Head-to-head reliability
FORD GT vs Honda Accord
How the FORD GT 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 GT vs Honda Accord: The Ford GT has 10 complaints over 9 years and 11 recalls, mostly for air bags. The Honda Accord has 4,524 complaints over 10 years and 38 recalls, with engine and electrical issues most common. The Accord's higher totals reflect far more vehicles on the road. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the FORD GT or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
FORD GT
The Ford GT is a low-volume exotic, so its 10 complaints over 9 years reflect a tiny owner pool rather than a proven reliability record. The pattern is dominated by Takata air bag inflator recalls, with some owners reporting repeat notices or parts delays. A few reports describe serious mechanical failures, including a head gasket failure, an engine block fire, and loss of control tied to suspension or control-arm issues. Living with one means expecting recall paperwork and potentially expensive, specialized repairs.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a high-volume family sedan, and its 4,524 complaints over 10 years show a much broader set of everyday owner-reported problems. The most common themes are engine and electrical faults, with many reports of warning lights, power loss, and stalling-like behavior. Forward collision avoidance complaints describe unexpected braking or failure to respond, and fuel/propulsion issues appear often. Recalls cover hybrid power control software, fuel pumps, seat belt retractors, and spare tires.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | FORD GT | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 10 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 11 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 1.1 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 1 Better | 146 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 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 GT
- 01AIR BAGS5
- 02ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING2
- 03SUSPENSION1
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
- 05POWER TRAIN1
Owners report Takata air bag inflator recalls, with some saying the repair was done but a later notice arrived, or that parts were unavailable. For a buyer, this means checking that every open air bag recall has been completed.
One owner heard a loud noise, smelled fuel, and was told the head gasket needed replacement; another report describes an engine block fire that destroyed the car. These are severe, low-frequency events but expensive if they occur.
An owner reported losing control after driving over a speed bump at 65 mph, with the vehicle spinning. A separate report mentions control-arm defects and a crash. A buyer should have the suspension and control arms inspected.
One power train complaint appears in the data, but the sample text does not describe the specific failure. Even so, any power train issue on an exotic car can be costly, so a pre-purchase mechanical inspection is important.
“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD GT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR HAD BEEN PERFORMED CONCERNING THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS. A MONTH LATER, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V384000 (AIR BA…”
“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD GT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V319000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT O…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report warning alarms, loss of speed, rattling noises while accelerating, and rough transitions between EV and gas modes. These can leave a driver with reduced power or an unresolved repair, so a buyer should check for stored codes and service history.
Reports include electronic power steering and braking systems failing and locking up at highway speeds, plus a TPMS repair followed by a tire failure. Electrical faults can affect safety-critical systems, so a thorough electrical check is wise.
Owners describe unexpected braking or failure to respond under similar driving conditions, sometimes with adaptive cruise control set. This matters because the system is meant to prevent crashes, and repeated unresolved complaints suggest a buyer should test it carefully.
Fuel and propulsion complaints are common, and a recall covers the fuel pump. Owners also report sulfur-like odors that persisted after paid repairs. A buyer should confirm the fuel pump recall was done and check for fuel smells.
“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…”
“Vehicle makes rattling noises while accelerating similar to a diesel engine also rough transitions between EV mode and Gas mode also when you press the charge button the engine makes a very noticeable jerk once it’s on ,Honda does not want to fix my issue and…”
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 GT — 11 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2009-2011 Mercury Milan, 2006 Ford GT, 2008-2012 Fusion, 2007-2010 Edge and Lincoln MKX, and 2009-2010 Lincoln MKZ vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with a driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator used as…
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver and passenger air bag module, and replace either the module or the inflator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer servi…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012 Ford Fusion and Mustang and Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Maria…
The risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Interim letters informing owners of the recall an…
The defect: Ford Motor Company, (Ford) is conducting a regional recall for certain model year 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in geographic locations associated with high absolute humidity. Specifically, vehicles sold, or ever registered, in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico…
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passengers frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflators in all affected vehicles, free of charge. The recall began January 30, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S28…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2014 Mustang vehicles manufactured April 6, 2004, to June 21, 2014, and 2005-2006 GT vehicles manufactured February 20, 2004, to September 22, 2006. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be…
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver side air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on June 10, 2016. Even if interi…
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 (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021 Accord Sedan, Accord Hybrid, CR-V, Ridgeline, 2022 Insight and CR-V Hybrid vehicles. The automatic locking retractor on the second-row center seat belt assembly may deactivate improperly, which can result in an unsecured child restraint sys…
The risk: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the second-row center seat belt assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
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 GT or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Ford GT averages about 1.1 complaints per year, while the Honda Accord averages about 452.4 per year. That gap mostly reflects how many more Accords are on the road, not a simple quality ranking. In practice, the Ford GT's issues are fewer but often exotic and expensive, while the Accord's issues are more frequent but usually addressed through dealer service or recalls.
Key differences
- The Ford GT's complaints are dominated by Takata air bag recalls, while the Honda Accord's complaints span engine, electrical, forward collision avoidance, and fuel systems.
- The Ford GT has 1 crash-related complaint and 1 death in the data; the Honda Accord has 162 crash-related complaints, 146 injuries, and 3 deaths, though these totals reflect very different numbers of vehicles on the road.
- Ford GT owners report severe but rare events like head gasket failure and engine block fire; Honda Accord owners more often report warning lights, power loss, and unexpected braking.
- The Honda Accord has 38 recalls, including hybrid power control software and fuel pump issues, while the Ford GT has 11 recalls, mostly for air bag inflators.
- Confirm that all Takata air bag recalls have been completed, and ask for proof, because owners reported repeat notices and parts delays.
- Inspect for fuel smells, coolant loss, or overheating signs that could point to head gasket problems, and have the suspension and control arms checked for cracks or looseness.
- Check for stored engine and hybrid codes, and test the transition between EV and gas modes for jerking or rattling noises.
- Test the forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control systems, and confirm the fuel pump recall was performed; also look for sulfur-like odors.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN through NHTSA to see every open recall and confirm completion, especially air bag recalls on the Ford GT and fuel pump or hybrid software recalls on the Honda Accord.
- Ask for a full service history and any warranty repair records, since both vehicles have reports of unresolved or repeated issues.
- Have a mechanic inspect the Ford GT for suspension, control arm, engine, and fuel system problems before purchase.
- Have a mechanic scan the Honda Accord for engine, electrical, and hybrid fault codes, and test the forward collision avoidance system on a safe road.
- Take a test drive that includes highway speeds and, for the Accord, stop-and-go traffic to check for power loss, warning lights, or rough hybrid transitions.
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 GT | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 0 | 252 |
| 2021 | 0 | 234 |
| 2020 | 0 | 362 |
| 2019 | 0 | 691 |
| 2018 | 0 | 1884 |
| 2017 | 0 | 537 |
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 GT or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- FORD GT vs Honda Accord
- FORD GT total complaints
- 10
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- FORD GT total recalls
- 11
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- FORD GT avg complaints/year
- 1.1
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- FORD GT
- FORD GT top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE