Head-to-head reliability
FORD Taurus X vs Honda Accord
How the FORD Taurus X 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 Taurus X vs Honda Accord: The Taurus X averages 82 complaints per year with 2 recalls, while the Accord averages 443.8 complaints per year with 38 recalls. The Taurus X has 3 injuries and 0 deaths reported; the Accord has 144 injuries and 3 deaths. Both have distinct failure patterns. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the FORD Taurus X or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
FORD Taurus X
The Ford Taurus X is a used wagon/SUV that averages 82 complaints per year over two years, with 2 recalls and 3 injuries reported. Owners frequently report transmission issues like jerking and slipping, steering failures such as power steering loss and rusted subframes, and unintended acceleration. These problems can lead to expensive repairs and safety risks, so a thorough inspection is critical.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular midsize car with 4,438 complaints over ten years, averaging 443.8 per year, plus 38 recalls, 160 crash-related reports, 144 injuries, and 3 deaths. Common complaints include engine noises and failures, electrical glitches, and forward collision avoidance system errors. While the volume is higher due to more vehicles on the road, the range of issues means buyers should check for specific problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | FORD Taurus X | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 164 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 2 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 7 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 82.0 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 3 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 Taurus X
- 01POWER TRAIN45
- 02STEERING44
- 03VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL26
- 04STRUCTURE18
- 05SERVICE BRAKES14
Owners report transmission problems such as jerking, popping, slipping, and failure to go into overdrive, often starting at highway speeds. These issues can lead to costly repairs and unsafe driving conditions.
Complaints include power steering failure, complete rack and pinion replacement, and a rusted-through front subframe causing the sway bar to break. This can result in sudden loss of steering control, especially at high speeds.
Reports describe unintended acceleration, such as a vehicle independently accelerating at a red light despite brake application. This poses a serious crash risk and requires immediate attention.
Issues include paint peeling, rough metal, and a tow hitch detaching while hauling a trailer. These structural problems can affect vehicle integrity and safety during towing or normal use.
“I bought this vehicle used from a lot. It had 2 previous owners and came with all the service history. I first noticed the vehicle seemed like it didn’t want to go into overdrive . It would get to about 70 mph which would have the rpm’s at 3k! The 2nd time or…”
“WE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING SINCE 2016 TO TED BRITT FORD AND TO FORD ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION AND THE JERKING, POPPING, SLIPPING, ESPECIALLY WHILE TURNING, AND THEY TOLD US THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME WE COMPLAINED. AT ONE…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report noises, loss of power, and critical failure alarms leading to speed reduction. These engine issues can strand drivers and require expensive diagnostics and repairs.
Complaints include TPMS warnings followed by tire failure, rodent damage to wiring, and sunroof glass exploding. Electrical gremlins can cause safety systems to malfunction unexpectedly.
Drivers experience intermittent warnings for adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and automatic high beams, sometimes with no obstructions. These failures can undermine trust in advanced safety features.
Brake-related complaints include ABS and traction control issues, with some reports of brake failure. Brake problems are critical for safety and should be inspected immediately.
“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 Taurus X — 2 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Ford Flex, 2008 and 2010-2012 Ford Taurus, 2008-2009 Ford Taurus X, 2008 Mercury Sable, 2009 and 2011 Lincoln MKS vehicles. The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high spe…
The risk: An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the driver's frontal air bag module, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on June 13, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Ford Flex, 2008 and 2010-2012 Ford Taurus, 2008-2009 Ford Taurus X, 2008 Mercury Sable, 2009 and 2011 Lincoln MKS vehicles. The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high spe…
The risk: An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the driver's frontal air bag module, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on June 13, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.…
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 Taurus X or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Ford Taurus X has far fewer complaints per year (82 vs. 443.8), but its issues often involve major systems like transmission and steering that can be costly and dangerous. The Honda Accord's higher complaint volume reflects its larger population, but it also has more recalls and crash-related reports. In practice, the Taurus X may have fewer overall problems, but the Accord's issues are more varied and include advanced safety features.
Key differences
- The Ford Taurus X has 82 complaints per year, while the Honda Accord has 443.8 per year, but the Accord's higher volume is partly due to more vehicles on the road.
- Taurus X owners frequently report transmission slipping and steering failures, whereas Accord owners report engine noises, electrical glitches, and forward collision avoidance errors.
- The Honda Accord has 38 recalls and 3 deaths reported, compared to 2 recalls and 0 deaths for the Taurus X.
- The Taurus X has 7 crash-related complaints and 3 injuries, while the Accord has 160 crash-related complaints and 144 injuries, indicating a higher number of reported incidents.
- Check for transmission issues: test drive at highway speeds to see if it shifts into overdrive smoothly and listen for jerking or slipping.
- Inspect the front subframe and steering components for rust or cracks, as owners report rust-through causing sway bar breakage and power steering failure.
- Listen for engine noises and check for warning lights related to the forward collision avoidance system, as owners report intermittent alerts and power loss.
- Inspect tires and electrical wiring for damage, as complaints include tire failure after TPMS warnings and rodent damage to wiring harnesses.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models using the NHTSA VIN lookup tool.
- Have a mechanic inspect the Ford Taurus X's transmission, steering rack, and subframe for rust or wear.
- For the Honda Accord, test all advanced safety features (adaptive cruise, lane keeping) and check for electrical issues like TPMS and sunroof operation.
- During test drives, replicate highway speeds and turning maneuvers to detect transmission or steering problems.
- Ask for maintenance records and confirm that any recall repairs have been completed.
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 Taurus X or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- FORD Taurus X vs Honda Accord
- FORD Taurus X total complaints
- 164
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- FORD Taurus X total recalls
- 2
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- FORD Taurus X avg complaints/year
- 82.0
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- FORD Taurus X
- FORD Taurus X top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE