Head-to-head reliability
Honda Accord Crosstour vs FORD F 150
How the Honda Accord Crosstour and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Honda Accord Crosstour vs FORD F 150: The Crosstour averaged 471.5 complaints per year over 2 years, with 256 air bag complaints and 2 deaths. The F-150 averaged 1,162.1 complaints per year over 10 years, with 3,648 power train complaints and 1 death. Both have recalls. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Honda Accord Crosstour or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Honda Accord Crosstour
The Honda Accord Crosstour is a niche crossover that generated 943 complaints over 2 years, averaging 471.5 per year. Air bags dominate with 256 complaints, often tied to non-deployment in crashes and a passenger inflator recall. Engine and brake issues also appear, including hesitation, loss of power, and seized calipers. With 14 recalls and 2 deaths reported, it demands careful inspection before purchase.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a high-volume truck with 11,621 complaints over 10 years, averaging 1,162.1 per year. Power train and electrical problems are most common, with owners reporting transmission limp mode, lead frame failures, and rear window shattering. It has 151 recalls and 1 death reported. The sheer number of complaints suggests frequent, sometimes serious, issues.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Honda Accord Crosstour | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 943 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 14 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 74 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 471.5 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 80 Better | 297 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 2 | 1 Better |
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.
Honda Accord Crosstour
- 01AIR BAGS256
- 02ENGINE172
- 03SERVICE BRAKES153
- 04POWER TRAIN82
- 05SEATS80
Owners report air bags failing to deploy in crashes, including a 2011 Accord where the front end was smashed but bags did not inflate. A recall exists for the passenger side inflator, so buyers must confirm it was fixed.
Complaints include hesitation after accelerating from a stop and flashing check engine lights with vibration and power loss at highway speed. These symptoms can leave a driver vulnerable in traffic.
Owners describe calipers seizing, causing brakes to lock and rotors to warp, sometimes recurring after multiple repairs. One report noted sudden loss of steering and brakes at highway speed.
A common issue is a faulty VTC actuator causing a loud grinding noise on cold starts. Another report notes cracked rubber dampers on CV axles that trap moisture and rust.
“The contact owned a 2011 Honda Accord. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously involved in a crash and the air bags did not deploy. There was no further information provided. The contact received a recall notice of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V502000…”
“On [XXX], my daughter rear-ended a stopped vehicle while trying to merge. She was driving approximately 60-70mph at the time of impact. The front end of her car was completely smashed and the insurance company deemed it a total loss. Despite the force and spe…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners report transmissions stuck in limp mode or 5th gear, often daily, and lead frame failures that can cause near collisions. These issues can strand a driver or cause sudden loss of power.
The same lead frame problem appears here, plus output speed sensor failures that trigger limp mode. A separate complaint describes a rear window defroster short that caused the back window to shatter.
One owner reported the rear window exploding outward after using the defroster, with no external cause. This is a safety concern because it can happen while driving.
With 1,224 complaints, lighting problems are frequent, though specific failure details are not provided in the sample. Buyers should test all lights and check for recalls.
“This lead frame issue is never ending. Well over a decade without a proper remedy. I’m very familiar with it. but this one nearly ended my life. After the near collision I called my mechanic and bought a new ford lead frame from a dealership. It’s doing fine…”
“My 2017 Ford F-150 V8 with the 6-speed automatic transmission has been experiencing a serious and recurring transmission malfunction. The truck has consistently, almost on a daily basis, gone into limp mode and become stuck in 5th gear. It also frequently fai…”
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.
Honda Accord Crosstour — 14 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2014 TSX Sport Wagon, 2010-2013 ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic and Civic Hybrid, 2008-2010 Civic GX NGV, 2012-2015 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2014 Fit EV, 2010-20…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are F…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2013 TSX Sport Wagon, and 2010-2012 ZDX and 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV, 2012-2014 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2013 Insight, and 200…
The risk: An incorrectly installed air bag inflator may not properly deploy the passenger frontal air bag in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator installation and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 5, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Acura TSX, 2011 TSX Wagon, 2010-2011 Acura ZDX, 2008-2011 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, Civic Hybrid, and Civic GX, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2010-2011 FCX Clarity and Insight, and 2009-2011 Fit, and Pilot…
The risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall is KA4, KA5, KA6, and KA7.
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Acura TSX, ZDX, Honda Accord Crosstour, Fit, Insight and Pilot vehicles, 2011-13 Acura TSX Sportswagon, 2010-2012 Honda Accord,, 2010-2011 Honda Civic, Civic NGV, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles and 2013 Honda FCX Clarity and Fit EV veh…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 16, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are…
FORD F 150 — 151 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater and previously remedied under recall 18V894. During the previous repair, the block he…
The risk: A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the engine block heater from being used. When replacement cables become available, a second notice will be mailed and dealers will replace the engine block heater cord, free of charge. The…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford F-150 Regular Cab and SuperCrew Cab vehicles. If a front seat belt pretensioner deploys as the result of a crash, the sparks may ignite materials such as carpeting or insulation within the B-pillar area.
The risk: A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove the B-pillar insulation material and wiring harness tape, and install heat resistant tape, free of charge. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Ford F-150, and 2017 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty trucks. The doors on these vehicles may have a bent or kinked actuation cable or the door latches may freeze after water gets into the latch. Either condition can result in the do…
The risk: A door that opens while driving can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the door latch actuation cables and repair if necessary, and install water shields over the door latches, free of charge. The recall began October 12, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer…
Buyer analysis
Honda Accord Crosstour or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Honda Accord Crosstour has far fewer issues per year (471.5 vs. 1,162.1), but its problems include serious air bag and brake failures. The Ford F-150’s higher complaint rate reflects more frequent power train and electrical faults. In practice, the Crosstour may need less frequent shop visits, but the F-150’s issues are more likely to leave you stranded.
Key differences
- The Crosstour’s top complaint is air bags (256), often non-deployment, while the F-150’s top complaint is power train (3,648), often transmission limp mode.
- The F-150 averages 1,162.1 complaints per year, more than double the Crosstour’s 471.5, but the Crosstour has 2 deaths vs. 1 for the F-150.
- The Crosstour has 14 recalls over 2 years; the F-150 has 151 recalls over 10 years, indicating broader chronic issues.
- Brake caliper seizure and VTC actuator grinding are common Crosstour complaints, while F-150 owners report lead frame failures and rear window shattering.
- Confirm the passenger air bag inflator recall was performed; ask for proof, as non-deployment is a reported risk.
- Listen for a loud grinding noise on cold start, which may indicate a faulty VTC actuator, and check for brake caliper drag or warped rotors.
- Test drive at highway speed and check for transmission limp mode or stuck gears; scan for code P0722 related to output speed sensor.
- Inspect the rear window and defroster operation, as a short can cause the glass to shatter; also ask about lead frame replacement history.
Before you buy
- Verify all open recalls are completed, especially air bag inflator for the Crosstour and powertrain software for the F-150.
- Obtain a pre-purchase inspection focusing on transmission (F-150) and brakes/engine (Crosstour).
- Request a full service history to see if common failures like VTC actuator or lead frame have been addressed.
- Scan for stored trouble codes, especially P0722 on the F-150 and any engine or brake codes on the Crosstour.
- Test all electrical features, including lights, defroster, and windows, and listen for unusual noises on cold start.
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 Honda Accord Crosstour or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Honda Accord Crosstour vs FORD F 150
- Honda Accord Crosstour total complaints
- 943
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Honda Accord Crosstour total recalls
- 14
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Honda Accord Crosstour avg complaints/year
- 471.5
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Honda Accord Crosstour
- Honda Accord Crosstour top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN