Head-to-head reliability
Mitsubishi Outlander vs Honda Accord
How the Mitsubishi Outlander 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 vs Honda Accord: The Outlander averages about 50 complaints per year with 33 recalls, while the Accord averages about 452 complaints per year with 38 recalls. The Accord also has 3 reported deaths and 146 injuries in crash-related complaints, compared to 0 deaths and 41 injuries for the Outlander. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mitsubishi Outlander or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mitsubishi Outlander
The Mitsubishi Outlander is a compact SUV that averages about 50 owner complaints per year over the past decade, with 33 recalls. The most common complaint areas are structure, electrical system, and unknown or other issues, followed by engine and service brakes. Owners report problems like a thump noise after shifting from reverse to drive, hood vibrations, and warning lights after oil changes, suggesting a mix of minor and potentially serious issues.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a midsize sedan with a much higher complaint volume—about 452 per year—and 38 recalls. The top complaint areas are engine, electrical system, forward collision avoidance, and fuel/propulsion system. Owners describe alarming failures such as simultaneous power steering and braking loss, adaptive cruise control malfunctions, and engine rattling, indicating a pattern of complex electronic and powertrain issues.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mitsubishi Outlander | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 496 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 33 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 47 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 49.6 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 41 Better | 146 |
| 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
- 01STRUCTURE92
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM88
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER77
- 04ENGINE57
- 05SERVICE BRAKES57
Owners report issues with the rear liftgate support struts, which can fail and cause the hatch to fall. There is also a recall for the liftgate support device, so buyers should check if that recall was performed.
Complaints include abnormal sounds from the hood and windshield area, as well as warning lights and unusual noises after service. These electrical gremlins can be intermittent and frustrating to diagnose.
Some owners experience warning lights and unusual sounds shortly after an oil change, sometimes leading to drivability issues. This suggests potential sensitivity to maintenance or sensor problems.
Brake-related complaints are among the top five, though specific details are limited. Buyers should have the brake system inspected for wear or electronic issues.
“The contact owns a 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V507000 (Structure) and requested to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer was contacted, and the vehicle was repaired. The ma…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report rattling noises during acceleration, rough transitions between EV and gas modes, and sudden loss of power with multiple warning lights. These issues can affect drivability and may be costly to repair.
There are reports of simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking systems at highway speeds, as well as TPMS warnings and tire failures. Such failures pose serious safety risks.
Complaints describe the system engaging unexpectedly or failing to operate, including issues with adaptive cruise control. This can lead to near-collisions and erode trust in driver-assist features.
Problems include fuel pump failures and hybrid system issues, which can cause stalling or loss of power. These are critical for reliability and safety.
“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 Outlander — 33 recalls
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Outlander and 2026 Outlander PHEV vehicles. Due to improper software programming, the Alliance In-Vehicle Infotainment (A-IVI) system may fail to display the rearview camera image when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As s…
The risk: A rearview image that does not display properly reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the A-IVI software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 24, 2026. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-26-002. Vehicl…
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Outlander and 2019 Outlander PHEV vehicles. The seat belt for the right side second-row seat may have been assembled incorrectly.
The risk: An incorrectly assembled seat belt may not properly restrain the occupant, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the right side second-row seat belt and replace it as necessary, free of charge. This recall began June 17, 2020. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number f…
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Outlander PHEV and 2014-2020 Outlander vehicles sold and/or currently registered in Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, M…
The risk: A gas spring cylinder rupture or a liftgate falling unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: MMNA will replace the left and right liftgate gas springs, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 6, 2025. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-25-002
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Outlander PHEV and 2014-2020 Outlander vehicles. The liftgate gas spring cylinders may corrode and lose pressure, which can result in a gas spring cylinder rupture or the liftgate falling unexpectedly.
The risk: A gas spring cylinder rupture or a liftgate falling unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: MMNA will replace the left and right liftgate gas springs, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 17, 2026. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-26-001. Vehicl…
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 Outlander or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Mitsubishi Outlander has far fewer complaints per year (about 50) compared to the Honda Accord (about 452), but the Accord's higher volume may reflect greater sales. In practice, the Outlander may have fewer reported issues overall, but the Accord's complaints include more severe safety-related failures like braking and steering loss.
Key differences
- The Outlander averages about 50 complaints per year, while the Accord averages about 452, indicating a much higher reported issue rate for the Accord.
- The Accord has 3 reported deaths and 146 injuries in crash-related complaints, whereas the Outlander has 0 deaths and 41 injuries, though these figures depend on many factors.
- Outlander owners commonly report structural and electrical issues like liftgate strut failures and hood noises, while Accord owners report engine rattles, power steering/braking failures, and forward collision avoidance malfunctions.
- Both have recalls, but the Accord's recalls include critical systems like fuel pumps and air bag sensors, while the Outlander's include back over prevention software and seat belts.
- Check the rear liftgate struts for weakness or failure, as this is a common complaint and recall subject.
- Listen for abnormal thump noises after shifting from reverse to drive, which owners report and dealers may not fix.
- Test the electronic power steering and braking systems at highway speeds if possible, as sudden failure has been reported.
- Listen for engine rattling during acceleration and check for rough transitions between EV and gas modes, especially in hybrid models.
Before you buy
- Verify that all open recalls for the specific vehicle have been performed, especially for the Outlander's liftgate struts and the Accord's fuel pump and air bag sensors.
- Obtain a pre-purchase inspection from a trusted mechanic, focusing on the Outlander's liftgate and electrical system, and the Accord's engine, steering, and braking systems.
- Ask for maintenance records to see if the Outlander had issues after oil changes and if the Accord had software updates for driver-assist features.
- Test drive both vehicles under various conditions, including highway speeds, to check for warning lights, unusual noises, and proper function of safety systems.
- Check the NHTSA website for any additional complaints or recalls specific to the model year you are considering.
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 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5 | 10 |
| 2025 | 15 | 109 |
| 2024 | 26 | 219 |
| 2023 | 47 | 226 |
| 2022 | 216 | 252 |
| 2021 | 19 | 234 |
| 2020 | 31 | 362 |
| 2019 | 29 | 691 |
| 2018 | 57 | 1884 |
| 2017 | 51 | 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 Outlander or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mitsubishi Outlander vs Honda Accord
- Mitsubishi Outlander total complaints
- 496
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Mitsubishi Outlander total recalls
- 33
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Mitsubishi Outlander avg complaints/year
- 49.6
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Mitsubishi Outlander
- Mitsubishi Outlander top complaint area
- STRUCTURE
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE