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 over 5 years, while the Accord averages 443.8 over 10 years. The Alero has 17 recalls and 2 deaths; the Accord has 38 recalls and 3 deaths. Both show serious issues, but the Alero's stalling and ignition defects are frequent. 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, so parts and service can be harder to find. Owners report a high rate of electrical and lighting problems, including ignition issues where the key can be removed while driving. Brake and engine complaints often involve stalling, which can cause loss of power steering and brakes. With 1,534 complaints over 5 years, it averages about 307 complaints per year, suggesting frequent ownership headaches.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular midsize car with a long production history and strong parts availability. However, owner complaints are numerous, especially for engine and electrical issues, and some involve advanced safety systems like forward collision avoidance. Many complaints come from recent model years, including brand-new vehicles with low mileage. With 4,438 complaints over 10 years, it averages about 444 complaints per year, but the Accord's larger sales volume means the rate per vehicle may be lower.
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 | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 17 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 76 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 306.8 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 70 Better | 144 |
| 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 ignition key can be pulled out while the car is running and in gear, and windshield leaks can cause electrical shorts leading to stalling. These issues can leave you stranded or cause unpredictable behavior.
Complaints include turn signals that work intermittently and starting problems linked to the ignition. Failing lights make your car less visible and can lead to tickets or crashes.
Owners describe the engine stalling while driving, which causes the power brakes and steering to fail, sometimes resulting in crashes. This is a serious safety concern because you lose control assistance suddenly.
Stalling is a common theme, often triggered by electrical faults or sensor issues. A stalling engine in traffic is dangerous and can lead to costly repairs.
“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
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report noises, loss of power, and multiple warning lights (brake, hill descent, ABS) appearing while driving. Some vehicles lose speed unexpectedly, which can be frightening on the highway.
Complaints include tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) warnings followed by tire failure, and rodent damage to wiring harnesses even on new cars. Electrical gremlins can be hard to diagnose and expensive to fix.
Owners say adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and automatic high beams show error messages intermittently. These failures mean advanced safety features may not work when needed.
Some complaints mention brake system warnings and failures, including ABS issues. Brake problems are always a safety priority and should be checked immediately.
“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.
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 (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
Oldsmobile Alero or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Oldsmobile Alero has fewer complaints per year (about 307) than the Honda Accord (about 444), but the Alero's complaints often involve severe stalling and ignition defects. The Accord's higher count may reflect its larger sales volume and longer production run. In practice, the Alero may have more frequent basic failures, while the Accord's issues are spread across more advanced systems.
Key differences
- The Alero has a high rate of electrical and ignition complaints, including keys that can be removed while driving, while the Accord's electrical issues often involve advanced driver-assist systems and tire pressure warnings.
- Alero owners frequently report stalling that causes loss of power brakes and steering, a pattern less common in the Accord complaints.
- The Accord has many complaints about forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control malfunctions, which the Alero lacks due to its older design.
- The Alero averages fewer complaints per year but has a higher proportion of severe safety-related failures like stalling and brake loss.
- Check if the ignition key can be removed while the car is running and in gear; this is a reported defect that can lead to theft or accidents.
- Test the brakes and steering for any signs of failure after the engine stalls; listen for unusual noises and feel for loss of power assist.
- Look for any warning lights related to forward collision avoidance, lane keeping, or adaptive cruise control; intermittent errors may indicate sensor or software problems.
- Inspect tires and TPMS system for signs of failure, as some owners reported tire blowouts shortly after TPMS warnings.
Before you buy
- Ask for a pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic, focusing on the ignition system, brakes, and electrical components.
- Check for open recalls on the NHTSA website using the VIN, especially for ignition and brake issues.
- Test drive the car at highway speeds and in stop-and-go traffic to see if any warning lights appear or if the engine stalls.
- For the Accord, test all advanced safety features like adaptive cruise control and lane keeping to ensure they work without error messages.
- Review the owner's complaint history for the specific model year to see if common problems have been addressed.
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
- 4,438
- Oldsmobile Alero total recalls
- 17
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Oldsmobile Alero avg complaints/year
- 306.8
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Oldsmobile Alero
- Oldsmobile Alero top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE