Head-to-head reliability
FORD Mustang vs Honda Accord
How the FORD Mustang 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 Mustang vs Honda Accord: The Mustang averages 106 complaints per year with 68 recalls, while the Accord averages 444 complaints per year with 38 recalls. Mustang owners report sudden power loss and steering failures, whereas Accord owners face sensor glitches and engine issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the FORD Mustang or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
FORD Mustang
The Ford Mustang, over the past decade, has accumulated 1,064 complaints, averaging about 106 per year, with 68 recalls. Owners frequently report sudden engine stalls, electrical system failures, and transmission issues, which can create dangerous situations in traffic. The car's performance-oriented nature doesn't exempt it from reliability concerns, and buyers should expect potential visits to the shop for these recurring problems.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord, with 4,438 complaints over ten years (averaging 443.8 per year) and 38 recalls, shows a higher raw number of complaints but also reflects its larger sales volume. The most common issues involve the engine, electrical system, and forward collision avoidance systems, with owners describing sudden power loss, sensor malfunctions, and even a sunroof explosion. While the Accord is generally reliable, these reports indicate that even mainstream sedans can have significant defects.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | FORD Mustang | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,064 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 68 | 38 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 73 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 106.4 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 38 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 Mustang
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM229
- 02ENGINE187
- 03POWER TRAIN164
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER163
- 05BACK OVER PREVENTION106
Owners report sudden steering lock-ups and complete power loss while driving, often leading to crashes. The electronic steering gear can jerk and lock, and the engine may stall without warning, posing serious safety risks.
Frequent engine stalls, especially in EcoBoost models, occur without warning, causing loss of power in traffic. Some recalls for engine cooling have been issued, but parts may be unavailable, leaving owners waiting for repairs.
Transmission problems, particularly with the 10R80 automatic, are reported, including harsh shifting and failures. Owners also mention issues with the valve body, which can affect drivability and require costly repairs.
“The vehicle experienced a sudden steering malfunction involving the electronic steering gear. While backing out of a parking structure, the steering wheel suddenly jerked and locked instead of naturally correcting, resulting in collision with a pillar. There…”
“While driving approximately 45 mph and entering a highway, my 2022 Ford Mustang GT California Special suddenly lost power and shut off completely. The engine stalled without warning, creating a dangerous situation with surrounding traffic. I had to coast the…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report unusual noises and sudden loss of power, with warning lights for brake, hill descent, and ABS appearing. Some vehicles experience critical failures that cause them to lose speed on highways, which is alarming.
Issues include TPMS warnings leading to tire failures, and rodent damage to wiring harnesses, which can cause electrical malfunctions. These problems can be intermittent and hard to diagnose, leaving owners frustrated.
The system can malfunction, causing false alerts or unintended braking, and sometimes disabling adaptive cruise control and lane keeping. These intermittent failures can undermine driver confidence in safety features.
“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 Mustang — 68 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 F-150, Bronco, 2024 Ranger, 2025 Mustang, Explorer, and Aviator vehicles. The transmission valve body may have been machined incorrectly, which can cause reverse gear failure, or unexpected forward movement in reverse or neutral gear.
The risk: Unexpected vehicle movement increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the transmission main control valve body, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 11, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S19.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Lincoln Nautilus, Mustang Mach E, and Mustang vehicles. The LED Driver Modules may contain a burnt diode, which can cause the low-beam and high-beam headlights, daytime running lights, front position lights, and front turn signals to fail in the a…
The risk: Exterior lighting failure can reduce visibility for the driver and other road users, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the LED Driver Modules, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 22, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Mustang, and Mustang GTD vehicles. Water may enter the body control module and cause a loss of communication with the exterior lighting, including the license plate light, side marker, and tail lights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply w…
The risk: License plate, side marker, and tail lights that fail to illuminate as intended can reduce visibility to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and seal the body seams as necessary. Dealers will also inspect the body control module for corrosion and replace it, if necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed Octob…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Ranger, Lincoln Nautilus, Mustang, Maverick, Explorer, Escape, Lincoln Corsair, Bronco Sport, and Bronco vehicles. The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve may fail, resulting in an unexpected loss of drive power.
The risk: An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the EGR valves, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 31, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S10. Vehicle Identification Numbers (…
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 Mustang or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Ford Mustang has fewer complaints per year (106.4) compared to the Honda Accord (443.8), but the Mustang's issues are more severe, involving sudden power loss and steering failures. In practice, the Accord's higher complaint count is partly due to its popularity, but its problems are less likely to cause immediate danger. Overall, the Mustang's lower frequency is offset by the higher risk of critical failures.
Key differences
- The Mustang has more recalls (68) than the Accord (38), indicating a higher rate of manufacturer-identified defects.
- Mustang owners report sudden engine stalls and steering lock-ups, which are immediate safety hazards, while Accord owners more often face sensor and system glitches.
- The Accord's forward collision avoidance issues are frequent but typically not as dangerous as the Mustang's power loss incidents.
- The Mustang's transmission problems (10R80) are a known weak point, whereas the Accord's engine issues are more about noise and power loss.
- Check for any signs of electrical gremlins, such as intermittent power loss or steering wheel jerk, and ensure all recalls are completed, especially for engine cooling.
- Test the transmission thoroughly, especially the 10R80, for smooth shifting and any warning signs of failure.
- Inspect the wiring harness for rodent damage, which can cause electrical issues, and verify that all forward collision avoidance sensors are functioning correctly.
- Listen for unusual engine noises and check for any warning lights related to braking or stability systems.
Before you buy
- Check the NHTSA website for open recalls on the specific VIN and confirm that all recall repairs have been performed.
- For the Mustang, ask for service records related to engine stalls, steering, and transmission issues.
- For the Accord, ask about any repairs to the forward collision avoidance system or electrical wiring.
- Take both cars for a test drive, including highway speeds, to see if any warning lights appear or if there are any unusual noises.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the vehicle, focusing on the engine, transmission, and electrical systems.
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 Mustang | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 7 | 5 |
| 2025 | 14 | 101 |
| 2024 | 73 | 214 |
| 2023 | 149 | 224 |
| 2022 | 49 | 238 |
| 2021 | 55 | 226 |
| 2020 | 118 | 355 |
| 2019 | 147 | 677 |
| 2018 | 187 | 1864 |
| 2017 | 265 | 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 Mustang or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- FORD Mustang vs Honda Accord
- FORD Mustang total complaints
- 1,064
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- FORD Mustang total recalls
- 68
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- FORD Mustang avg complaints/year
- 106.4
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- FORD Mustang
- FORD Mustang top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE