Head-to-head reliability
FORD F 650 vs Honda Accord
How the FORD F 650 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 650 vs Honda Accord: The F-650 has far fewer complaints (20 vs 4,438 over 10 years) but its issues are severe, including brake failures and a $21,898 engine repair. The Accord's top problems are engine and electrical, with 160 crash-related complaints. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the FORD F 650 or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
FORD F 650
The Ford F-650 is a heavy-duty commercial truck, often used for towing or as a work vehicle. Over the past decade, owners have reported a relatively low number of complaints (20 total, averaging 2 per year), but the issues are concentrated in critical systems like brakes, steering, and engine. Complaints describe brake pedal noises, parking brake failure, loss of brake and steering assist when the engine quits, and even a catastrophic engine failure requiring a $21,898 repair. While not frequent, these failures can be serious and costly, especially for a vehicle that may be used for work.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular midsize sedan with a much higher complaint volume (4,438 over 10 years, averaging 443.8 per year). The top problem areas are engine, electrical system, and forward collision avoidance. Owners report engine noises, sudden loss of power with multiple warning lights, electrical issues like rodent damage to wiring, and false activations or malfunctions of the collision avoidance system. With 160 crash-related complaints and 3 deaths, these issues can have safety implications, though the high volume also reflects the Accord's large sales numbers.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | FORD F 650 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 20 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 8 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 2.0 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 F 650
- 01SERVICE BRAKES16
- 02STEERING6
- 03ENGINE5
- 04POWER TRAIN4
- 05FUEL SYSTEM3
Owners report brake pedal making abnormal sounds when releasing, and the parking brake not working. One owner experienced a loss of brake assist when the engine quit, making it hard to stop.
There are reports of steering tie-rod assembly issues and a recall for inspection. Also, when the engine stalls, steering assist is lost, making the truck difficult to steer.
A 2023 F-650 with the 7.3L engine suffered catastrophic camshaft/lifter failure at 48,664 miles, requiring a $21,898 repair. Another owner reported the engine suddenly quit while driving, causing loss of power and assist systems.
Complaints include a 'Service Advance Trac' warning appearing shortly after purchase, and the same engine failure mentioned above, indicating potential drivability and transmission-related issues.
“Picked up the brand new F650 rollback tow truck from the dealer in Ohio. Traveling back to California with a Chevy Yukon 2WD on the bed. Approx 200 miles from the dealer the "Service Advance Trac warning appeared on the dash. The traction yellow light and wre…”
“The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-650. The contact stated while releasing the brake pedal and driving from a complete stop, the brake pedal made abnormal sounds. The contact also stated that the parking brake was not operative. The vehicle was taken to the deale…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report engine noises from new, and one experienced a sudden loss of power with multiple warning lights (brake, hill descent, ABS) while driving at highway speeds, which could be dangerous.
Issues include a TPMS warning that led to a tire failure, and rodent damage to the camshaft position wiring harness, causing electrical problems. These can lead to unexpected failures.
The system can malfunction, causing false activations or warnings. One owner reported the system failing to resolve a threat, while another saw intermittent messages about adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist.
Brake-related complaints are common, with issues like the brake system warning lights and potential loss of braking function, as seen in the engine failure complaint.
“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 650 — 8 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 F-Super Duty F250, F350, F450, F550, F600, and 2021-2022 F-650, F750 vehicles. Biodiesel deposits may form on the pump drivetrain roller components, which could lead to failure of the high pressure fuel pump.
The risk: High pressure fuel pump failure can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the powertrain control module (PCM) and Transmission Control Module (TCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 23, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Fo…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023-2024 F-650 and F-750 vehicles. The parking brake may malfunction and allow the lever to be released without pressing the release button.
The risk: A parking brake that is released unexpectedly may result in a vehicle roll away, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the parking brake handle assembly. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 17, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S09.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, F-600, and Medium Duty F-650 and F-750 vehicles equipped with 6.7L diesel engines. A small void may be present in the top-center of the vehicle's underhood secondary fuel filter cap, which may progress to a p…
The risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire or injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the primary and secondary fuel filters, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 28, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S01.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 F-650 and F-750 vehicles equipped with 7.3L gas engines. The transmission oil cooler line may contact the air conditioning compressor pulley, possibly causing a transmission fluid leak.
The risk: Leaking transmission fluid may contact hot engine components, increasing the risk of an engine compartment fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect transmission oil cooler lines for proper orientation and damage, correcting the lines and replacing any that are damaged, free of charge. The recall began December 21, 2020. Owners may cont…
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 650 or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Ford F-650 has far fewer complaints per year (2.0) compared to the Honda Accord (443.8), indicating a lower rate of reported issues. However, the F-650's problems are more severe and costly, often involving critical safety systems. In practice, the Accord's higher complaint count reflects its popularity, but the nature of its issues—especially with collision avoidance and electrical systems—may be more annoying than dangerous.
Key differences
- The F-650 has a much lower complaint rate (2/yr vs 443.8/yr), but its complaints often involve brake and steering failures that can be safety-critical.
- The Accord's top issue is engine problems (985 complaints), while the F-650's top issue is service brakes (16 complaints).
- The Accord has 160 crash-related complaints and 3 deaths, whereas the F-650 has none, suggesting the Accord's issues may have more direct safety consequences.
- The F-650's engine failure can cost over $20,000 to repair, while the Accord's issues are typically less expensive but more frequent.
- Inspect the brake system thoroughly, including the parking brake and brake pedal feel, as owners report abnormal sounds and parking brake failure.
- Check for any signs of engine trouble, such as unusual noises or stalling, and verify the engine's maintenance history, especially if it has high mileage.
- Test the forward collision avoidance system to ensure it doesn't activate falsely or fail to respond, as owners report both issues.
- Look for any electrical issues, such as warning lights or wiring damage, and check the condition of the wiring harnesses, especially if the car has been parked outdoors.
Before you buy
- For the F-650, have a mechanic inspect the brake system, including the parking brake and brake lines, and check for any outstanding recalls.
- For the F-650, ask for service records related to the engine and transmission, and consider a compression test if possible.
- For the Accord, test drive at highway speeds to see if any warning lights appear or if the engine loses power.
- For the Accord, check the operation of the adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist, and ensure no warning messages appear.
- For both, check the NHTSA website for any open recalls and verify they have been addressed.
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 650 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 5 |
| 2025 | 4 | 101 |
| 2024 | 0 | 214 |
| 2023 | 2 | 224 |
| 2022 | 2 | 238 |
| 2021 | 4 | 226 |
| 2020 | 0 | 355 |
| 2019 | 4 | 677 |
| 2018 | 0 | 1864 |
| 2017 | 3 | 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 650 or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- FORD F 650 vs Honda Accord
- FORD F 650 total complaints
- 20
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- FORD F 650 total recalls
- 8
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- FORD F 650 avg complaints/year
- 2.0
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- FORD F 650
- FORD F 650 top complaint area
- SERVICE BRAKES
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE