Head-to-head reliability
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution vs Honda Accord
How the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 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 Lancer Evolution vs Honda Accord: The Evo averaged 29 complaints per year with 27 recalls, while the Accord averaged 443.8 complaints per year with 38 recalls. The Evo's issues often involve clutches and transmissions, while the Accord's include electrical and driver-assist problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution is a high-performance sports sedan that demands frequent maintenance and attention. Over 10 years, it averaged 29 complaints per year, with the most common issues in the power train, electronic stability control, and engine. Owners report clutch failures, transmission problems, and oil consumption, often at low mileage. Recalls cover sunroof, engine belts, manual transmission, fuel delivery, and air bag sensors.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mainstream family sedan with a much higher complaint volume, averaging 443.8 complaints per year over 10 years. The most frequent problem areas are the engine, electrical system, forward collision avoidance, and service brakes. Owners describe issues like engine noise, electrical glitches, and false warnings from driver-assist systems. Recalls include hybrid software, spare tires, ABS control units, air bag sensors, and fuel pumps.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 290 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 27 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 18 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 29.0 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 12 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 Lancer Evolution
- 01POWER TRAIN113
- 02ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)40
- 03ENGINE36
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM26
- 05ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING26
Owners report premature clutch failure, sometimes as early as 1,847 miles, and transmission problems starting around 28,000 miles. These failures can leave the car undrivable and are often not covered under warranty, leading to costly repairs.
Complaints describe random dashboard warnings and driving-mode lights flashing, even at 0 mph. This can cause confusion and potential loss of stability control, affecting safety.
Some owners report excessive oil consumption, needing to add a quart every 1,000 miles. This can lead to engine damage if not monitored closely.
Issues include random clicking noises, flickering dashboard lights, and the car shutting off when in park. These electrical gremlins can be intermittent and hard to diagnose.
“I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE WITH 200 MILES ON IT AT 700 MILES TOOK IT IN FOR LATCHES AND RATTLES. SINCE THAT HAIR EVERY 8K MIKES IT NEEDED A NEW CLUTCH AT 22K MILES MADTER SLAVE FAILED TRANSMISSION STARTED TO GIVE OUT AT 28K MILES. PLEASE REVIVE SAWC EVERY 1,000 M…”
“I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2005 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION, AND TWO MONTHS LATER @ 1847 MILES, THE CLUTCH WENT OUT. MITSUBISHI REFUSED TO WARRANTY REPAIR THE FAILURE, SO I STARTED INVESTIGATING THEIR CLUTCHES. IT TURNS OUT SIX LOCAL REPAIR SHOPS AS WELL AS 4 MI…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report noises, loss of power, and multiple dashboard alarms (brake, hill descent, ABS) at highway speeds. These can indicate serious engine or sensor failures.
Complaints include TPMS warnings leading to tire failure, rodent damage to wiring, and sunroof glass exploding. Electrical faults can cause safety hazards and expensive repairs.
Intermittent warnings for adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and automatic high beams. These false alerts can distract the driver and undermine trust in safety systems.
Brake-related complaints often involve ABS or traction control issues, sometimes with control unit failures. This can affect braking performance and safety.
“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 Lancer Evolution — 27 recalls
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2007-2010 Outlander, 2008-2010 Lancer, 2009-2010 Lancer Evolution, and 2010 Lancer Sportback vehicles equipped with sunroofs. The sunroof glass may detach from the sunroof assembly, becoming a road hazard to other vehicles.
The risk: If the sunroof glass detaches from the assembly while driving, it can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the sunroof glass assembly, free of charge. The recall began on February 27, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-18-003.
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Lancer, Lancer Evolution, and Outlander; 2009-2011 Lancer Sportback, Lancer Rilliart, and Lancer Sportback Ralliart; and 2011 Outlander Sport vehicles. The affected vehicles, manufactured with 4B1 engines,…
The risk: If the drive belt detaches, the battery may discharge, resulting in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the drive belt with a rubber belt. Drive pulleys that are excessively worn will be replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 15, 2014. Owne…
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 Lancer Evolution vehicles manufactured from December 12, 2007, through March 5, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the clutch master cylinder can fail.
The risk: Failure of the clutch master cylinder reduces the ability to shift the vehicle into or out of gear, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected clutch master cylinders free of charge. The recall began on November 12, 2013. Owners may contact Mitsubishi at 1-888-648-7820. Mitsubishi's campaign number for this reca…
The defect: MITSUBISHI IS RECALLING MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 LANCER EVOLUTION, RALLIART, AND SPORTBACK RALLIART VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TURBOCHARGED ENGINES. THE MANNER IN WHICH THE FUEL RETURN PIPE IS ATTACHED TO THE ENGINE, IN COMBINATION WITH FREQUENT VEHICLE OPERATION AT CERTAIN ENGINE REVOLUTIONS, MAY RESULT I…
The risk: IF THIS STRESS CRACK DEVELOPS, FUEL LEAKAGE MAY OCCUR. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
The fix: THE FUEL RETURN PIPE WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW PART AND TWO ADDITIONAL ATTACHMENT BRACKETS WILL BE INSTALLED TO BETTER CONTROL FUEL PIPE VIBRATION. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2009. OW…
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 Lancer Evolution or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution has far fewer complaints per year (29.0 vs. 443.8), but its issues are often severe and performance-related. The Honda Accord has many more complaints, but they are spread across a larger owner base and include many minor electrical glitches. In practice, the Evo may require more frequent and costly repairs, while the Accord may have more numerous but sometimes less critical problems.
Key differences
- The Lancer Evolution averages 29 complaints per year, while the Honda Accord averages 443.8, but the Accord sells in much higher volumes.
- Evo complaints often involve clutch and transmission failures at low mileage, while Accord complaints frequently involve electrical and driver-assist system glitches.
- The Evo has 27 recalls over 10 years, including sunroof and air bag sensor issues; the Accord has 38 recalls, including hybrid software and fuel pump problems.
- The Accord has more crash-related complaints (160 vs. 18) and injuries (144 vs. 12), but these numbers are not adjusted for sales volume.
- Check for clutch wear or replacement history, especially if mileage is under 30,000, as premature failures are common.
- Test all electronic stability control functions and look for any dashboard warning lights, as owners report random warnings and shutdowns.
- Inspect tires and TPMS system, as some owners reported tire failure after TPMS service.
- Test forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control for intermittent warnings or failures, which are frequently reported.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website.
- Have a mechanic inspect the clutch and transmission on the Lancer Evolution, and the electrical system and brakes on the Honda Accord.
- Test drive both vehicles extensively, including highway speeds, to check for warning lights or unusual noises.
- Ask for maintenance records, especially for oil changes and any transmission or electrical repairs.
- Consider a pre-purchase inspection by a specialist familiar with the specific model.
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 Lancer Evolution or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution vs Honda Accord
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution total complaints
- 290
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution total recalls
- 27
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution avg complaints/year
- 29.0
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE