Head-to-head reliability
Subaru BAJA vs Honda Accord
How the Subaru BAJA 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
Subaru BAJA vs Honda Accord: The BAJA averages 29.8 complaints/year with 41 recalls, while the Accord averages 443.8 complaints/year with 38 recalls. The BAJA has 9 injuries and 0 deaths; the Accord has 144 injuries and 3 deaths. Both need recall checks. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Subaru BAJA or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Subaru BAJA
The Subaru BAJA is a niche, older crossover-pickup that averages about 30 complaints per year, with 119 total over four years. The most common owner-reported issues involve air bag inflator recalls, brake fluid leaks, and fuel odors or leaks, especially in cold weather. With 41 recalls and 9 injuries reported, it demands careful pre-purchase inspection, particularly for open Takata air bag recalls and fuel system integrity.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a high-volume family sedan with 4,438 complaints over ten years, averaging about 444 per year. Owners frequently report engine problems, electrical glitches, forward collision avoidance warnings, and brake issues. Although it has fewer recalls (38) than the BAJA, the sheer number of complaints and 3 deaths indicate that some defects can be serious, so a thorough used-car inspection is essential.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Subaru BAJA | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 119 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 41 | 38 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 10 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 29.8 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 9 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.
Subaru BAJA
- 01AIR BAGS17
- 02SERVICE BRAKES16
- 03FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM14
- 04FUEL SYSTEM14
- 05GASOLINE14
Owners report that Takata air bag inflator recalls remain unrepaired for years, especially in humid regions, leaving a risk of rupture. This matters because an unrepaired recall can be dangerous in a crash.
Complaints describe brake fluid leaking near the passenger rear wheel well, causing low fluid warnings and potential brake failure. Buyers should check for leaks and recall history.
Owners report strong gasoline odors after cold starts and fuel pooling on the manifold from slow leaks, sometimes requiring repeated hose and clamp replacements. This poses a fire risk and cabin fume exposure.
Similar to fuel/propulsion, complaints mention gas leaks in the manifold area, especially in colder temperatures, leading to fumes in the cabin. This is a persistent issue that can affect drivability and safety.
“TAKATA RECALL ON MY VEHICLE IS STILL NOT REPAIRED. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MY VEHICLE FOR OVER 10 YEARS AND LIVE IN A VERY HUMID REGION OF SOUTH EASTERN MAINE. HOW CAN IT BE ACCEPTABLE FOR SUBARU TO NOT HAVE TO SUPPLY ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION FOR CUSTOMERS DURING…”
“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU BAJA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V359000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED L…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report noises, loss of power, and multiple dashboard alarms (brake, hill descent, ABS) that can appear suddenly at highway speeds. These symptoms may indicate serious engine or sensor failures.
Complaints include TPMS warnings followed by catastrophic tire failure, and rodent damage to wiring harnesses even on new vehicles. Electrical gremlins can disable safety systems and leave drivers stranded.
Owners describe intermittent warnings for adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, and automatic high beams, often unresolved by dealers. These failures can undermine driver confidence in advanced safety features.
Some complaints involve ABS/traction control module issues, leading to braking problems. This is critical because brake malfunctions directly affect vehicle control.
“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.
Subaru BAJA — 41 recalls
The defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373…
The defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columb…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373…
The defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawa…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators with alternate inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru Owners may contact Subaru cust…
The defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Legacy, Outback, 2009-2011 Legacy, Outback, Forester, 2006-2011 Impreza, Tribeca, 2003-2006 Baja, and 2006 Saab 9-2x vehicles originally sold or that have ever been registered in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii…
The risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 26, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-856-488…
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
Subaru BAJA or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Subaru BAJA has far fewer complaints per year (about 30) than the Honda Accord (about 444), but the BAJA's issues often involve open recalls and fuel leaks that can be immediately dangerous. The Accord's higher volume means more reported problems overall, but many are electrical or software-related. In practice, the BAJA may need more urgent recall and fuel-system attention, while the Accord demands vigilance for engine and electronic failures.
Key differences
- The Subaru BAJA has 41 recalls, including multiple Takata air bag inflator recalls, while the Honda Accord has 38 recalls covering hybrid software, tires, brakes, air bag sensors, and fuel pumps.
- BAJA owners frequently report fuel leaks and strong gas odors, whereas Accord owners more often report engine noises, electrical glitches, and forward collision avoidance warnings.
- The BAJA averages about 30 complaints per year; the Accord averages about 444 per year, but the Accord's larger sales volume means rates per vehicle may be lower.
- The BAJA has 9 injuries and 0 deaths in the data; the Accord has 144 injuries and 3 deaths, though these totals are not adjusted for the number of vehicles on the road.
- Check for open Takata air bag recalls and confirm the passenger-side inflator has been replaced; unrepaired recalls are a serious safety risk.
- Inspect the fuel system for leaks, especially around the manifold and hoses, and look for gasoline odors after a cold start.
- Test all advanced safety systems (adaptive cruise, lane keeping, collision avoidance) for intermittent warnings or failures.
- Listen for engine noises and check for electrical issues such as TPMS warnings, battery drain, or rodent-damaged wiring.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA.gov to check for open recalls on both vehicles and confirm they are repaired.
- Have a mechanic inspect the Subaru BAJA for fuel leaks, brake fluid leaks, and air bag recall status.
- For the Honda Accord, scan for stored engine and electrical fault codes and test all driver-assist features.
- Ask for maintenance records, especially for fuel system repairs on the BAJA and software updates on the Accord.
- Take a test drive that includes highway speeds and cold starts to reproduce reported symptoms.
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 Subaru BAJA or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Subaru BAJA vs Honda Accord
- Subaru BAJA total complaints
- 119
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Subaru BAJA total recalls
- 41
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Subaru BAJA avg complaints/year
- 29.8
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Subaru BAJA
- Subaru BAJA top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE