Head-to-head reliability

FORD Mustang MACH E vs Honda Accord

How the FORD Mustang MACH E and Honda Accord compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.

FORD Mustang MACH E644 complaints · 39 recalls Fewer issues per year
Honda Accord4,173 complaints · 35 recalls

Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records

Which should you buy?

FORD Mustang MACH E averages fewer NHTSA complaints per year. FORD Mustang MACH E has 644 complaints and 39 recalls on record; Honda Accord has 4,173 complaints and 35 recalls. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.

The numbers

Side-by-side NHTSA record

Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.

CategoryFORD Mustang MACH EHonda Accord
Total complaintsAll model years combined644 Better4,173
Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns3935 Better
Crash reportsCrash-related complaints37 Better146
Complaints per yearAveraged across model years107.3 Better417.3
Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints15 Better135
Reported deathsTied to owner complaints0 Better3

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 Mustang MACH E

  1. 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM306
  2. 02FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE149
  3. 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER112
  4. 04POWER TRAIN109
  5. 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM84
In owners' words — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

[XXX] @ [XXX] The door locks are not opening from the outside. The battery will not charge. I cannot get my items out. I have a [XXX] work & personal electronics, along with personal items for myself & my family, inside that I cannot access. It's early Sunday…

On Thursday, May28 I was driving my 2025 Ford Mach-2 on Schrock Rd. in Columbus, Ohio at approximately 3:30 PM when the hood (the "frunk") of the car unexpectedly unlatched and opened, flying up to a vertical position and obscuring my view of traffic. I was d…

Honda Accord

  1. 01ENGINE940
  2. 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM812
  3. 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE784
  4. 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER677
  5. 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM567
In owners' words — ENGINE

2021 Honda Accord EX-L, 1.5T turbocharged engine. Within 8 months of purchase at approximately 21,900 miles, I experienced three separate incidents of sudden complete engine power loss at highway speeds. During each incident the vehicle would not exceed 2,000…

I am filing a complaint regarding the premature head gasket failure on my 2021 Honda Accord, which failed on May 28, 2026, with only 89,000 miles on the vehicle. A head gasket is a critical engine component that should last well beyond 89,000 miles under norm…

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 Mustang MACH E — 39 recalls

Power Train — Automatic Transmission — Internal — Park Pawl
#25V394000

The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Mustang Mach E vehicles. The park rod may fail to engage when the vehicle is placed in the park (P) position. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protecti…

The risk: A park rod that fails to engage can result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Dealers will replace the transmission park rod assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 3, 2025. Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C25.

Electrical System — Body Control Module — Software
#25V404000

The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Mustang Mach E vehicles. In the event of a low battery charge, the electronic door latches may remain locked once the driver or front passenger exits and shuts the door, possibly trapping someone who is unable to use the inside door release h…

The risk: The inability to enter or exit the vehicle in an emergency increases the risk of injury.

The fix: Dealers will update the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) and the Secondary On-Board Diagnostic Control Module C (SOBDMC) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed to 2021-2025 Mustang Mach-E owners September 12, 2025.…

Power Train — Automatic Transmission — Internal — Park Pawl
#25V863000Dec 2025

The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2026 F-150 Lightning BEV, 2024-2026 Mustang Mach-E, and 2025-2026 Maverick vehicles. The integrated park module may fail to lock into the park position when the driver shifts into park. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements…

The risk: A loss of park function can allow the vehicle to rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: The park module software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 3, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall…

Power Train — Automatic Transmission — Internal — Park Pawl
#25V863000Dec 2025

The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2026 F-150 Lightning BEV, 2024-2026 Mustang Mach-E, and 2025-2026 Maverick vehicles. The integrated park module may fail to lock into the park position when the driver shifts into park. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements…

The risk: A loss of park function can allow the vehicle to rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: The park module software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 3, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall…

Honda Accord — 35 recalls

Seat Belts — Rear/Other — Retractor
#21V900000

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.

Air Bags — Sensor — Occupant Classification — Front Passenger
#24V064000Jan 2024

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…

Fuel System, Gasoline — Delivery — Fuel Pump
#23V858000

The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV,…

The risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansi…

Air Bags — Sensor — Occupant Classification — Front Passenger
#26V332000

The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022…

The risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.

The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH,…

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.

YearFORD Mustang MACH EHonda Accord
202615
20251298
2024420
2023115224
2022132231
2021342221
Years to scrutinize: the 2021 FORD Mustang MACH E drew the most complaints (342); the 2018 Honda Accord drew the most (1,846). Inspect these model years especially closely.

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 Mustang MACH E or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.

Go deeper

Full reliability reports

FORD Mustang MACH E vs Honda Accord — comparison facts
Comparison
FORD Mustang MACH E vs Honda Accord
FORD Mustang MACH E total complaints
644
Honda Accord total complaints
4,173
FORD Mustang MACH E total recalls
39
Honda Accord total recalls
35
FORD Mustang MACH E avg complaints/year
107.3
Honda Accord avg complaints/year
417.3
More reliable overall
FORD Mustang MACH E
FORD Mustang MACH E top complaint area
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Honda Accord top complaint area
ENGINE