Head-to-head reliability
Mitsubishi Montero vs Honda Accord
How the Mitsubishi Montero 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 Montero vs Honda Accord: The Montero averages 81 complaints per year, with severe brake failures and engine cracks, while the Accord averages 444 per year, often for driver assistance glitches. The Montero has 14 recalls, the Accord 38. Choose the Accord for lower safety risk, but inspect both. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mitsubishi Montero or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mitsubishi Montero
The Mitsubishi Montero is a rugged SUV that, in ownership terms, shows a pattern of serious brake system issues, with owners reporting hard pedals, loss of brake power, and ABS malfunctions that have nearly caused accidents. Electrical problems, including a battery explosion, and engine troubles like a cracked block also appear. With 568 complaints over 7 years, averaging 81 per year, and 14 recalls, it suggests a vehicle that demands careful inspection and maintenance.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular sedan that, in ownership terms, shows a high volume of complaints (4,438 over 10 years, averaging 444 per year) but many are related to advanced driver assistance systems and electrical glitches, which can be annoying but not always critical. Engine issues and brake problems also appear, but the sheer number of complaints is partly due to its popularity. With 38 recalls, it has a mixed reliability record, but the nature of issues is different from the Montero.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mitsubishi Montero | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 568 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 14 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 69 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 81.1 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 62 Better | 144 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 3 | 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 Montero
- 01SERVICE BRAKES206
- 02HYDRAULIC148
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM63
- 04ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING61
- 05AIR BAGS56
Owners report brake pedal hard to depress, complete loss of brake power, and ABS malfunctions that nearly caused accidents. The system may require pumping to stop, indicating hydraulic or booster failures.
Brake fluid leaks or hydraulic failures lead to illuminated brake lights and loss of braking. Owners describe having to pump the pedal, suggesting air in the lines or master cylinder issues.
One owner reported a battery explosion causing total electrical failure. Others mention brake pads wearing out quickly and calipers sticking, which may be linked to electrical or hydraulic problems.
Engine block cracks and heater core separation have been reported, leading to coolant leaks and potential overheating. Owners also mention unexpected engine revving, which could be a serious safety concern.
“THE VEHICLE STARTED CREAKING AFTER THE SECOND MONTH , WE WERE ORIGINALLY TOLD THAT IT WAS NEW AND THAT IT WAS THE INTERIOR PLASTIC THAT WAS ADJUSTING DO TO TEMP. CHANGES. THIS CONTINUED AND THAN THE SECOND ISSUE THE ABS BRAKES ALMOST CAUSED 2 ACCIDENTS WHEN G…”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS HARD TO DEPRESS. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD TO BE ACTIVATED IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNOR…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report unusual noises and loss of power, with warning lights for brake, hill descent, and ABS appearing. Some vehicles lose speed on the highway, indicating potential engine or transmission issues.
TPMS warnings and tire failures are common, but also rodent damage to wiring harnesses. Electrical gremlins can cause intermittent issues with various systems.
The system may activate falsely or show errors for adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, and automatic high beams. These intermittent messages can be distracting and undermine driver confidence.
Brake-related warnings and failures are reported, including issues with the ABS and traction control. Some owners experience critical failure messages while driving.
“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 Montero — 14 recalls
The defect: CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." THE OWNER'S MANUAL DOES NOT CONTAIN A STEP-BY-STEP DESCRIPTION FOR HEADREST ADJUSTMENT WHEN INSTALLING A CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM (CRS) TETHER STRAP.
The risk: IF THE TETHER STRAP IS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED TO THE TETHER ANCHOR, THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT RESTRAINED. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE CHILD COULD BE INJURED.
The fix: A LETTER OUTLINING THE PROBLEM WILL BE SENT TO OWNERS ALONG WITH A STICKER CONTAINING THE CORRECT INSTRUCTIONS AS WELL AS INSTRUCTIONS ON WHERE TO AFFIX THE STICKER IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 29, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD C…
The defect: ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS FULL AND THE VEHICLE IS PARKED FACING FORWARD ON AN UPWARD SLOPE, THE FUEL TANK LEVELING VALVE MAY NOT MAINTAIN PROPER SEALING IN THE EVENT THE FUEL EXPANDS FROM A RISE IN THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE.
The risk: IF THE FUEL LEVELING VALVE DOES NOT SEAL PROPERLY, FUEL MAY LEAK ONTO THE GROUND. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY RESULT IN A FIRE.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEVELING VALVE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 30, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-800-222-0037 OR MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-787-251-8715.
The defect: ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS FULL AND THE VEHICLE IS PARKED FACING FORWARD ON AN UPWARD SLOPE, THE FUEL TANK LEVELING VALVE MAY NOT MAINTAIN PROPER SEALING IN THE EVENT THE FUEL EXPANDS FROM A RISE IN THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE.
The risk: IF THE FUEL LEVELING VALVE DOES NOT SEAL PROPERLY, FUEL MAY LEAK ONTO THE GROUND. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY RESULT IN A FIRE.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEVELING VALVE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 30, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-800-222-0037 OR MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-787-251-8715.
The defect: ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS FULL AND THE VEHICLE IS PARKED FACING FORWARD ON AN UPWARD SLOPE, THE FUEL TANK LEVELING VALVE MAY NOT MAINTAIN PROPER SEALING IN THE EVENT THE FUEL EXPANDS FROM A RISE IN THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE.
The risk: IF THE FUEL LEVELING VALVE DOES NOT SEAL PROPERLY, FUEL MAY LEAK ONTO THE GROUND. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY RESULT IN A FIRE.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEVELING VALVE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 30, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-800-222-0037 OR MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-787-251-8715.
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 Montero or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Mitsubishi Montero has fewer complaints per year (81 vs 444) but its issues are more severe, focusing on brake failures and engine problems. The Honda Accord has more complaints but many are related to driver assistance glitches, which may be less critical. In practice, the Montero may pose higher safety risks, while the Accord's issues are more about reliability and convenience.
Key differences
- The Montero's brake complaints often describe loss of braking power and hard pedals, while the Accord's brake issues are more often linked to warning lights and system errors.
- The Accord has a high number of complaints about forward collision avoidance and other driver assistance features, which the Montero lacks entirely.
- The Montero has reported engine block cracks and battery explosions, which are severe and rare in the Accord.
- The Accord's electrical issues include rodent damage and TPMS problems, while the Montero's electrical issues are more about total system failures.
- Inspect the brake system thoroughly: test pedal feel, check for leaks, and have the ABS module and master cylinder evaluated.
- Check for engine coolant leaks or signs of a cracked block, and listen for unusual engine noises or revving.
- Test all driver assistance features (adaptive cruise, lane keeping, automatic high beams) to ensure they work without false alerts.
- Check the electrical system for any warning lights, and inspect wiring for rodent damage, especially if the car is parked outdoors.
Before you buy
- For the Montero: have a mechanic perform a brake system pressure test and inspect the ABS unit.
- For the Montero: check the engine for any signs of coolant loss or overheating, and look for cracks in the block.
- For the Accord: take a test drive and activate all driver assistance systems to see if any error messages appear.
- For the Accord: inspect the undercarriage and engine bay for chewed wires or signs of rodent activity.
- For both: obtain a vehicle history report to see if recalls were addressed and if there are any prior complaints.
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 Montero or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mitsubishi Montero vs Honda Accord
- Mitsubishi Montero total complaints
- 568
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Mitsubishi Montero total recalls
- 14
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Mitsubishi Montero avg complaints/year
- 81.1
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Mitsubishi Montero
- Mitsubishi Montero top complaint area
- SERVICE BRAKES
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE