Head-to-head reliability
FORD FIVE Hundred vs Honda Accord
How the FORD FIVE Hundred 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 FIVE Hundred vs Honda Accord: The Five Hundred averages 357.7 complaints per year, with major issues in the CVT and throttle body causing unintended acceleration. The Accord averages 443.8 complaints per year, but many involve forward collision system glitches. The Accord has fewer safety-critical failures, but both require careful inspection. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the FORD FIVE Hundred or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
FORD FIVE Hundred
The Ford Five Hundred is a full-size sedan that owners often keep for high mileage, but its reliability record is marred by a few persistent issues. The most striking pattern involves the CVT transmission and throttle body, which can cause sudden acceleration or hesitation, making the car feel unpredictable in everyday driving. Electrical gremlins, like flickering dash lights, add to the sense of a car that may need frequent attention. While not every car will have these problems, the frequency of complaints suggests a buyer should be prepared for potential repairs.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular midsize sedan with a long production run, but recent models show a different set of concerns. Owners report issues with the engine, including noises and loss of power, as well as electrical problems that can trigger warning lights. A significant number of complaints involve the forward collision avoidance system, which can activate unexpectedly or show errors, affecting driver confidence. Despite these issues, the Accord's overall complaint rate is lower per year than the Five Hundred's, but the nature of the problems—especially those related to safety systems—requires careful evaluation.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | FORD FIVE Hundred | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,073 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 6 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 57 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 357.7 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 25 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 FIVE Hundred
- 01POWER TRAIN299
- 02VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL292
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM168
- 04ENGINE115
- 05ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING91
Owners report the CVT transmission can fail or shudder, and the throttle body may go out, causing a loss of power or sudden acceleration. These issues can be costly to repair and may leave you stranded.
Unintended acceleration is a common complaint, where the car surges forward without pressing the gas pedal, especially when shifting into drive or reverse. This can be dangerous in parking lots or tight spaces.
Flickering or completely dark dash clusters are reported, which can obscure critical information like speed and warning lights. This may happen intermittently, making it hard to diagnose.
Engine issues often tie back to the throttle body and MAF sensor, leading to poor performance or stalling. Some owners also mention problems with the CVT that affect engine behavior.
“THERE HAS BEEN A CONTINUING ISSUE WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSIONS IN 2005, 2006, AND 2007 MY FORD 500/FREESTYLE AND MERCURY MONTEGO. THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE THROTTLE BODY & MAF SENSOR. WHAT IS NOW HAPPENING IS THE CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSION C…”
“MY THROTTLE BODY WENT COMPLETELY OUT AT 99481 MILES. I PAID APPROX. $800 FOR THE REPAIR/REPLACEMENT. FORD MOTOR COMPANY REIMBURSED FOR THE SERVICE ON 12/11/2012 AFTER SO MANY COMPLAINTS HAD BEEN MADE ABOUT THE THROTTLE BODY IN THIS MODEL THAT THEY WERE PAYING…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report unusual noises and loss of power, sometimes accompanied by warning lights for brakes and other systems. This can happen suddenly, especially at highway speeds, and may indicate a serious issue.
Problems range from TPMS warnings to rodent damage on wiring harnesses, which can cause various malfunctions. Electrical gremlins can be intermittent and hard to trace.
The system may activate unexpectedly or show error messages for adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, and other driver aids. This can be startling and may reduce trust in the vehicle's safety features.
Brake-related complaints include issues with the ABS or stability control, sometimes linked to the forward collision system. Owners report warning lights and a loss of braking confidence.
“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 FIVE Hundred — 6 recalls
The defect: FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED AND MERCURY MONTEGO VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 5, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 11, 2006. THE FUEL TANKS MAY NOT HAVE CONSISTENT WELDS BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL FILLER NECK SPUD WHICH CAN AFFECT THE STRENGTH OF THE JOINT. SOME FUE…
The risk: FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 16, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.
The defect: CERTAIN AFTERMARKET FUEL FILTERS SOLD UNDER THE PUROLATOR BRAND NAME, P/N F65277, SHIPPED FROM JANUARY 16 THROUGH JUNE 2, 2006, FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO INCORRECT DESIGN, THE QUICK CONNECTORS MAY NOT FULLY SEAT WITH THE TUBE INTERFACE, EVEN THOUGH THE PERSON MAKING THE…
The risk: FAILURE OF THIS CONNECTION COULD LEAD TO FUEL SPILLAGE AND, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
The fix: UFI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 4, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT UFI FILTERS USA AT 800-230-5876.
The defect: CERTAIN AFTERMARKET FUEL FILTERS SOLD UNDER THE PUROLATOR BRAND NAME, P/N F65277, SHIPPED FROM JANUARY 16 THROUGH JUNE 2, 2006, FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO INCORRECT DESIGN, THE QUICK CONNECTORS MAY NOT FULLY SEAT WITH THE TUBE INTERFACE, EVEN THOUGH THE PERSON MAKING THE…
The risk: FAILURE OF THIS CONNECTION COULD LEAD TO FUEL SPILLAGE AND, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
The fix: UFI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 4, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT UFI FILTERS USA AT 800-230-5876.
The defect: CERTAIN AFTERMARKET FUEL FILTERS SOLD UNDER THE PUROLATOR BRAND NAME, P/N F65277, SHIPPED FROM JANUARY 16 THROUGH JUNE 2, 2006, FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO INCORRECT DESIGN, THE QUICK CONNECTORS MAY NOT FULLY SEAT WITH THE TUBE INTERFACE, EVEN THOUGH THE PERSON MAKING THE…
The risk: FAILURE OF THIS CONNECTION COULD LEAD TO FUEL SPILLAGE AND, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
The fix: UFI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 4, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT UFI FILTERS USA AT 800-230-5876.
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 FIVE Hundred or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Honda Accord has fewer complaints per year (443.8) compared to the Ford Five Hundred (357.7 per year over a shorter period), but the Five Hundred's issues are more concentrated in critical areas like transmission and speed control. In practice, the Accord may offer a more reliable daily driver, but its advanced safety systems can be a source of frustration.
Key differences
- The Five Hundred has a higher rate of complaints related to unintended acceleration and CVT transmission failures, which are safety-critical.
- The Accord's complaints are more spread out, with a significant number about driver-assistance systems that can be annoying but not always dangerous.
- The Five Hundred's electrical issues often affect the instrument cluster, while the Accord's electrical problems can trigger multiple warning lights and system errors.
- The Accord has a longer complaint history (10 years) and more recalls, but its per-year rate is lower, suggesting better long-term reliability.
- Test the transmission for any shuddering or hesitation, especially during acceleration, as CVT issues are common.
- Check for any signs of unintended acceleration by slowly releasing the brake in drive and reverse; if the car surges, it's a red flag.
- Verify that all safety systems (forward collision, lane keeping) operate correctly without false alerts, as these are frequent complaints.
- Inspect the wiring under the hood for any signs of rodent damage, which can cause electrical failures.
Before you buy
- For the Five Hundred, ask for service records related to the throttle body and CVT; see if any recalls were performed.
- For the Accord, check if the forward collision system has been updated or recalibrated; test it in a safe area.
- Have a mechanic inspect the electrical system in both cars, looking for aftermarket modifications or signs of water damage.
- Take both cars for an extended test drive, including highway speeds, to see if any warning lights appear.
- Check the NHTSA website for any open recalls on the specific VINs you're considering.
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 FIVE Hundred or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- FORD FIVE Hundred vs Honda Accord
- FORD FIVE Hundred total complaints
- 1,073
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- FORD FIVE Hundred total recalls
- 6
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- FORD FIVE Hundred avg complaints/year
- 357.7
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- FORD FIVE Hundred
- FORD FIVE Hundred top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE