPAIRED USING A REINFORCEMENT CAP, A SPECIAL STRUCTURAL ADHESIVE, AND…
The defect: MITSUBISHI IS RECALLING 73,000 MY 2004-2006 GALLANT PASSENGER VEHICLES. DURING VEHICLE USE, THE IGNITION KEY INTERLOCK CABLE (WHICH IS A COMPONENT OF THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM) MAY ALLOW THE INTERLOCKING CAM TO FALL FORWARD AND ALLOW THE IGNITION KEY TO BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WHEN THE GEARS…
The risk: IF THE DRIVER DOES NOT SHIFT TO PARK BEFORE REMOVING THE KEY AND FAILS TO ENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE, THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND CORRECT THESE VEHICLES FOR THE REPORTED CONDITION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 2, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-888-648-7820.
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER, WHICH CONTROLS THE FLUID PRESSURE TO THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES, MAY ALLOW BRAKE FLUID TO BYPASS INTERNALLY DURING STOPPING.
The risk: THIS MAY RESULT IN A PARTIAL LOSS OF BRAKING, INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES, AND COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 3, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-800-222-0037.
Honda Accord — 38 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Honda Accord Hybrid vehicles. Due to a software error, the integrated control module (ICM) central processing unit (CPU) may reset while driving, causing a loss of drive power.
The risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the ICM CPU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 6, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is TN2. Vehicle Identificati…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2026 CR-V Hybrid, Accord Hybrid, and 2025-2026 CR-V Fuel Cell EV vehicles. When using the tire repair kit, pressure may build within the sealant bottle, causing the bottle cap to detach.
The risk: A detached bottle cap can become a projectile and strike the user or others nearby, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the tire repair kit nozzle or sealant bottle, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipat…
The defect: Honda (America Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023 Civic, Acura RDX, Acura Integra, and 2022 Honda Accord vehicles. A ball valve in the vehicle stability assist (VSA) modulator may leak brake fluid, which can result in unintended vehicle movement when the brake hold feature is engaged or an…
The risk: Unintended vehicle movement or an unexpected increase in brake pedal travel can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the VSA modulator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are OEJ, XEK, AEY, XEX and OEW.
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura R…
The risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls ar…
Buyer analysis
Mitsubishi Galant or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Mitsubishi Galant has far fewer complaints per year (about 32) compared to the Honda Accord (about 444), but the Galant's issues involve safety-critical areas like air bags and structure. The Accord's higher volume is partly due to its popularity, but the nature of its problems—especially with forward collision avoidance and engine power loss—can be more disruptive in daily driving.
Key differences
- The Galant has a much lower complaint rate (31.7/yr) than the Accord (443.8/yr), but the Galant's complaints include dangerous shattering glass and air bag non-deployment.
- The Accord's top issues are engine and electrical system problems, including loss of power and TPMS failures, while the Galant's top issues are visibility and structure.
- The Accord has a significant number of complaints about forward collision avoidance systems, which the Galant does not have, reflecting its newer technology.
- Both vehicles have brake complaints, but the Galant's are more about mechanical wear, while the Accord's involve electronic brake system warnings.
- Inspect the driver and passenger windows and sunroof for cracks or signs of stress, as they may shatter spontaneously.
- Check the dashboard area above the glovebox for separation or lifting of the air bag cover, which could indicate a deployment issue.
- Test the forward collision avoidance system on a safe road to ensure it does not activate without reason or show intermittent errors.
- Look for any warning lights related to brakes, ABS, or hill descent, and have the electrical system checked for potential wiring issues.
Before you buy
- For the Galant, ask for service records related to window/sunroof replacements and brake repairs.
- For the Accord, check if any recalls have been performed, especially those for the hybrid power control unit or fuel pump.
- Have a mechanic inspect the Galant's air bag system and dashboard for any signs of tampering or damage.
- For the Accord, test all driver assistance features (adaptive cruise, lane keep, auto high beams) during a test drive.
- Check the NHTSA website for the latest recalls and complaints for the specific model year you are considering.
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Mitsubishi Galant or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mitsubishi Galant vs Honda Accord
- Mitsubishi Galant total complaints
- 317
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Mitsubishi Galant total recalls
- 10
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Mitsubishi Galant avg complaints/year
- 31.7
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Mitsubishi Galant
- Mitsubishi Galant top complaint area
- VISIBILITY
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE