Head-to-head reliability
FORD Expedition vs Honda Accord
How the FORD Expedition 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 Expedition vs Honda Accord: The Expedition averages 213 complaints per year and 92 recalls, while the Accord averages 444 complaints per year and 38 recalls. The Expedition has 0 deaths and 63 crash-related complaints; the Accord has 3 deaths and 160 crash-related complaints. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the FORD Expedition or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
FORD Expedition
The Ford Expedition is a large SUV that owners often buy for towing and family hauling. Over 10 years, it has averaged about 213 complaints per year, with the most common issues in the power train, engine, and electrical systems. Owners report serious problems like unintended movement after shifting to Park, engine smoke, and brake assist failures. These patterns suggest that living with an Expedition can involve persistent mechanical and safety-related repairs.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a midsize sedan known for fuel efficiency and everyday comfort. It averages about 444 complaints per year, with frequent reports about the engine, electrical system, and forward collision avoidance features. Owners describe issues such as engine noise, sudden loss of power, and warning lights for driver-assist systems. While the Accord has more complaints overall, the types of problems vary widely and some are software-related.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | FORD Expedition | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 2,127 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 92 | 38 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 63 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 212.7 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 143 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 Expedition
- 01POWER TRAIN804
- 02ENGINE369
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM254
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER250
- 05SEAT BELTS150
Owners report unintended vehicle movement, where the SUV is placed in Park, stays still for 13-30 seconds, and then begins driving on its own. There are also complaints of strong vibrations at highway speeds over 60 mph, making long trips difficult.
Some owners describe smelling a funny odor from the vents followed by smoke, which can indicate an engine cooling or oil leak issue. This is alarming because it can happen while driving with family and may lead to a breakdown or fire risk.
Complaints include the vehicle not slowing down properly when braking, even with repeated pedal pressure. This suggests a problem with the brake assist or electronic control module, which is critical for safe stopping.
Owners report the left turn signal activating on its own after a right turn, which Ford has documented as a safety risk. This can confuse other drivers and lead to a crash if the signal gives wrong information.
“This is a report of a recurring, life-safety defect involving unintended vehicle movement in a 2024 Ford Expedition. The vehicle has experienced two separate incidents where it was placed in 'Park,' remained stationary for 13-30 seconds, and then began drivin…”
“I purchased a new 2025 Ford Expedition Max. Since I left the dealer’s lot, the vehicle has had a strong vibration at any speed over 60 miles per hour, which makes highway driving and longer distance trips very challenging or impossible. Since I bought the veh…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report noises that get louder over time, and in some cases the vehicle loses speed and shows multiple alarms like Brake, hill descent, ABS, and critical failure. This can leave a driver stranded or unable to maintain highway speeds.
Complaints include a tire pressure warning that was repaired but then the tire catastrophically failed shortly after, and rodent damage to the camshaft wiring harness. These issues can cause sudden loss of control or unexpected repair costs.
Owners report that adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and other driver-assist systems show intermittent error messages. This means the safety features may not work when needed, increasing the risk of a collision.
Some owners describe the sunroof glass exploding spontaneously while driving, sending glass onto the roof and highway. This is a shocking and dangerous event that could cause injury or distract the driver.
“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 Expedition — 92 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 F-150, Expedition, and 2024 Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines. The engine may have a misaligned engine cup plug, which can result in a rapid oil leak.
The risk: A rapid oil leak can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, an oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the engine cup plug alignment, and replace the plug if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 22, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Navigator and Expedition vehicles. The passenger side air bag may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause the air bag to deploy with excessive force during a crash.
The risk: An air bag that deploys with excessive force can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the passenger side air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 8, 2025. Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S51.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Lincoln Navigator, F-150, Expedition, Bronco, and Ranger vehicles. The Electronic Brake Booster (EBB) module may malfunction while driving or when the driver is utilizing an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) feature, resulting in a loss of…
The risk: An unexpected loss of power brake assist while driving can extend stopping distance and increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, a loss of power brake assist while ADAS features are engaged can result in the vehicle not braking as expec…
The fix: The EBB module software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 22, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Lincoln Navigator, F-150, Expedition, Bronco, and Ranger vehicles. The Electronic Brake Booster (EBB) module may malfunction while driving or when the driver is utilizing an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) feature, resulting in a loss of…
The risk: An unexpected loss of power brake assist while driving can extend stopping distance and increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, a loss of power brake assist while ADAS features are engaged can result in the vehicle not braking as expec…
The fix: Dealers will replace the electronic brake booster, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 26, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SD4. Vehicle Identi…
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 Expedition or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Ford Expedition has fewer complaints per year (about 213) compared to the Honda Accord (about 444), but the Expedition's issues often involve severe safety defects like unintended movement and brake failure. The Accord's higher complaint count includes many software and sensor problems, but it also has 3 reported deaths versus 0 for the Expedition. In practice, the Expedition may have fewer overall complaints but the problems it does have can be more immediately dangerous.
Key differences
- The Ford Expedition has far fewer complaints per year (213 vs 444), but its top issue is power train problems like unintended movement, while the Honda Accord's top issue is engine problems like noise and power loss.
- The Expedition has 92 recalls over 10 years, compared to 38 for the Accord, meaning the Expedition has more frequent recall campaigns.
- The Accord has 3 reported deaths and 160 crash-related complaints, while the Expedition has 0 deaths and 63 crash-related complaints, though the Expedition's crash-related count is still notable.
- Owners of the Accord frequently report forward collision avoidance glitches, while Expedition owners report electrical issues like brake assist failure and turn signal malfunctions.
- Check for any history of unintended movement: test that the vehicle stays in Park on a slight incline and does not lurch after a delay.
- Inspect for engine smoke or odors: look for oil leaks, coolant smells, and ask about any engine-related repairs or recalls.
- Test the forward collision avoidance system: ensure adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, and automatic braking work without intermittent error messages.
- Inspect the sunroof for cracks or signs of stress, and check tire pressure monitoring system for recent repairs or warning lights.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website for both models.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with Ford or Honda, focusing on the specific problem areas listed.
- Test drive at highway speeds to check for vibrations (Expedition) or loss of power (Accord).
- Verify that all driver-assist features (if equipped) function correctly during the test drive.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for transmission, engine, and electrical 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 Expedition | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 9 | 5 |
| 2025 | 30 | 101 |
| 2024 | 71 | 214 |
| 2023 | 64 | 224 |
| 2022 | 111 | 238 |
| 2021 | 230 | 226 |
| 2020 | 400 | 355 |
| 2019 | 484 | 677 |
| 2018 | 372 | 1864 |
| 2017 | 356 | 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 Expedition or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- FORD Expedition vs Honda Accord
- FORD Expedition total complaints
- 2,127
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- FORD Expedition total recalls
- 92
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- FORD Expedition avg complaints/year
- 212.7
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- FORD Expedition
- FORD Expedition top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE