Head-to-head reliability
FORD E 450 vs Honda Accord
How the FORD E 450 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 450 vs Honda Accord: The Ford E 450 averaged 7.1 complaints per year with 1 crash and no injuries, while the Honda Accord averaged 443.8 complaints per year with 160 crashes and 144 injuries. The Accord's higher volume suggests more reported problems, but both have safety recalls. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the FORD E 450 or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
FORD E 450
The Ford E 450 is a heavy-duty chassis used in commercial trucks, motorhomes, and buses, so its complaint pattern reflects that duty cycle. Over 10 years, it averaged 7.1 complaints per year, with steering and brake issues dominating. Many complaints involve recall-related repairs for power steering and hydroboost systems, and owners report symptoms like loose steering and delayed wheel response. With only 1 crash and no injuries or deaths reported, the data suggests that while problems exist, they are often addressed through recalls.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular family sedan with a much higher complaint volume: 4,438 over 10 years, averaging 443.8 per year. The top areas are engine, electrical, and forward collision avoidance, with 160 crash-related complaints, 144 injuries, and 3 deaths. Owners describe serious issues such as sudden power loss, warning lights, and failures in driver-assist systems. This pattern indicates that while many Accords are reliable, a notable number of owners experience significant safety-related problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | FORD E 450 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 71 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 19 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 7.1 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 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.
FORD E 450
- 01STEERING25
- 02SERVICE BRAKES20
- 03ENGINE14
- 04HYDRAULIC12
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER11
Owners report loose steering and delayed wheel response at highway speeds, often linked to power steering pressure line recalls. This can make the vehicle drift and require constant correction, which is tiring and potentially dangerous.
Complaints include parking brake issues where the brake may not hold, leading to uncontrolled movement. Some also mention hydroboost power steering pressure line recalls that affect braking assist.
Engine-related complaints often involve recall notices for power steering and brake issues, but some owners report engine problems that may cause stalling or reduced power. This can leave you stranded or create unsafe driving conditions.
Hydraulic system complaints center on the hydroboost or hydromax power steering pressure line, which can leak and affect both steering and braking. This is a critical safety system that needs prompt attention.
“We received the two recall notice letters from Ford Motor Company, 20V795 & 22V089, for our 2021 Jayco Redhawk class C RV. Upon receiving the first recall notice, 20V795, an appointment was made with our local Ford Dealer, Spradley Ford Lincoln Mercury, in Pu…”
“Parking Brake The Sticker on this U-Haul 15 foot Truck says, "Engage the Parking Brake before turning off the Engine, otherwise UNCONTROLLED OPERATION OF VEHICLE may occur.". I pulled on the Parking Brake as the Sticker warned. With my foot off the Gas Pedal,…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report noises, loss of power, and critical failure warnings while driving, sometimes requiring engine replacement. This can happen at low mileage and may lead to sudden loss of speed.
Complaints include TPMS warnings, tire failures, and rodent damage to wiring harnesses. Electrical glitches can cause warning lights and affect safety systems like ABS and stability control.
Many owners report intermittent failures of adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and automatic high beams. These failures can occur without warning and may reduce the effectiveness of driver-assist features.
Brake-related complaints include ABS and traction control issues, sometimes with warning lights and reduced braking performance. This is a safety concern that should be addressed immediately.
“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.
FORD E 450 — 19 recalls
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…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026-2027 E-350 and E-450 vehicles. The backup alarm connector may become loose and detach, preventing the alarm from sounding when the vehicle is backing up.
The risk: A backup alarm that fails to alert pedestrians and other vehicles of a reversing vehicle, increases the risk of crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the exterior sound connector on the frame wiring harness, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 17, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall…
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.
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.
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
FORD E 450 or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Ford E 450 has far fewer complaints per year (7.1 vs. 443.8) and no reported injuries or deaths, while the Honda Accord has many more complaints and some involving injuries and deaths. In practice, this means the E 450 may have fewer reported problems overall, but both vehicles have safety-related issues that require attention.
Key differences
- The Ford E 450 averages 7.1 complaints per year, while the Honda Accord averages 443.8, a massive difference in reported problem frequency.
- Ford E 450 complaints often involve steering and brakes with recall remedies, whereas Honda Accord complaints include engine and electrical failures that may not have easy fixes.
- The Honda Accord has 160 crash-related complaints, 144 injuries, and 3 deaths reported, while the Ford E 450 has 1 crash and no injuries or deaths.
- Both vehicles have recalls, but the Ford E 450's recalls focus on equipment and lighting, while the Honda Accord's recalls include electrical, fuel, and airbag systems.
- Check for open recalls related to steering and brakes, especially 20V795 and 22V089, and confirm they have been performed.
- Test drive at highway speeds to feel for loose steering or delayed response, and listen for unusual noises from the engine or hydraulic system.
- Look for warning lights related to forward collision avoidance, ABS, or engine, and test all driver-assist features during a test drive.
- Inspect tires for uneven wear or damage, and check for any signs of electrical issues such as flickering lights or malfunctioning infotainment.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website using the VIN.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with the specific model, focusing on steering, brakes, and electrical systems.
- For the Ford E 450, verify that all power steering and brake recalls have been completed and ask for documentation.
- For the Honda Accord, test the forward collision avoidance and electrical systems thoroughly, and check for any stored trouble codes.
- Take a lengthy test drive that includes highway speeds, braking, and use of all safety features to replicate real-world conditions.
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 450 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 5 |
| 2025 | 2 | 101 |
| 2024 | 4 | 214 |
| 2023 | 2 | 224 |
| 2022 | 13 | 238 |
| 2021 | 27 | 226 |
| 2020 | 0 | 355 |
| 2019 | 5 | 677 |
| 2018 | 5 | 1864 |
| 2017 | 11 | 534 |
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 450 or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- FORD E 450 vs Honda Accord
- FORD E 450 total complaints
- 71
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- FORD E 450 total recalls
- 19
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- FORD E 450 avg complaints/year
- 7.1
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- FORD E 450
- FORD E 450 top complaint area
- STEERING
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE