Head-to-head reliability
FORD E 350 vs Honda Accord
How the FORD E 350 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
FORD E 350 vs Honda Accord: The E 350 averaged 6.3 complaints per year with 22 recalls, while the Accord averaged 452.4 per year with 38 recalls. E 350 reports highlight steering and brake failures; Accord reports include electrical and driver-assist issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the FORD E 350 or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
FORD E 350
The Ford E 350 is a heavy-duty van or cutaway chassis often used for commercial work, rentals, or ambulances. Over 10 years it has averaged 6.3 complaints per year, with steering, engine, and brake issues being the most common. Owners report sudden loss of power steering, mushy brakes, and engine misfires that can leave the vehicle out of service. Recalls cover fuel tank, park pawl, and engine problems, so checking recall history is essential.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular midsize car with a much higher complaint volume—about 452 per year—but that reflects its far larger production and use as a daily driver. The most frequent complaints involve engine and electrical problems, including power steering and braking failures, plus forward collision avoidance warnings. Some reports describe serious safety risks like simultaneous loss of steering and brakes at highway speed. Recalls address hybrid software, fuel pumps, and airbag sensors.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | FORD E 350 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 63 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 22 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 4 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 6.3 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 2 Better | 146 |
| 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.
FORD E 350
- 01STEERING19
- 02ENGINE15
- 03SERVICE BRAKES14
- 04POWER TRAIN8
- 05HYDRAULIC7
Owners report abnormal popping sounds followed by loss of power steering and a spongy brake pedal, or steering that becomes very difficult after hitting rough pavement. These failures can happen while driving, making the van hard to control.
Complaints include emissions sensor failures that lead to power loss while towing, and engine misfires on the 7.3L V8 used in delivery cutaways. These issues can strand a work vehicle and require dealership diagnosis.
Drivers describe brakes that feel mushy and a pedal that goes to the floor, sometimes requiring the emergency brake to avoid a collision. One ambulance owner reported unintended acceleration during braking attempts.
Transmission failures involve the CDF clutch cylinder, torque converter, and internal debris, plus reports of unintended acceleration in drive or reverse. These are costly repairs and potential safety hazards.
“The contact owns a 2021 Ford E-350. The stated while driving into the driveway, the vehicle made an abnormal popping sound. The vehicle lost power steering functionality, and the brake pedal became spongy. Additionally, the contact stated that there was a tra…”
“After hitting a very rough patch of interstate, our steering became very difficult. The driver thought that maybe we had a low tire, so looked for a place to pull over. We crested a hill, and there was an exit with a truck stop. As we attempted to slow for th…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report alarms for brake, hill descent, ABS, and critical failure followed by loss of speed, as well as rattling noises and rough transitions between EV and gas modes. These can indicate hybrid system problems that are hard to diagnose.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, and TPMS warnings followed by tire failure. Electrical glitches can affect critical safety systems.
Drivers describe unexpected warnings or braking under clear conditions, sometimes with adaptive cruise control engaged. These false activations can startle drivers and increase crash risk.
Reports include persistent sulfur odors and a foot slipping behind a center console panel, showing that even non-mechanical issues can distract or endanger occupants.
“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…”
“Vehicle makes rattling noises while accelerating similar to a diesel engine also rough transitions between EV mode and Gas mode also when you press the charge button the engine makes a very noticeable jerk once it’s on ,Honda does not want to fix my issue and…”
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.
FORD E 350 — 22 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022 F-Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, F600, and 2023 E-Series vehicles. In addition, certain 2016 E-Series, 2017 and 2019 F-450, 2021 F-350, and 2021 Transit vehicles that received a reprinted label are also included in this recall. The Safety…
The risk: Missing tire information could lead to an incorrect tire or rim being installed, or incorrect tire pressure, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the Safety Certification Label, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 6, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22C09.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2023 E-350, E-450, and 2021-2022 F-59 vehicles. The paint along the weld seam of the fuel tank may peel and lead to corrosion of the exposed metal, which can result in a fuel leak.
The risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the fuel tank and replace, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 14, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S76.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Ford E-350, F-650, and F-750 vehicles. The park pawl may not fully engage the park gear due to a casting defect in the transmission.
The risk: A vehicle which does not have the park pawl fully engaged may result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the transmission, or the valve body and extension housing, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 16, 2024. Owners may contact Ford's customer service at 1-866-436-7332…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Ford E-350, F-650, and F-750 vehicles. The park pawl may not fully engage the park gear due to a casting defect in the transmission.
The risk: A vehicle which does not have the park pawl fully engaged may result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the transmission, or the valve body and extension housing, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 16, 2024. Owners may contact Ford's customer service at 1-866-436-7332…
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 (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021 Accord Sedan, Accord Hybrid, CR-V, Ridgeline, 2022 Insight and CR-V Hybrid vehicles. The automatic locking retractor on the second-row center seat belt assembly may deactivate improperly, which can result in an unsecured child restraint sys…
The risk: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the second-row center seat belt assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
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
FORD E 350 or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Ford E 350 has far fewer complaints per year (6.3 vs. 452.4), but it is a commercial van with serious steering and brake failures reported. The Honda Accord’s higher volume means more overall reports, yet many are electrical or driver-assist glitches. In practice, the E 350 demands attention to steering and brakes, while the Accord requires vigilance for electronic safety-system faults.
Key differences
- Ford E 350 complaints center on steering loss and mushy brakes, while Honda Accord complaints often involve electrical failures of power steering and braking at speed.
- The E 350 has 22 recalls over 10 years, including fuel tank and park pawl issues; the Accord has 38 recalls, including hybrid software and fuel pump problems.
- Honda Accord reports include forward collision avoidance false activations, a driver-assist concern not seen in the E 350 sample.
- Ford E 350 owners report transmission debris and unintended acceleration, while Accord owners report engine rattles and rough hybrid transitions.
- Test steering for popping noises or sudden stiffness, especially after rough roads, and check for power steering fluid leaks.
- Inspect brake pedal feel for sponginess or travel to the floor, and verify recall repairs for fuel tank and park pawl.
- Check for stored codes or warnings related to electronic power steering, braking, and forward collision avoidance.
- Test drive at highway speeds to feel for unintended braking or warnings, and verify hybrid software and fuel pump recalls are completed.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full NHTSA recall history by VIN and confirm all open recalls are repaired.
- Have a mechanic inspect the Ford E 350’s steering and brake systems, including a road test on rough pavement.
- For the Honda Accord, scan all electronic systems for stored codes and test driver-assist features on a highway drive.
- Check transmission service records on the E 350 and hybrid battery health on the Accord.
- Review owner complaint patterns for the specific model year and ask about any repeated repairs.
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 | FORD E 350 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 10 |
| 2025 | 2 | 109 |
| 2024 | 2 | 219 |
| 2023 | 2 | 226 |
| 2022 | 14 | 252 |
| 2021 | 22 | 234 |
| 2020 | 2 | 362 |
| 2019 | 3 | 691 |
| 2018 | 3 | 1884 |
| 2017 | 13 | 537 |
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 FORD E 350 or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- FORD E 350 vs Honda Accord
- FORD E 350 total complaints
- 63
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- FORD E 350 total recalls
- 22
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- FORD E 350 avg complaints/year
- 6.3
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- FORD E 350
- FORD E 350 top complaint area
- STEERING
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE