Head-to-head reliability
FORD F 550 vs Honda Accord
How the FORD F 550 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 F 550 vs Honda Accord: The F-550 has 76 complaints over 10 years (7.6/yr) with severe engine and frame issues, while the Accord has 4438 complaints (443.8/yr) but many are electronic glitches. The F-550 has 55 recalls, the Accord 38. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the FORD F 550 or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
FORD F 550
The Ford F-550 is a heavy-duty work truck, and its complaint history reflects the stresses of commercial use. Owners report fuel odors entering the cabin, diesel system issues, and engine failures, including a catastrophic valvetrain failure at 93,000 miles. Structural concerns like frame cracking and subframe noises also appear, suggesting that this truck may face durability challenges over time.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular midsize sedan with a high volume of complaints, but this is partly due to its large sales numbers. Owners report engine problems, electrical glitches, and issues with forward collision avoidance systems, including false activations. There are also reports of tire failures and a sunroof explosion, which are concerning but not necessarily widespread.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | FORD F 550 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 76 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 55 | 38 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 3 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 7.6 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 1 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 F 550
- 01FUEL SYSTEM17
- 02DIESEL16
- 03ENGINE13
- 04STRUCTURE11
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM9
Owners report strong fuel odors entering the cabin while driving, which can be alarming and indicate a leak. One recall (24V957000) addresses this, but parts were not always available, leaving owners waiting for a fix.
Diesel-related complaints mirror the fuel system issues, with diesel fuel-burning odors coming through the A/C vents. This suggests potential leaks or injector problems that could affect safety and comfort.
A 2020 F-550 with the 7.3L V8 suffered catastrophic engine failure due to a roller lifter bearing failure, requiring full engine replacement. This is a serious and costly issue that could occur at higher mileages.
There are reports of frame cracking on the F-550 chassis, which Ford addressed with a recall that either replaced or reinforced the frame. Owners also report abnormal subframe noises, indicating potential structural weaknesses.
“The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-550. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V957000 (FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manuf…”
“The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-550. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle emitted a strong odor of fuel into the cabin. The contact stated that other drivers were pointing at the underside of the vehicle. The contact pulled over a…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report engine noises and sudden loss of power, accompanied by warning lights for brakes, hill descent, and ABS. This suggests potential engine or electronic control issues that could affect drivability.
Electrical problems include TPMS warnings that led to a tire failure, and rodent damage to a wiring harness on a low-mileage vehicle. These issues can cause unexpected failures and are costly to repair.
Many owners report the forward collision warning system activating without any obstacle, and messages for adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, and other systems appearing intermittently. This can be annoying and potentially dangerous if the system behaves unpredictably.
Brake-related complaints are frequent, with some owners experiencing critical failure warnings and loss of speed. This suggests potential issues with the braking system or its electronic controls.
“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 F 550 — 55 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also…
The risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's num…
The defect: LGE Coachworks, Inc. (LGE Coachworks) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Ford E-450, F-550, and Freightliner M2-based vehicles equipped with ASA Electronics Voyager back-up camera displays. The displays may unexpectedly revert back to the factory default settings which may cause the camera image to be…
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: ASA will notify LGE Coachworks owners, and dealers will replace the displays, free of charge. The recall began May 9, 2019. Owners may contact ASA customer service at 1-800-384-4400 or LGE Coachworks at 1-800-209-3985.
The defect: Watts Manufacturing, LLC (Watts Manufacturing) is recalling certain 2019 First responder vehicles built on Ford F-550 chassis and 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. As such,…
The risk: If the brake lights incorrectly illuminate, it can confuse other drivers, possibly increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Watts Manufacturing will notify owners and Whelen dealers will replace the brake lights, free of charge. The recall began March 19, 2019. Owners may contact Watts Manufacturing customer service at 1-785-404-6003.
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 F 550 or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Ford F-550 has far fewer complaints per year (7.6) compared to the Honda Accord (443.8), but the F-550's issues are more severe, including engine and frame failures. The Accord's higher complaint count is partly due to its popularity, but the nature of its issues, especially with safety systems, is a concern for buyers.
Key differences
- The F-550 has a much lower complaint rate per year (7.6) than the Accord (443.8), but its complaints often involve major components like the engine and frame.
- The Accord's complaints are dominated by electronic and driver-assistance issues, such as false forward collision warnings, while the F-550's are more mechanical and structural.
- The F-550 has had a recall for frame cracking, a serious structural issue, whereas the Accord's recalls focus on software and sensors.
- The Accord has more crash-related complaints (160) and injuries (144) compared to the F-550 (3 crashes, 1 injury), but this is likely due to the Accord's higher sales volume.
- Inspect the frame for cracks or signs of reinforcement, especially if it's a 2019 or 2020 model, as frame cracking has been reported.
- Check for any pending recall repairs, particularly the fuel system recall (24V957000), and ask if parts are available.
- Test the forward collision warning and adaptive cruise control systems to ensure they don't activate without reason, as this is a common complaint.
- Check the electrical system for any warning lights or intermittent issues, and inspect the wiring harness for rodent damage, especially if the car is parked outdoors.
Before you buy
- For the F-550: ask for service records and verify if the frame recall has been performed; inspect the underside for rust or cracks.
- For the F-550: listen for unusual engine noises and check for fuel odors inside the cabin during a test drive.
- For the Accord: test all driver-assistance features on a clear road to see if any false warnings occur.
- For the Accord: check the tire pressure monitoring system and inspect tires for any signs of failure, and ask about any electrical issues.
- For both: obtain a vehicle history report and check for open recalls; have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection.
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 F 550 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 5 |
| 2025 | 0 | 101 |
| 2024 | 2 | 214 |
| 2023 | 1 | 224 |
| 2022 | 9 | 238 |
| 2021 | 12 | 226 |
| 2020 | 17 | 355 |
| 2019 | 14 | 677 |
| 2018 | 8 | 1864 |
| 2017 | 12 | 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 F 550 or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- FORD F 550 vs Honda Accord
- FORD F 550 total complaints
- 76
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- FORD F 550 total recalls
- 55
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- FORD F 550 avg complaints/year
- 7.6
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- FORD F 550
- FORD F 550 top complaint area
- FUEL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE