Chrysler vs Honda Lemon Law Problems: What California Owners Report

Published October 19, 2026 · Updated October 19, 2026 · California lemon law

Which has more lemon law problems in California, Chrysler or Honda?

Side-by-Side Comparison

What California Chrysler Owners Report

Chrysler's California complaint data is really a minivan story. Of 200 NHTSA complaints about 2019 to 2027 models filed from 2021 to 2026, the Chrysler Pacifica accounted for 125 and the Chrysler Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid for 62. Together that is more than 9 in 10 Chrysler complaints. The Chrysler 300 had 10 and the Chrysler Voyager 3.

Transmission and powertrain (49) and engine (48) were nearly tied as the top problem areas. The electrical system (36), airbags (11) and collision warning and driver-assist systems (10) followed.

San Diego (11) led the Chrysler city list, ahead of Los Angeles (9), San Jose (7), Vista (5) and Irvine (4). San Diego County shows up twice in the top five.

For Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid owners, powertrain complaints can involve both the gas engine and the electric drive system. Describe each event in plain words, such as the van losing power, refusing to start, or showing a hybrid system warning, so each repair order matches the last.

The airbag category, with 11 Chrysler complaints, is small but worth noting for minivan families, since a minivan often carries passengers in every row. If your Pacifica shows an airbag or occupant sensor warning, have it checked promptly and keep the repair order.

What California Honda Owners Report

Honda owners filed 2,295 California complaints in the same window, more than eleven times Chrysler's total. Steering (372) and collision warning and driver-assist systems (337) lead, followed by the electrical system (278), fuel and EV propulsion system (219) and engine (202).

Honda's top models include its own minivan. The Honda Civic had 366 complaints, the Honda CR-V 305, the Honda Accord 264, the Honda Odyssey 261 and the Honda Pilot 237.

Los Angeles (94), San Diego (92), San Jose (67), Sacramento (51) and San Francisco (31) were Honda's top cities. Honda's numbers are large partly because its lineup covers so many popular segments at once.

Where Chrysler's top areas are mechanical, Honda's top two are about control: steering and the systems that brake or steer for you. That difference shapes how a claim for each brand is likely to be framed.

The fuel and EV propulsion category, with 219 Honda complaints, covers fuel system and hybrid drive problems. If your Honda is a hybrid and you notice the gas engine hesitating, surging or failing to start, describe the symptoms in that plain way at each dealer visit.

Pacifica Versus Odyssey: Minivans Under California Lemon Law

The fairest comparison on this page is minivan to minivan. The Pacifica and Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid together drew 187 complaints. The Odyssey drew 261. Both are family vehicles, and families often depend on them every day for school runs and long trips.

When a minivan is out of service, the costs pile up fast: rentals large enough for the family, rideshares and missed work. Under Civil Code 1793.2(d)(2)(B), a buyback includes incidental damages such as reasonable rental car and towing costs. Keep every receipt.

Days in the shop also count toward the presumption. Under Civil Code 1793.22(b), more than 30 total days out of service for repairs within 18 months or 18,000 miles is one path. And Civil Code 1793.2(b) requires warranty repairs to be completed within 30 days unless you agree otherwise.

If your minivan's problem involves the transmission, engine power or steering, ask whether it may be a safety defect. Losing power with children on board is the kind of risk the two-repair path was written for.

Families should also think about safety when deciding whether to keep driving. If a dealer returns your minivan and you are not sure it is safe, ask in writing whether the problem was fixed and whether the vehicle is safe to drive. Their written answer becomes part of the record.

Claims Against FCA US LLC and American Honda

A Chrysler claim usually names FCA US LLC, part of Stellantis. Honda claims are made against American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Both brands repair vehicles through franchised dealers, which create the repair orders.

Many buyers sign a sales contract at the dealer that contains an arbitration clause. In the Ford Motor Warranty Cases (2025), the California Supreme Court held that manufacturers generally cannot use the dealer's contract clause to force buyers into arbitration. If you are unsure what your contract says, bring it to your case review.

If the manufacturer makes a formal settlement offer under Code of Civil Procedure 998, review it with your attorney. Rejecting a 998 offer and then not doing better at trial can cost you post-offer costs and may mean paying some of the other side's costs.

If you win, Civil Code 1794(d) makes the manufacturer pay your attorney fees, costs and expenses, so you pay $0 out of pocket.

You may also hear about manufacturer arbitration programs. They are free, and a decision binds the manufacturer if you accept it, but it does not bind you. Ask your attorney whether that route makes sense for your situation before you file.

• Chrysler: FCA US LLC (Stellantis)
• Honda: American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
• Bring your sales contract to the case review
• Review any 998 offer with your attorney

Example: A Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid That Loses Power

This is a made-up example. Teresa bought a new 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid in Vista. With her three kids on board, the van twice lost drive power on the freeway and displayed a hybrid system warning.

Her Chrysler dealer replaced a high-voltage component after the first event and updated software after the second. Both repair orders described the same loss-of-power complaint. When it happened a third time, Teresa had the van towed and called a lemon law attorney.

Because a loss of power at freeway speed is likely to cause serious injury, her attorney looked at the two-repair path under Civil Code 1793.22(b), checked whether her owner's manual required direct notice to FCA US LLC, and sent a repurchase demand.

Teresa kept making her loan payments and saved her towing and rental receipts. This example is for illustration only and does not predict any outcome.

Teresa also kept a short note on her phone for each event: the date, the road, the speed and who was in the van. Those notes matched her repair orders and made it easy for her attorney to show the same defect was repaired more than once.

Why 200 Versus 2,295 Is Not a Reliability Verdict

Honda's complaint total is far larger than Chrysler's, but Honda also sells far more vehicles in California, across many more models. Raw counts are not adjusted for sales, so they cannot rank the two brands.

Chrysler's lineup is also narrow. Almost all of its complaints come from one minivan in two versions, while Honda's are spread across sedans, SUVs and its own minivan. Comparing totals across such different lineups says little.

Owners decide whether to file with NHTSA, and many never do. Each complaint is the owner's own account, not a confirmed defect. For your claim, the key evidence is your repair orders and your own timeline.

Timing matters too. The data covers complaints filed from 2021 to 2026 about 2019 to 2027 models. Models that have been sold longer have had more time to collect reports, which can push their numbers up for reasons unrelated to quality.

So use the data for what it is good at. It shows which systems other owners of each brand talk about most and which models come up again and again. If your problem fits that picture, mention it during your review. If it does not, your claim still rests on the same law and the same kind of proof.

Documents to Gather for a Chrysler or Honda Claim

Families are busy, so make collecting records easy. Keep one envelope or one phone folder for the vehicle, and drop every repair order and receipt into it the day you get it.

Keep paying your loan or lease while the claim is open. Watch the calendar too: warranty claims generally must be filed within four years under Commercial Code 2725, and when that period starts is a technical question for an attorney.

If you bought your minivan used, tell your attorney at the start. Under Rodriguez v. FCA US LLC (2024), a used vehicle sold with only the leftover factory warranty is generally not a new motor vehicle under the lemon law's vehicle section. Used and certified pre-owned buyers may still have other warranty or fraud claims, so a review is still worth it.

Finally, add your owner's manual and warranty booklet to the folder. Look for any instruction to notify the manufacturer directly about a defect, since that direct notice is required for the two-repair and four-repair paths of the presumption when the manual clearly calls for it.

• Sales or lease contract, including any arbitration clause
• Every dealer repair order with dates and mileage
• Towing, rental and rideshare receipts
• Your log of each breakdown or warning
• Recall notices from the NHTSA recall lookup

Signs Your Chrysler May Qualify

• Your Chrysler has been in for the transmission and powertrain 2 or more times and it is a safety issue
• The same Chrysler problem has been repaired 4 or more times
• Your Chrysler has been out of service more than 30 days for warranty repairs
• You own a Chrysler Pacifica and the problem keeps coming back

Signs Your Honda May Qualify

• Your Honda has been in for the steering 2 or more times and it is a safety issue
• The same Honda problem has been repaired 4 or more times
• Your Honda has been out of service more than 30 days for warranty repairs
• You own a Honda Civic and the problem keeps coming back

Key Facts (as of October 2026)

• Complaint counts are California owner reports to NHTSA for 2019 to 2027 model years, filed 2021 to 2026. They are not verified defects and are not adjusted for sales.
• The two brands' top problem areas differ: Chrysler owners report the transmission and powertrain most, Honda owners the steering.
• For either brand, a reasonable number of repair attempts is presumed within 18 months or 18,000 miles after 2 tries for a serious safety defect, 4 tries for the same defect, or more than 30 days in the shop (Civil Code 1793.22(b)).

Talk It Through With a Lemon Law Attorney

Every case is different. Our attorneys, listed in firm order: #1 Jacob Shayesteh (founding attorney), #2 Armig Khodanian and #3 Kamau Edwards, will look at your repair history and tell you which option fits. 5.0 stars on Google from 77 reviews (October 2026). You pay $0, win or lose.

What Our Clients Say on Google

“They were incredibly professional, fast, and efficient, taking over all the stressful communication with the manufacturer so I didn't have to. In the end, they secured a full lemon law refund for me, which covered not just the vehicle cost, but all of my registration fees, taxes, and finance charges.”

Aaron K. · 2024 Mercedes-Benz EQE · 5-star Google review

“He's extremely knowledgeable when it comes to dealing with service centers and dealerships and making sure they write down the things that are needed for the case.”

Yaira B. · Two Teslas · 5-star Google review

“Even though my case is still ongoing, I wanted to leave this review because his communication has been outstanding. He keeps me updated, responds quickly to questions, and makes sure I always know what is happening with my case.”

Fred F. · BMW iX · 5-star Google review

Read all 78 reviews on Google (5.0 stars, October 2026). Reviews describe past clients' experiences; every case is different.

FAQ

Is it harder to win a lemon law case against Chrysler or Honda?

The legal test does not change by brand. For a Chrysler or a Honda, the strength of a claim comes from documented repair visits and how the defect affects use, value or safety.

What do California Chrysler owners complain about most?

In NHTSA complaints from California owners, the top areas are the transmission and powertrain, engine and electrical system. The most complaints were for the Chrysler Pacifica, Chrysler Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid and Chrysler 300.

What do California Honda owners complain about most?

In NHTSA complaints from California owners, the top areas are the steering, collision warning and driver-assist systems and electrical system. The most complaints were for the Honda Civic, Honda CR-V and Honda Accord.

Sources and Official References

• NHTSA recall lookup by VIN
• NHTSA, report a vehicle safety problem
• California Civil Code section 1793.22 (California Legislature)
• California Code of Civil Procedure section 998 (California Legislature)
• California Civil Code section 1794 (California Legislature)

Laws change. This page reflects California law as of October 2026 and was reviewed by Jacob Shayesteh, Esq.

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Attorney advertising. Wynn Law Group, APC, 10850 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 1010, Los Angeles, CA 90024. General information, not legal advice. Results vary. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.