Head-to-head reliability
FORD Explorer Sport vs Honda Accord
How the FORD Explorer Sport 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 Explorer Sport vs Honda Accord: The Explorer Sport has 1,313 complaints per year and 1 recall, while the Accord has 444 per year and 38 recalls. Explorer owners report liftgate cracks and transmission slips; Accord owners report engine and safety system failures. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the FORD Explorer Sport or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
FORD Explorer Sport
The Ford Explorer Sport is a performance-oriented SUV that, based on owner complaints, can be demanding to live with. In just one year, it accumulated 1,313 complaints, with structure and power train issues dominating. Owners report serious problems like liftgate cracks and sudden gear slips, which can be safety risks. With only one recall, many issues may not have a factory fix, so a thorough pre-purchase inspection is critical.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular family sedan with a generally strong reputation, but NHTSA data shows a wide range of complaints over 10 years. With 4,438 complaints and 38 recalls, the volume is high, though the per-year average is lower than the Explorer Sport. Issues span engine, electrical, and advanced safety systems, including some serious failures. Buyers should check for open recalls and test all electronics carefully.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | FORD Explorer Sport | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,313 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 1 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 69 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 1313.0 | 443.8 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 66 Better | 144 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 3 | 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 Explorer Sport
- 01STRUCTURE389
- 02POWER TRAIN356
- 03ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING87
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM81
- 05SUSPENSION77
Owners report cracks in the liftgate and even spontaneous shattering of the rear window. The liftgate may also open unexpectedly, sometimes while driving, which could lead to crashes or injuries.
Complaints include the transmission slipping out of gear, especially when accelerating or decelerating on ramps, and the shift lever breaking off inside the steering column. These failures can leave you stranded or cause loss of control.
Some owners experience stalling without warning, which can happen at low speeds and lead to crashes. This suggests potential fuel or electrical issues that need immediate attention.
Electrical glitches can cause the vehicle to stall unexpectedly, as reported in a crash where the Explorer stalled at 10 mph. Such failures are dangerous because they often occur without warning lights.
“There is a crack down the middle section of the liftgate for quite some time. The liftgate has been unlocking and opening automatically by itself. On only rare occasions has the liftgate opened all the way while driving. On the morning of 7/28/2022 while the…”
“AWOKE THE MORNING OF MAY 10, 2017 TO FIND THE ENTIRE BACK LIFTGATE AND WINDOW EXPLODED OUTWARDS AND INWARDS OF OUR FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF OUR HOME, WE ARE RURAL, SO NO EVIDENCE OF SOMEONE PURPOSELY BREAKING IT. OUR SHERIFF IN CASCAD…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report noises, loss of power, and multiple warning lights (brake, hill descent, ABS) appearing at highway speeds. These symptoms can indicate serious engine or sensor failures that may require costly repairs.
Complaints include tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) warnings followed by catastrophic tire failure, and rodent damage to wiring harnesses even on new cars. Electrical gremlins can affect safety systems and leave you stranded.
Many owners report intermittent failures of adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and automatic high beams, with dashboard warnings appearing and disappearing. These defects can disable critical safety features without warning.
Brake-related complaints include ABS and traction control issues, sometimes accompanied by critical failure messages. Brake problems are especially concerning because they directly affect stopping ability.
“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 Explorer Sport — 1 recall
The defect: CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE D…
The risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The fix: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
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 Explorer Sport or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Honda Accord has far fewer complaints per year (about 444) compared to the Ford Explorer Sport (about 1,313), but it has more recalls (38 vs. 1). In practice, the Accord may have more known issues that get fixed for free, while the Explorer Sport's problems are more frequent and may lack recall remedies. Both have reported serious safety defects, so neither is risk-free.
Key differences
- The Ford Explorer Sport has a much higher complaint rate per year (1,313 vs. 444), but the Honda Accord has more recalls (38 vs. 1), meaning the Accord may have more factory-acknowledged defects.
- Explorer Sport owners frequently report liftgate cracks and unexpected opening, while Accord owners report advanced safety systems like forward collision avoidance failing intermittently.
- Transmission slipping out of gear is a common Explorer Sport complaint, whereas Accord complaints include engine power loss and multiple warning lights at speed.
- Both vehicles have reports of stalling or sudden failures, but the Explorer Sport's issues are more concentrated in structure and power train, while the Accord's are spread across engine, electrical, and safety systems.
- Inspect the liftgate for cracks along the middle section and test the power liftgate to ensure it doesn't open on its own, especially while driving.
- Check the transmission for any slipping or hesitation, particularly when accelerating or decelerating on ramps, and listen for unusual noises from the steering column when shifting.
- Test all advanced safety features, including adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and automatic high beams, for intermittent warnings or failures.
- Look for signs of electrical issues such as TPMS warnings that don't clear, and inspect wiring harnesses for rodent damage, especially if the car is stored outside.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website using the VIN.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the specific problem areas for each model.
- During a test drive, deliberately test the transmission (for Explorer Sport) and all electronic safety systems (for Accord).
- Ask the seller for maintenance records and whether any complaints or repairs related to the reported issues have been addressed.
- For the Explorer Sport, inspect the liftgate and rear window for cracks or signs of repair; for the Accord, check tire condition and TPMS functionality.
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 Explorer Sport or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- FORD Explorer Sport vs Honda Accord
- FORD Explorer Sport total complaints
- 1,313
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- FORD Explorer Sport total recalls
- 1
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- FORD Explorer Sport avg complaints/year
- 1313.0
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Honda Accord
- FORD Explorer Sport top complaint area
- STRUCTURE
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE