Head-to-head reliability
Mitsubishi Mirage G4 vs Honda Accord
How the Mitsubishi Mirage G4 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 Mirage G4 vs Honda Accord: The Mirage G4 averages 8.1 complaints per year with 2 recalls, while the Accord averages 443.8 complaints per year with 38 recalls. The Mirage G4 has 15 crash-related reports and 17 injuries; the Accord has 160 crash-related reports and 144 injuries. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mitsubishi Mirage G4 or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mitsubishi Mirage G4
The Mitsubishi Mirage G4 is a subcompact sedan with a low average of about 8 complaints per year over eight years, suggesting fewer reported problems overall. However, the complaints that do exist cluster around serious safety areas like air bags, electrical system, and engine, with 15 crash-related reports and 17 injuries. Owners describe issues such as air bags not deploying in crashes, electrical glitches, and engine stalling. This means that while problems are less frequent, they can be severe when they occur.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a midsize sedan with a much higher average of about 444 complaints per year over ten years, indicating a larger volume of reported issues. The complaints span engine, electrical system, forward collision avoidance, and more, with 160 crash-related reports and 144 injuries. Owners report problems like engine noise, electrical failures, and malfunctioning driver-assist features. This suggests that while the Accord is popular, it has a significant number of safety-related complaints.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mitsubishi Mirage G4 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 65 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 2 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 15 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 8.1 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 17 Better | 144 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 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 Mirage G4
- 01AIR BAGS21
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM16
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER11
- 04ENGINE11
- 05SERVICE BRAKES8
Owners report air bag failures, including one where the car lost control in poor weather and another where a rear-end collision at high speed did not deploy the driver side air bag. This is critical because air bags are a primary safety feature, and failure to deploy can increase injury risk.
Complaints include front brakes going out and serpentine belt issues shortly after purchase, as well as difficulty seeing the speedometer in certain lighting. These electrical problems can affect drivability and safety, especially if brakes or visibility are compromised.
One owner reported that while entering a highway, all warning lights came on, the engine started banging loudly, and the car died on the shoulder. This indicates a potential sudden loss of power, which is dangerous in traffic.
Although fewer complaints, some owners mention brake problems, such as front brakes failing early. Brake issues directly impact stopping ability and should be inspected carefully.
“On [XXX], I was traveling back to Colorado from Missouri. The weather conditions turned poor while I was traveling just west of Topeka, Kansas. I lowered my speed to below the speed limit and continued. At one point, the car lost control. At this time, it vee…”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE G4. WHILE THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AT 20 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR ENDED THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE OF HER VEHICLE AT A HIGH SPEED. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report engine noise and critical failure warnings, with one stating the vehicle lost speed and could not accelerate. This can lead to dangerous situations on highways.
Complaints include tire pressure monitoring system warnings followed by catastrophic tire failure, and rodent damage to wiring harnesses. Electrical gremlins can cause unexpected breakdowns and costly repairs.
Owners report that adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and other driver-assist systems show intermittent error messages and may fail to operate. These features are meant to prevent crashes, so malfunctions are a safety concern.
Some complaints involve brake system issues, including antilock/traction control problems. Brake failures can compromise stopping distance and control.
“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 Mirage G4 — 2 recalls
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Mirage G4 vehicles. The internal acceleration sensor in the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) can misinterpret vibrations, such as from poor road conditions or a flat tire, as a malfunction a…
The risk: Air bags that do not deploy increase the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: MMNA notified owners, and dealers will reprogram the SRS-ECU software, free of charge. The recall began May 24, 2019. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-19-001.
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Mirage G4 vehicles. The internal acceleration sensor in the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) can misinterpret vibrations, such as from poor road conditions or a flat tire, as a malfunction a…
The risk: Air bags that do not deploy increase the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: MMNA notified owners, and dealers will reprogram the SRS-ECU software, free of charge. The recall began May 24, 2019. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-19-001.
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 Mirage G4 or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Mitsubishi Mirage G4 has far fewer complaints per year (8.1 vs. 443.8), but its issues are concentrated in severe areas like air bags and engine stalling. The Honda Accord has many more complaints, but they are spread across a larger number of vehicles, and some are for less critical issues like infotainment. In practice, the Mirage G4 may have fewer overall problems, but when they occur, they can be serious; the Accord has more frequent reports, so buyers should be diligent about checking for specific issues.
Key differences
- The Mirage G4 has 65 complaints over 8 years, while the Accord has 4,438 over 10 years, showing a massive difference in reported problem volume.
- Air bag complaints are the top issue for the Mirage G4 (21 complaints), with reports of non-deployment in crashes, whereas the Accord's top issue is engine (985 complaints), often involving noise or failure.
- The Accord has 38 recalls, including for electrical, brakes, and fuel pump, while the Mirage G4 has only 2 recalls, both for air bags.
- Forward collision avoidance is a major complaint area for the Accord (821 complaints), with owners reporting intermittent failures of adaptive cruise control and lane keeping, a system not highlighted in Mirage G4 complaints.
- Check for air bag warning lights and ensure all recalls have been performed, as air bag non-deployment is a reported issue.
- Listen for engine noises and check for any signs of stalling or loss of power, especially during test drives at highway speeds.
- Test all driver-assist features like adaptive cruise control and lane keeping to ensure they function without error messages.
- Inspect the electrical system, including tire pressure monitors and wiring, for signs of rodent damage or intermittent faults.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report to see if all recalls have been addressed, especially air bag recalls for the Mirage G4 and electrical/fuel pump recalls for the Accord.
- Have a mechanic inspect the air bag system on the Mirage G4 and the engine/electrical systems on the Accord.
- During a test drive, pay attention to any warning lights, unusual noises, or hesitation in acceleration.
- For the Accord, test the forward collision avoidance and other driver-assist systems in various conditions.
- Check the brakes on both vehicles for wear and proper function, as both have brake-related complaints.
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 Mirage G4 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 6 | 214 |
| 2023 | 5 | 224 |
| 2022 | 3 | 238 |
| 2021 | 2 | 226 |
| 2020 | 4 | 355 |
| 2019 | 6 | 677 |
| 2018 | 11 | 1864 |
| 2017 | 28 | 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 Mirage G4 or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mitsubishi Mirage G4 vs Honda Accord
- Mitsubishi Mirage G4 total complaints
- 65
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Mitsubishi Mirage G4 total recalls
- 2
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Mitsubishi Mirage G4 avg complaints/year
- 8.1
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Mitsubishi Mirage G4
- Mitsubishi Mirage G4 top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE