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.

FORD E 35060 complaints · 22 recalls Fewer issues per year
Honda Accord4,397 complaints · 38 recalls

Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records

Which should you buy?

FORD E 350 averages fewer NHTSA complaints per year. FORD E 350 has 60 complaints and 22 recalls on record; Honda Accord has 4,397 complaints and 38 recalls. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.

The numbers

Side-by-side NHTSA record

Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.

CategoryFORD E 350Honda Accord
Total complaintsAll model years combined60 Better4,397
Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns22 Better38
Crash reportsCrash-related complaints4 Better159
Complaints per yearAveraged across model years6.0 Better439.7
Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints2 Better143
Reported deathsTied to owner complaints0 Better3

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

  1. 01STEERING19
  2. 02SERVICE BRAKES14
  3. 03ENGINE13
  4. 04POWER TRAIN8
  5. 05HYDRAULIC7
In owners' words — STEERING

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

  1. 01ENGINE968
  2. 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM850
  3. 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE814
  4. 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER720
  5. 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM587
In owners' words — ENGINE

2021 Honda Accord EX-L, 1.5T turbocharged engine. Within 8 months of purchase at approximately 21,900 miles, I experienced three separate incidents of sudden complete engine power loss at highway speeds. During each incident the vehicle would not exceed 2,000…

I am filing a complaint regarding the premature head gasket failure on my 2021 Honda Accord, which failed on May 28, 2026, with only 89,000 miles on the vehicle. A head gasket is a critical engine component that should last well beyond 89,000 miles under norm…

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

Power Train — Automatic Transmission — Internal — Park Pawl
#23V625000Aug 2023

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…

Seats
#19V205000

The defect: Quality Van Sales, Inc. (Quality Van) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford Transit and E-350 vehicles modified to be equipped with Freedman GO-ES Foldaway Seat back cushions. The seat cushion may not remain locked into place when under load, such as in a crash or a sudden stop. As such, these vehicl…

The risk: In the event of a crash, if the seat back moves, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.

The fix: Quality Van will notify owners and dealers will inspect and repair the foldaway seat, free of charge. The recall began March 21, 2019. Owners may contact Quality Van customer service at 1-800-408-8550.

Equipment
#19V466000

The defect: SVO Group Inc. (SVO Group) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ford E-350 and E-450-based shuttle buses equipped with ASA Electronics Voyager monitors used to display the back-up camera image. The affected monitors may revert back to the factory default settings which may cause the camera image to be re…

The risk: The driver may inadvertently turn the wrong direction to avoid an object behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: SVO Group will work with ASA to notify owners, and ASA will provide a harness relay capacitor module to eliminate the image reversal, free of charge. The recall began May 9, 2019. Owners may contact ASA Electronics customer service at 1-80…

Exterior Lighting — Brake Lights
#19V342000Mar 2019

The defect: Taylor Made Ambulances is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ford E-350, F-450, E-450, F-550, and GMC G3500-based ambulances equipped with Whelen brake lights. Depending on the specific wiring of the vehicle, these brake lights may illuminate when the brake pedal has not been pressed.

The risk: If the brake lights incorrectly illuminate, it can confuse other drivers, possibly increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Taylor Made will notify owners and Whelen will replace the brake lights, free of charge. The recall began June 5, 2019. Owners may contact Taylor Made Ambulances customer service at 1-800-468-1310.

Honda Accord — 38 recalls

Seat Belts — Rear/Other — Retractor
#21V900000

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.

Air Bags — Sensor — Occupant Classification — Front Passenger
#24V064000Jan 2024

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…

Fuel System, Gasoline — Delivery — Fuel Pump
#23V858000

The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV,…

The risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansi…

Air Bags — Sensor — Occupant Classification — Front Passenger
#26V332000

The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022…

The risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.

The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH,…

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.

YearFORD E 350Honda Accord
202605
2025198
20242213
20232224
202214234
202120221
20202350
20193667
201831853
201713532
Years to scrutinize: the 2021 FORD E 350 drew the most complaints (20); the 2018 Honda Accord drew the most (1,853). Inspect these model years especially closely.

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

FORD E 350 vs Honda Accord — comparison facts
Comparison
FORD E 350 vs Honda Accord
FORD E 350 total complaints
60
Honda Accord total complaints
4,397
FORD E 350 total recalls
22
Honda Accord total recalls
38
FORD E 350 avg complaints/year
6.0
Honda Accord avg complaints/year
439.7
More reliable overall
FORD E 350
FORD E 350 top complaint area
STEERING
Honda Accord top complaint area
ENGINE