Head-to-head reliability
Mitsubishi I MIEV vs Honda Accord
How the Mitsubishi I MIEV 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 I MIEV vs Honda Accord: The I MIEV has 0 complaints and 16 recalls over 7 years, while the Accord has 4,438 complaints, 160 crash-related, and 38 recalls over 10 years. The I MIEV averages 0 complaints per year versus 443.8 for the Accord. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mitsubishi I MIEV or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mitsubishi I MIEV
The Mitsubishi I MIEV is a small electric hatchback with zero owner complaints filed over seven years, so there is no record of recurring real-world failures from drivers. However, it has 16 recalls, including repeated brake vacuum pump issues and passenger airbag inflator problems. In ownership terms, that means you may face multiple safety recall repairs even though no one has reported breakdowns or crashes to NHTSA. The lack of complaint text makes it hard to know what daily life is like, but the recall list points to brake assist and airbag concerns.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular midsize car with 4,438 complaints over ten years, averaging about 444 per year. Owners report engine noises, sudden loss of power with brake and ABS warnings, electrical glitches like tire pressure failures and rodent damage, and forward collision avoidance systems that trigger or fail intermittently. There are also 160 crash-related complaints, 144 injuries, and 3 deaths, plus 38 recalls covering hybrid software, spare tires, ABS modules, occupant sensors, and fuel pumps. This is a vehicle with many reported problems, so a thorough pre-purchase inspection is critical.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mitsubishi I MIEV | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 0 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 16 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.0 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 144 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 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 I MIEV
No component data available.
The I MIEV has multiple recalls for the vacuum brake power assist system. If this fails, you could lose power braking assistance, making the pedal harder to push and increasing stopping distance. Buyers should confirm all brake-related recalls have been completed.
Recalls cover the passenger-side frontal airbag inflator module. A defective inflator can rupture during deployment, sending metal fragments into the cabin. This is a serious safety recall that must be fixed before driving.
An additional airbag recall is listed without further detail. Any open airbag recall means the vehicle may not protect occupants as designed in a crash. Verify with a Mitsubishi dealer that every airbag recall has been performed.
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report noises and sudden power loss with brake, hill descent, ABS, and critical failure alarms. One complaint describes the vehicle losing speed and unable to accelerate. This can leave you stranded or in a dangerous situation on the highway.
Complaints include tire pressure monitoring failures leading to a catastrophic tire blowout, and rodent damage to the camshaft position wiring harness on a nearly new car. Electrical gremlins can cause warning lights, no-starts, or safety system failures.
Owners report adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, road departure mitigation, and automatic high beam warnings that appear intermittently. In one case, the system failed to resolve a threat. These driver-assist features may not work reliably when you need them.
Brake-related complaints appear 592 times, often tied to ABS or traction control issues. One owner described brake, hill descent, and ABS alarms along with power loss. Brake problems directly affect your ability to stop safely.
“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 I MIEV — 16 recalls
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2012-2017 i-MiEV vehicles. Water may penetrate the brake assist vacuum pump, causing corrosion and a failure of the brake vacuum pump.
The risk: Without the brake vacuum pump, the driver will experience a sudden loss of braking assist, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake vacuum pump, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-19-002.
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2012-2017 i-MiEV vehicles. Water may penetrate the brake assist vacuum pump, causing corrosion and a failure of the brake vacuum pump.
The risk: Without the brake vacuum pump, the driver will experience a sudden loss of braking assist, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake vacuum pump, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-19-002.
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2012 and 2014 i-MiEV vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessi…
The risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on March 10, 2017. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-17-…
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling all 2016-2017 i-MiEV vehicles, equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the pa…
The risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on December 15, 2017. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall…
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 I MIEV or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Mitsubishi I MIEV has 0 complaints per year versus 443.8 per year for the Honda Accord, so the I MIEV has far fewer reported issues per year. In practice, that means you are much less likely to encounter recurring owner-reported failures with the I MIEV, though it still has 16 recalls to address. The Accord's high complaint volume suggests a higher chance of experiencing engine, electrical, or driver-assist problems.
Key differences
- The I MIEV has zero owner complaints, while the Accord has 4,438 complaints, including 160 crash-related, 144 injuries, and 3 deaths.
- The I MIEV's main issues are recalls for brake vacuum assist and passenger airbag inflators; the Accord's complaints center on engine power loss, electrical failures, and forward collision avoidance glitches.
- The Accord has 38 recalls covering hybrid software, spare tires, ABS modules, occupant sensors, and fuel pumps; the I MIEV has 16 recalls focused on brakes and airbags.
- Owners of the Accord report specific symptoms like sudden speed loss with multiple alarms, tire blowouts after TPMS service, and sunroof glass shattering, while the I MIEV has no complaint text to describe real-world symptoms.
- Check for open recalls on the brake vacuum power assist system; if not repaired, braking may require extra effort.
- Verify the passenger-side frontal airbag inflator recall has been completed to avoid rupture risk.
- Listen for engine noises and watch for sudden power loss with brake, hill descent, ABS, or critical failure alarms during a test drive.
- Test all driver-assist features like adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and automatic high beams for intermittent warnings or failures.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm all open recalls are fixed on either vehicle.
- For the I MIEV, ask a mechanic to inspect the brake vacuum pump and airbag system, and confirm recall repairs.
- For the Accord, have a mechanic scan for stored engine, ABS, and electrical fault codes, and test the forward collision avoidance system.
- During a test drive of the Accord, accelerate to highway speeds and watch for warning lights or power loss.
- Request full service records and a pre-purchase inspection from a trusted mechanic before buying.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Mitsubishi I MIEV | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 0 | 1864 |
| 2017 | 0 | 534 |
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 I MIEV or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mitsubishi I MIEV vs Honda Accord
- Mitsubishi I MIEV total complaints
- 0
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Mitsubishi I MIEV total recalls
- 16
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Mitsubishi I MIEV avg complaints/year
- 0.0
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Mitsubishi I MIEV
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE