Head-to-head reliability
Oldsmobile Alero vs Honda Accord
How the Oldsmobile Alero 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
Oldsmobile Alero vs Honda Accord: The Alero averages 306.8 complaints per year with 2 deaths, while the Accord averages 452.4 per year with 3 deaths. Both show serious brake and electrical issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Oldsmobile Alero or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Oldsmobile Alero
The Oldsmobile Alero is a compact car from a discontinued brand, meaning parts and service can be harder to find. Owners report a high rate of electrical and lighting problems, often tied to ignition and water leaks. Brake and engine stalling complaints also appear, sometimes leading to crashes. With 306.8 complaints per year on average, it demands frequent attention.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mainstream midsize car with a long production history and strong parts availability. Its complaint rate is lower per year at 452.4 over 10 years, but it still shows notable engine, electrical, and advanced driver-assist issues. Some reports involve serious failures like power steering and braking loss. Overall, it is a more modern vehicle with complex systems that can fail in costly ways.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Oldsmobile Alero | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,534 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 17 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 76 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 306.8 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 70 Better | 146 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 2 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.
Oldsmobile Alero
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM515
- 02EXTERIOR LIGHTING315
- 03SERVICE BRAKES236
- 04HYDRAULIC205
- 05ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING177
Owners report the key can be pulled out while the car is still running and in drive, and water leaks from the windshield can damage dashboard electronics, causing stalling. These issues can leave you stranded or unable to restart.
Complaints include turn signals that work intermittently and ignition grinding sounds when starting. Failed lights make you less visible and can lead to tickets or crashes.
Some owners describe the engine stalling without warning, which cuts power steering and brakes, leading to loss of control and crashes. This is a serious safety concern that can happen at speed.
Stalling while driving is a recurring theme, often linked to electrical faults or water damage. A sudden stall in traffic or on the highway leaves you with no power assist.
“I OWN A 2004 ALERO OLDSMOBILE I PURCHASED THE CAR USED IN 2008. IT LATER ONLY HAD ONE RECALL WHICH WAS FOR THE IGNITION ISSUES. WHILE THE CAR IS ON AND IN DRIVE THE KEY IS STILL ABLE TO BE PULLED OUT OF THE IGNITION AND THE CAR STILL REMAINS ON AND IN DRIVE.…”
“NOTICED THE WINDSHIELD WAS LEAKING WHICH CAUSE TO LEAK ON EQUIPMENT UNDER INSIDE AND OUT DASHBOARD WITCH CAUSED EROSION AND DEFECTS TO OTHER OPERATING EQUIPMENT LEAD TO CAR STALLING WHILE DRIVING,SOME OPERATIONS OF WILL WORK, SOME WON'T. IT HAS A MIND OF IT'S…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report rattling noises during acceleration, rough transitions between electric and gas modes, and sudden loss of speed with multiple warning lights. These can indicate costly hybrid or engine problems.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, as well as tire pressure sensor issues that may not be resolved by dealers. Such failures can cause near-collisions.
Drivers describe the system braking or alerting unexpectedly under normal conditions, sometimes repeatedly on the same route. This can startle you and increase crash risk if it activates wrongly.
Some owners report persistent rotten-egg odors and fuel delivery problems that dealers struggle to fix. These may point to fuel pump or emissions issues that are expensive to diagnose.
“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.
Oldsmobile Alero — 17 recalls
The defect: This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency o…
The risk: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.
The defect: This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency o…
The risk: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.
The defect: This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency o…
The risk: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.
The defect: This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency o…
The risk: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.
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
Oldsmobile Alero or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Oldsmobile Alero has fewer complaints per year (306.8) than the Honda Accord (452.4), but the Alero's issues are often basic and safety-critical like stalling and brake loss. The Accord's higher annual rate reflects more complex systems, with some failures also being severe. In practice, the Alero may need more frequent small repairs, while the Accord can have fewer but more technologically involved problems.
Key differences
- The Alero has a much higher proportion of electrical and lighting complaints, often tied to ignition and water leaks, while the Accord's electrical issues include advanced driver-assist and hybrid system failures.
- Alero owners report engine stalling that cuts power steering and brakes, leading to crashes; Accord owners report sudden loss of power steering and braking at highway speeds, also a serious risk.
- The Accord has far more recalls (38 vs 17) and complaints overall, but spread over twice as many years, so its annual complaint rate is higher.
- The Alero is from a discontinued brand, making parts and service harder, while the Accord benefits from Honda's widespread dealer network and ongoing support.
- Check the ignition: ensure the key cannot be removed while the car is running and in gear, and listen for grinding when starting.
- Inspect for water leaks around the windshield and dashboard, as leaks can damage electronics and cause stalling.
- Test the electronic power steering and brakes at low and highway speeds for any warning lights or loss of assist.
- Listen for engine rattles during acceleration and check for rough transitions between electric and gas modes on hybrid models.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls, especially ignition on the Alero and fuel pump or electrical on the Accord.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the electrical system, brakes, and engine for the specific failure patterns noted in complaints.
- Test drive at various speeds, including highway, to check for stalling, warning lights, and proper function of steering and brakes.
- For the Accord, verify that any advanced driver-assist features work correctly and do not trigger unexpectedly.
- For the Alero, check for water damage under the dash and ensure all lights and turn signals operate reliably.
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 Oldsmobile Alero or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Oldsmobile Alero vs Honda Accord
- Oldsmobile Alero total complaints
- 1,534
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Oldsmobile Alero total recalls
- 17
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Oldsmobile Alero avg complaints/year
- 306.8
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Oldsmobile Alero
- Oldsmobile Alero top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE