Head-to-head reliability
Mitsubishi Mirage vs Honda Accord
How the Mitsubishi Mirage 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 vs Honda Accord: The Mirage averages 9.6 complaints per year with 6 recalls, while the Accord averages 452 complaints per year with 38 recalls. Mirage owners report brake and air bag inconsistencies; Accord owners report engine and electrical failures. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mitsubishi Mirage or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mitsubishi Mirage
The Mitsubishi Mirage is a subcompact car with a very low complaint rate—about 9.6 per year over a decade—but the pattern shows recurring brake and air bag concerns. Owners describe inconsistent braking that either grabs too hard or not enough, and some report losing control in bad weather. Electrical gremlins like the radio turning on by itself and stalling at stop signs also appear. With 6 recalls, including multiple air bag campaigns, it's a simple car that still demands attention to safety systems.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mid-size sedan with a much higher complaint volume—about 452 per year—and a wide range of reported issues. Owners frequently mention engine problems like loss of power and rough transitions, plus electrical failures that can lock up steering and brakes. Forward collision avoidance systems sometimes trigger unexpectedly or fail to respond. With 38 recalls covering software, fuel pumps, and seat belts, it's a complex vehicle where advanced features can become failure points.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mitsubishi Mirage | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 96 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 6 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 25 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 9.6 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 28 Better | 146 |
| 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
- 01AIR BAGS31
- 02SERVICE BRAKES19
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER16
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM10
- 05VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL10
Owners report that sudden braking can cause the air bag system to react oddly, either deploying too aggressively or not enough, and some describe losing control in poor weather. This matters because air bags are a primary safety feature, and inconsistent behavior could increase injury risk in a crash.
Complaints describe brakes that either engage so abruptly everything is thrown forward or fail to engage enough when you need to stop suddenly. Another owner noted a sticking front-left rubber part, an overheating shaft, and front-axle vibration. These symptoms suggest brake performance can be unpredictable, which is critical for daily driving.
Owners report the radio turning on by itself when the car starts, which can be distracting, and one 2015 Mirage stalled at a stop sign with the check engine and wrench lights on. Electrical glitches like these can leave you stranded or divert your attention from the road.
This component appears in the top five, and while the sample complaints don't detail specific speed control failures, the count suggests owners have experienced issues with cruise control or unintended acceleration. A buyer should test these functions carefully during a test drive.
“WHEN HAVING TO BRAKE WITH ANY SUDDENNESS AT ALL, I MET TWO EXTREMES. THEY EITHER ENGAGED SO ABRUPTLY EVERYTHING WAS THROWN FORWARD, OR THEY FAILED TO ENGAGE ENOUGH. SUDDEN- I DESCRIBE THIS TYPE OF BRAKING AS WHEN BEING CUT IN FRONT OF. THE NECESSITY TO BRAKE…”
“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…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report alarms for brake, hill descent, and ABS failure followed by loss of speed, as well as rattling noises during acceleration and rough transitions between EV and gas modes. These issues can lead to reduced power or stalling, making highway driving risky.
Complaints include electronic power steering and braking systems locking up simultaneously at highway speeds, causing near-collisions, and a tire failure after a TPMS warning repair. Such failures can be sudden and severe, affecting your ability to steer or stop.
Owners describe the system failing to resolve threats, with incidents occurring under similar conditions, and adaptive cruise control suddenly braking or not reacting. This can cause unexpected braking or a failure to brake when needed, increasing crash risk.
This component is among the top five, and while sample complaints don't detail specific fuel issues, the volume suggests problems like fuel pump failures or propulsion errors. These can cause stalling or loss of power, leaving you stranded.
“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…”
“Vehicle makes rattling noises while accelerating similar to a diesel engine also rough transitions between EV mode and Gas mode also when you press the charge button the engine makes a very noticeable jerk once it’s on ,Honda does not want to fix my issue and…”
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 — 6 recalls
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Mirage vehicles. The internal acceleration sensor in the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) can misinterpret vibrations such as those from poor road conditions or a flat tire to be a sensor er…
The risk: Air bags that do not deploy as designed in a crash increase the risk of injury.
The fix: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the SRS-ECU software, free of charge. The recall began on November 10, 2017. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-17-006.
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Mirage vehicles. The internal acceleration sensor in the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) can misinterpret vibrations such as those from poor road conditions or a flat tire to be a sensor er…
The risk: Air bags that do not deploy as designed in a crash increase the risk of injury.
The fix: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the SRS-ECU software, free of charge. The recall began on November 10, 2017. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-17-006.
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Mirage vehicles. The internal acceleration sensor in the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) can misinterpret vibrations such as those from poor road conditions or a flat tire to be a sensor er…
The risk: Air bags that do not deploy as designed in a crash increase the risk of injury.
The fix: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the SRS-ECU software, free of charge. The recall began on November 10, 2017. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-17-006.
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Mitsubishi Mirage vehicles manufactured July 27, 2013, to September 2, 2015. If the driver enters an affected vehicle with their feet covered water and salt, it may soak through the carpet and cause corrosion to…
The risk: In the event of a crash, corrosion of the connector could delay deployment of the frontal air bags, increasing the risk of injury to the driver and the front seat passenger.
The fix: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the affected connectors, replacing any found to be corroded. A waterproof sheet will be installed over the connectors to prevent future corrosion. These repairs will be performed free of ch…
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 (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021 Accord Sedan, Accord Hybrid, CR-V, Ridgeline, 2022 Insight and CR-V Hybrid vehicles. The automatic locking retractor on the second-row center seat belt assembly may deactivate improperly, which can result in an unsecured child restraint sys…
The risk: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the second-row center seat belt assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
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 or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Mitsubishi Mirage has far fewer complaints per year—about 9.6 versus 452 for the Honda Accord—so in raw frequency, the Mirage sees less reported trouble. But the Accord's higher volume comes with more complex systems and a wider variety of failures, including serious electrical and engine issues. In practice, the Mirage may be simpler to own, but the Accord's problems can be more severe when they occur.
Key differences
- The Mirage averages about 9.6 complaints per year, while the Accord averages about 452 per year—a huge difference in reported problem frequency.
- Mirage owners most often report brake and air bag inconsistencies, while Accord owners report engine power loss and electrical failures that can lock steering and brakes.
- The Accord has 38 recalls versus 6 for the Mirage, covering advanced systems like hybrid software and forward collision avoidance.
- The Mirage's sample complaints include stalling and radio distractions, while the Accord's include near-collisions from sudden system failures.
- Test the brakes at various speeds for abrupt engagement or failure to stop smoothly, as owners report inconsistent braking.
- Check for front-end noises, vibration, or overheating near the front axle, which one owner linked to a sticking part and shaft issue.
- During a test drive, watch for warning lights related to brakes, ABS, or hill descent, and feel for any loss of power or rough engine transitions.
- Test the forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control in safe conditions to ensure they don't brake unexpectedly or fail to respond.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all recalls have been performed, especially air bag recalls on the Mirage and electrical/software recalls on the Accord.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the brakes, suspension, and electrical system, focusing on the specific failure patterns reported by owners.
- For the Accord, ask about any hybrid or engine software updates and check for signs of fuel pump or propulsion issues.
- For the Mirage, verify the air bag system and check for any stalling or radio-related electrical quirks during a test drive.
- Request service records to see if previous owners addressed common complaints like brake inconsistencies or engine alarms.
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 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 3 | 219 |
| 2023 | 5 | 226 |
| 2022 | 2 | 252 |
| 2021 | 2 | 234 |
| 2020 | 1 | 362 |
| 2019 | 5 | 691 |
| 2018 | 10 | 1884 |
| 2017 | 28 | 537 |
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 or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mitsubishi Mirage vs Honda Accord
- Mitsubishi Mirage total complaints
- 96
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Mitsubishi Mirage total recalls
- 6
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Mitsubishi Mirage avg complaints/year
- 9.6
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Mitsubishi Mirage
- Mitsubishi Mirage top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE