Head-to-head reliability
Subaru Solterra vs Honda Accord
How the Subaru Solterra 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 Solterra vs Honda Accord: The Solterra has 60 complaints over 4 years (15/yr) vs Accord's 4438 over 10 years (443.8/yr). Solterra issues focus on electrical power loss, while Accord has engine and electrical problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Subaru Solterra or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Subaru Solterra
The Subaru Solterra is a relatively new EV with a low complaint volume, but the issues reported are serious and often relate to electrical system failures and loss of power, especially in cold weather. Owners also report problems with forward collision avoidance and wheel well liners coming loose in rain, which can affect safety and usability. With 60 complaints over 4 years, it's a low-volume vehicle with a pattern of electrical gremlins that could leave you stranded.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a high-volume sedan with a much larger complaint count, but that's partly due to its popularity. The complaints are spread across many systems, with engine and electrical issues being the most common. Owners report sudden loss of power, warning lights, and problems with adaptive cruise control and lane keeping. With 4438 complaints over 10 years, it's a more established model but still has notable reliability concerns, especially in newer models.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Subaru Solterra | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 60 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 9 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 6 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 15.0 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 1 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 Solterra
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM23
- 02FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE15
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER15
- 04VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL9
- 05SERVICE BRAKES5
Owners report progressive loss of power while driving, especially in low temperatures, and other electrical failures that can lead to sudden shutdowns. This is a critical safety issue for an EV.
The system may malfunction, causing false alerts or failing to detect obstacles, as seen in a report of hitting a stationary deer. This can lead to unexpected braking or lack of intervention.
Loss of power while driving is a recurring theme, with one owner describing the car slowing down on the highway. This can be dangerous in traffic.
Brake-related complaints are present, though less frequent. Owners report issues with braking performance, which is critical for safety.
“Subject: Safety Concerns with Subaru Solterra - Urgent Attention Required I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to express my serious concerns regarding the safety issues I am experiencing with my newly purchased Subaru Solterra 2023 Touring. Despi…”
“On December 15, 2025, driving on a highway in low temperatures, my 2024 Subaru Solterra (VIN: [XXX] ) experienced a progressive loss of power. At 9:20 a.m., I departed NYC for Amenia, NY (91 miles). The range showed ~130 miles (no AC). For the first ~70 miles…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report unusual noises, loss of power, and warning lights indicating critical failures. Some describe the car losing speed and becoming undriveable, which is alarming.
Problems include TPMS warnings leading to tire failure, rodent damage to wiring harnesses, and other electrical glitches that can affect vehicle operation.
The system may trigger false alerts or fail to work properly, with owners reporting the car braking unexpectedly or warning lights for adaptive cruise control and lane keeping.
Brake system complaints are common, including issues with the antilock brake system and traction control, which can affect stopping ability.
“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 Solterra — 9 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2025 bZ4X, Lexus RZ, and Subaru Solterra vehicles. During certain HVAC system faults, such as electrical compressor failure, the defroster and defogger system may become inoperative.
The risk: An inoperative defroster and defogger system can decrease the driver's visibility under certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the HVAC control ECU software, free of charge. Dealers will also inspect the electrical compressor, and replace it, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 17, 2025. Owners may conta…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru Solterra vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may cause the rearview camera to freeze or d…
The risk: A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the parking assist software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TB13 and 25LB06. Subaru's nu…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2025 bZ4X, Lexus RZ, and Subaru Solterra vehicles. During certain HVAC system faults, such as electrical compressor failure, the defroster and defogger system may become inoperative.
The risk: An inoperative defroster and defogger system can decrease the driver's visibility under certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the HVAC control ECU software, free of charge. Dealers will also inspect the electrical compressor, and replace it, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 17, 2025. Owners may conta…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru Solterra vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may cause the rearview camera to freeze or d…
The risk: A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the parking assist software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TB13 and 25LB06. Subaru's nu…
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 Solterra or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Subaru Solterra has far fewer complaints per year (15.0) compared to the Honda Accord (443.8), but the Solterra's issues are more concentrated in electrical and power loss, which can be more dangerous. The Accord's higher count is partly due to its popularity, but it also has a wider range of problems. In practice, the Solterra may have a lower risk of issues, but the ones it has are more severe.
Key differences
- The Solterra has a much lower complaint rate per year (15 vs 443.8), but its complaints are dominated by electrical system and power loss issues, which can leave you stranded.
- The Accord has a higher complaint volume, but the issues are spread across engine, electrical, and driver assistance systems, with some being minor.
- The Solterra is an EV, so electrical problems directly affect its ability to drive, while the Accord's engine issues are more traditional.
- The Accord has more recalls (38 vs 9), but that also means more proactive fixes, while the Solterra's recalls are fewer but include critical items like camera reprogramming.
- Check for any open recalls, especially the forward recognition camera reprogramming (WRG23-1) and wheel hub issues.
- Test the vehicle's performance in cold weather if possible, as owners report loss of power in low temperatures.
- Inspect the wiring harnesses for rodent damage, as reported in newer models.
- Check the forward collision avoidance system for false alerts or malfunctions during a test drive.
Before you buy
- For the Solterra, verify all recalls are performed, especially the camera and wheel hub recalls.
- For the Accord, ask for service records and check if the fuel pump recall has been addressed.
- Test drive both vehicles and pay attention to any warning lights or unusual behavior.
- Check the tire condition and TPMS functionality on the Accord, as tire failures have been reported.
- Consider the age and mileage: the Solterra is newer, so check for software updates, while the Accord may have more wear.
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 | Subaru Solterra | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 17 | 5 |
| 2025 | 4 | 101 |
| 2024 | 14 | 214 |
| 2023 | 25 | 224 |
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 Solterra or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Subaru Solterra vs Honda Accord
- Subaru Solterra total complaints
- 60
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Subaru Solterra total recalls
- 9
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Subaru Solterra avg complaints/year
- 15.0
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Subaru Solterra
- Subaru Solterra top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE