Head-to-head reliability
Pontiac Solstice vs Honda Accord
How the Pontiac Solstice 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
Pontiac Solstice vs Honda Accord: The Solstice averaged 145 complaints per year over 5 years, with 533 air bag complaints, while the Accord averaged 444 per year over 10 years, with 985 engine complaints. The Solstice's issues are more concentrated in safety recalls. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Pontiac Solstice or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Pontiac Solstice
The Pontiac Solstice is a two-seat sports car with a short five-year production run. Its owner complaints are heavily concentrated in air bags and electrical system issues, often tied to ignition switch recalls. With 726 complaints over five years, that's about 145 per year, which is high for such a low-volume car. Buyers should expect to deal with warning lights and potential safety recall repairs.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mainstream family sedan with a long history and high sales volume. Over ten years, it accumulated 4,438 complaints, averaging about 444 per year, which is lower per year than the Solstice but still significant given the larger number of vehicles on the road. Complaints span engine, electrical, and advanced driver-assistance systems. The Accord has more recalls and crash-related reports, but also more years and units in service.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Pontiac Solstice | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 726 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 22 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 28 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 145.2 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 24 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.
Pontiac Solstice
- 01AIR BAGS533
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM76
- 03POWER TRAIN56
- 04SERVICE BRAKES52
- 05SEATS39
Owners report air bag warning lights coming on, often after ignition switch repairs, and some say the passenger air bag sensor is faulty, meaning air bags may not deploy in a crash. This is a critical safety concern.
Many complaints involve the ignition switch recall and subsequent electrical glitches, such as the passenger air bag sensor light staying on. These issues can affect multiple systems and may require dealer visits.
Some owners report rear differential leaks at low mileage, similar to earlier model years. A leak can lead to costly repairs if not addressed.
There are reports of brake lights failing to illuminate or staying on, which can confuse other drivers and increase crash risk. This is a simple but important safety issue.
“I PUTCHASED THE CAR ON NOVEMBER 25, 2015 FROM CYNTHIA WALKER. THE VEHICLE HAD 30,000 MI, EXTENDED WARRANTY AND WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION (I RECEIVED ALL PREVIOUS SERVICE RECORDS. IN AUGUST, 2016 I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH AND…”
“MY SOLSTICE IS PART OF THE IGNITION RECALL ID # 102546 - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH. DURING THE REPAIR OF THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED OCT 13 2014.AND AFTER THE CAR WAS BROUGHT OUT TO ME I NOTICED THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT HAD CAME ON. I NOTIF…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners describe noises, loss of power, and multiple dashboard alarms at highway speeds, sometimes leading to reduced speed. These symptoms can indicate serious engine or sensor problems.
Complaints include tire pressure monitoring system warnings, rodent damage to wiring, and catastrophic tire failure after service. Electrical gremlins can be intermittent and hard to diagnose.
Drivers report intermittent failures of adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and automatic high beams, with warning messages appearing and disappearing. This can reduce confidence in the car's safety features.
Some complaints involve sunroof glass shattering spontaneously and tire failures after service. These are rare but alarming events that owners should be aware of.
“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.
Pontiac Solstice — 22 recalls
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice and 2007-2010 Saturn Sky vehicles. The Passenger Air Bag Suppression System (PPS) sensor may become bent or damaged within the front passenger seat, possibly disabling the front passenger air bag.
The risk: In the event of a crash, if the front passenger air bag does not deploy as intended, the front passenger has an increased risk of injury.
The fix: The remedy for this recall is still under development. A permanent remedy is currently under development. The recall began February 26, 2018. Owners may contact Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737 or Saturn customer service at 1-800…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, 2006-2011 Chevrolet HHR, 2007-2010 Pontiac G5, 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice, 2003-2007 Saturn Ion, and 2007-2010 Saturn Sky vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignitio…
The risk: If the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "off" position, the vehicle could roll away: (a) for an automatic transmission, if the transmission is not in the "Park" position; or (b) for a manual transmission…
The fix: General Motors will notify owners, and for vehicles that were built with the defective ignition cylinder and have not previously had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers will replace the ignition cylinder and cu…
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 replace the ignition switch, free of charge. An interim notification was issued to owners of 2007 and earlier models on March 10, 2014, informing them of the safety defect. Owners of 2008 and later v…
The defect: UCI-FRAM Group is recalling certain LS1328 ignition Switches sold as Wells LS1328, Duralast LS1328, Airtex 1S6097, and Carquest 53-27479, and LS1497 Ignition Switches sold as Wells LS1497, Duralast LS1497, Airtex 1S10961, and Carquest 53-27967, for use on various General Motors model and model year…
The risk: If the ignition switch moves from the run position to accessory, the car would stall and the air bags will not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of personal injury to the occupants.
The fix: UCI-FRAM Group has notified its purchasers to quarantine and return all inventory. Any switches already installed in vehicles will be replaced by GM dealers as part of NHTSA recall 14V-047, free of charge. UCI-Fram's purchasers should cont…
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
Pontiac Solstice or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Honda Accord has fewer complaints per year (about 444) than the Pontiac Solstice (about 145), but the Solstice's rate is higher given its much smaller production. In practice, the Solstice's issues are more concentrated in safety-critical air bags and electrical systems, while the Accord's are spread across more components. The Accord's higher total complaints reflect its larger population and longer period.
Key differences
- The Solstice has a much higher complaint rate per year relative to its small production, with air bag and electrical issues dominating.
- The Accord has more total complaints but a lower annual rate, with engine and forward collision avoidance problems frequently reported.
- The Solstice's complaints often tie back to ignition switch recalls affecting air bag sensors, while the Accord's complaints include advanced driver-assistance system glitches.
- The Accord has more crash-related reports and injuries, but also more vehicles on the road; the Solstice has zero deaths reported in the data.
- Check for any outstanding recalls, especially the ignition switch and air bag sensor recalls, and confirm they were performed.
- Test the passenger air bag sensor light and ensure it turns on and off correctly; a constant light could mean the air bag won't deploy.
- Listen for unusual engine noises and watch for multiple dashboard warnings during a test drive, especially at highway speeds.
- Test all advanced safety features like adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist to ensure they work consistently without intermittent warnings.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and confirm all safety recalls have been completed, especially for the Solstice's ignition and air bag systems.
- Have a mechanic inspect the air bag system and electrical components on the Solstice, and the engine and forward collision avoidance systems on the Accord.
- During a test drive, check that all warning lights behave normally and that safety features engage without error messages.
- For the Accord, verify the tire pressure monitoring system and inspect tires for uneven wear or damage.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records and be wary of any recent repairs that might mask ongoing issues.
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 Pontiac Solstice or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Pontiac Solstice vs Honda Accord
- Pontiac Solstice total complaints
- 726
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Pontiac Solstice total recalls
- 22
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Pontiac Solstice avg complaints/year
- 145.2
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Pontiac Solstice
- Pontiac Solstice top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE