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Chevrolet Malibu vs Honda Accord: reliability compared

From 2006 to 2025, owners filed an average of 613 complaints per model year about the Chevrolet Malibu and 623 about the Honda Accord.

Side by side

Chevrolet MalibuHonda Accord
Model years compared2006-20252006-2025
Owner complaints12,26612,451
Complaints per model year613623
Recalls4243
Years to avoid2009200820132018
Best years201920212022201120212022
Most common problemSteeringElectrical
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy31 mpg combined (2025)32-44 mpg combined (2025)

A car that sells more collects more complaints, so the fairest test is the number of years to avoid, which compares each year with a typical year of the same car.

Complaints per model year

2006 Chevrolet Malibu: 1,1192006 Honda Accord: 43320062007 Chevrolet Malibu: 9772007 Honda Accord: 5242008 Chevrolet Malibu: 9892008 Honda Accord: 1,52120082009 Chevrolet Malibu: 1,5112009 Honda Accord: 7272010 Chevrolet Malibu: 1,3632010 Honda Accord: 58120102011 Chevrolet Malibu: 9782011 Honda Accord: 2962012 Chevrolet Malibu: 9072012 Honda Accord: 37420122013 Chevrolet Malibu: 8372013 Honda Accord: 1,4272014 Chevrolet Malibu: 3512014 Honda Accord: 98220142015 Chevrolet Malibu: 2702015 Honda Accord: 6022016 Chevrolet Malibu: 8412016 Honda Accord: 61320162017 Chevrolet Malibu: 7052017 Honda Accord: 5402018 Chevrolet Malibu: 7012018 Honda Accord: 1,90020182019 Chevrolet Malibu: 1932019 Honda Accord: 7002020 Chevrolet Malibu: 2032020 Honda Accord: 37020202021 Chevrolet Malibu: 902021 Honda Accord: 2472022 Chevrolet Malibu: 1002022 Honda Accord: 26620222023 Chevrolet Malibu: 732023 Honda Accord: 912024 Chevrolet Malibu: 462024 Honda Accord: 15620242025 Chevrolet Malibu: 122025 Honda Accord: 101
Chevrolet MalibuHonda Accord

Problems compared

MalibuAccord
Steering3,9451,270
Electrical3,0022,424
Engine2,1002,240
Transmission1,400818
Driver assistance1,3221,295
Brakes1,1291,953
Airbags7721,420

Questions about the Chevrolet Malibu vs Honda Accord

Which is more reliable, the Chevrolet Malibu or the Honda Accord?

Between 2006 and 2025, the Chevrolet Malibu has 1 year to avoid and the Honda Accord 3. The Chevrolet Malibu has been more consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Chevrolet Malibu drew fewer complaints per model year (613 vs 623), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Chevrolet Malibu or the Honda Accord?

From 2006 to 2025, the Chevrolet Malibu was covered by 42 recalls and the Honda Accord by 43.

What years of the Chevrolet Malibu and Honda Accord should you avoid?

Chevrolet Malibu: 2009. Honda Accord: 2008, 2013 and 2018.

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