Head-to-head reliability
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport vs Honda Accord
How the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport 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 Outlander Sport vs Honda Accord: The Outlander Sport averages 20.6 complaints per year with 6 recalls, while the Accord averages 443.8 complaints per year with 38 recalls. The Outlander Sport has 0 deaths and 19 injuries reported; the Accord has 3 deaths and 144 injuries. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
The Mitsubishi Outlander Sport is a compact SUV with a relatively low complaint volume—about 21 per year over a decade—suggesting fewer owners report problems, but the pattern shows recurring electrical and powertrain gremlins. Owners frequently mention infotainment touchscreens going unresponsive, ignition-coil failures causing misfires and power loss, and brake grinding. Recalls center on transmission control software and electrical software, so software-related drivability issues are a theme.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mid-size sedan with a much higher complaint rate—roughly 444 per year—and a broader range of reported issues, from engine noises and stalling to electrical glitches and forward collision avoidance warnings. Recalls cover hybrid power control software, fuel pumps, airbag sensors, and brake control modules. While many complaints may reflect the Accord's huge sales volume, the data shows owners report serious safety-related failures like sudden power loss and unintended braking.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mitsubishi Outlander Sport | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 206 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 6 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 27 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 20.6 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 19 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 Outlander Sport
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM49
- 02POWER TRAIN41
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER36
- 04SERVICE BRAKES34
- 05ENGINE33
Owners report the infotainment touchscreen becoming unresponsive, forcing drivers to take their eyes off the road to adjust basic functions, which some say caused swerving. Others describe brake grinding and erratic mileage readings tied to electrical faults.
Complaints include repeated ignition-coil failures leading to engine misfires, hesitation, and intermittent loss of power. One owner reported the vehicle stalling at 65 mph with power fluctuations, requiring several attempts to restart.
Owners describe grinding brakes and a 'routine maintenance required' message appearing when starting the vehicle, suggesting brake wear or sensor issues that may not be promptly resolved.
Engine-related complaints often overlap with powertrain issues, such as misfires and catalyst-system efficiency faults that can cause rough running and failed emissions tests.
“The touchscreen for the main infotainment system is becoming unresponsive. It’s impossible to use the most basic functions while driving without being distracted. It’s caused me to swerve & almost lose control of the vehicle on multiple occasions— as it distr…”
“Dec 1,2023 tried to stop and the brakes was grinding and the milage goes up and down as you are driving and it says routine maintenance required when you put the key in to start the outlander as got it from Todd Judy ford in Charleston WV and according to Mit…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report noises, loss of speed, and multiple dashboard alarms (brake, hill descent, ABS) leading to critical failure messages. Some vehicles lose power at highway speeds, which is a serious safety concern.
Complaints include TPMS warnings followed by catastrophic tire failure, rodent damage to wiring harnesses, and various sensor glitches. These can lead to unexpected breakdowns or safety system malfunctions.
Owners describe intermittent warnings for adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and automatic high beams, sometimes with unintended braking or failure to detect obstacles. This can undermine driver confidence in the safety features.
Brake-related complaints include ABS and traction control issues, with some owners experiencing brake system warnings and reduced braking performance.
“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 Outlander Sport — 6 recalls
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Outlander Sport vehicles equipped with continuously variable transmissions and mechanical key ignition systems. A software error in the transmission control unit (CVT-ECU) may incorrectly reduce the transmission gear ratio…
The risk: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the CVT-ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 24, 2022. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-22-004.
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Outlander Sport vehicles equipped with continuously variable transmissions and mechanical key ignition systems. A software error in the transmission control unit (CVT-ECU) may incorrectly reduce the transmission gear ratio…
The risk: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the CVT-ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 24, 2022. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-22-004.
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Outlander Sport vehicles equipped with continuously variable transmissions and mechanical key ignition systems. A software error in the transmission control unit (CVT-ECU) may incorrectly reduce the transmission gear ratio…
The risk: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the CVT-ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 24, 2022. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-22-004.
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America (MMNA) is recalling certain 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, Outlander Sport, 2018-2019 Eclipse Cross, and 2017-2018 Outlander vehicles equipped with a Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM) system that detects pedestrians. Due to incorrect software, the FCM-ECU (Electron…
The risk: If the FCM-ECU software activates the brake for longer than necessary, the driver may react by applying additional braking. The resulting rapid deceleration of the vehicle can increase the risk of a rear-end collision.
The fix: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the FCM-ECU software with updated software, free of charge. The recall is began October 16, 2018. 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 Outlander Sport or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Mitsubishi Outlander Sport has far fewer complaints per year (about 21 vs. 444 for the Honda Accord), but both show patterns of electrical and powertrain problems. In practice, the Outlander Sport may mean fewer trips to the shop overall, while the Accord's higher volume suggests more frequent owner-reported issues, though many may be due to its larger sales base.
Key differences
- Complaint volume: Outlander Sport averages ~21 complaints/year vs. Accord's ~444/year, but Accord sells in much higher numbers.
- Top issues: Outlander Sport complaints cluster around electrical (infotainment) and powertrain (ignition coils, stalling); Accord complaints center on engine (power loss) and forward collision avoidance (false warnings).
- Recalls: Outlander Sport recalls focus on transmission and electrical software; Accord recalls include hybrid power control, fuel pump, and airbag sensors.
- Safety outcomes: Outlander Sport has 0 deaths and 19 injuries reported; Accord has 3 deaths and 144 injuries, though these are raw counts not adjusted for exposure.
- Test the infotainment touchscreen thoroughly for responsiveness and check for any delay or freezing, as unresponsive screens are a common complaint.
- Listen for engine misfires or hesitation during acceleration and ask for maintenance records related to ignition coils and spark plugs.
- Check for any history of engine stalling or loss of power, especially at highway speeds, and scan for stored trouble codes related to the engine or ABS.
- Verify that all forward collision avoidance features (adaptive cruise, lane keeping) work without intermittent warnings, and inspect tires for uneven wear or damage.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models using the NHTSA VIN lookup.
- Have a mechanic inspect the electrical system, including the infotainment screen on the Outlander Sport and the battery/charging system on the Accord.
- For the Outlander Sport, test-drive at various speeds to check for transmission shudder or power loss; for the Accord, test all driver-assist features.
- Ask for maintenance records, especially for oil changes, brake service, and any software updates or recall repairs.
- During the test drive, listen for unusual noises from the engine, brakes, or suspension, and note any warning lights on the dashboard.
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 Outlander Sport | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 5 |
| 2025 | 1 | 101 |
| 2024 | 1 | 214 |
| 2023 | 7 | 224 |
| 2022 | 11 | 238 |
| 2021 | 17 | 226 |
| 2020 | 26 | 355 |
| 2019 | 47 | 677 |
| 2018 | 21 | 1864 |
| 2017 | 73 | 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 Outlander Sport or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mitsubishi Outlander Sport vs Honda Accord
- Mitsubishi Outlander Sport total complaints
- 206
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Mitsubishi Outlander Sport total recalls
- 6
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Mitsubishi Outlander Sport avg complaints/year
- 20.6
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
- Mitsubishi Outlander Sport top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE