Head-to-head reliability
RAM 2500 vs Honda Accord
How the RAM 2500 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
RAM 2500 vs Honda Accord: Over 10 years, the RAM 2500 had 4,389 complaints and 90 recalls, while the Honda Accord had 4,438 complaints and 38 recalls. The RAM’s complaints are heavily brake-related (2,955), whereas the Accord’s are spread across engine and electronics. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the RAM 2500 or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
RAM 2500
The RAM 2500 is a heavy-duty truck that sees a lot of hard use, and its complaint pattern reflects that. Over 10 years, owners filed 4,389 complaints, with brake problems dominating—2,955 complaints about service brakes alone. Many describe seized calipers, faulty hoses, and unexpected brake engagement. Electrical and speed control issues also appear, and there are 90 recalls, so staying on top of recall repairs is part of ownership.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular family sedan, and its 4,438 complaints over 10 years are spread across different systems. Engine and electrical issues lead, but advanced safety features like forward collision avoidance also generate many complaints. With 38 recalls, it has far fewer recall campaigns than the RAM, but owner reports include serious problems like sudden power loss and tire failures. Overall, it’s a mixed bag of modern electronic gremlins and some mechanical concerns.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | RAM 2500 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 4,389 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 90 | 38 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 107 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 438.9 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 51 Better | 144 |
| 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.
RAM 2500
- 01SERVICE BRAKES2,955
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM885
- 03HYDRAULIC557
- 04VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL434
- 05POWER TRAIN357
Owners frequently report seized brake calipers caused by faulty brake hoses, leading to expensive repairs of calipers, rotors, and pads. Some also describe brakes engaging without input on the highway, which is a serious safety concern.
Complaints include vehicles catching fire while charging, and difficulty getting recall repairs completed due to parts availability. These issues can leave owners without critical safety fixes for extended periods.
Owners report intermittent failures of ABS, traction control, cruise control, blinkers, and wipers, often accompanied by warning lights. This can make the truck unpredictable to drive, especially in bad weather.
Recalls cover automatic transmission gear position indication and control module problems. While specific owner complaints are fewer, these issues can affect shifting and leave the truck in the wrong gear.
“I have a seized brake caliper that is a direct result of a faulty brake hose. The brakes were looked at by a brake specialist business and I was told the brake hoses had to be replaced as well as the calipers, rotors and pads on the front. I took it to the La…”
“This problem first occurred on a state highway in [XXX] in 2023 and again in 2026 (this incident.) While driving south on XXX, there was an undulation/slight bump in the interstate while in a mild right hand curve. My vehicles brakes engaged without my input…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report noises, loss of power, and multiple warning lights (brake, hill descent, ABS) appearing while driving. Some vehicles lose speed and cannot accelerate, which is dangerous on highways.
Complaints include tire pressure monitoring system failures leading to catastrophic tire failure, and rodent damage to wiring harnesses even on new cars. These can cause breakdowns and costly repairs.
Many owners report intermittent warnings for adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and automatic high beams. The systems may fail to detect obstacles or brake unexpectedly, undermining trust in the safety tech.
There are 592 brake complaints, and a recall for ABS/traction control module issues. Owners may experience reduced braking assistance or unexpected ABS activation, affecting stopping distance.
“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.
RAM 2500 — 90 recalls
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain Ram 2500 and Ram 3500 vehicles equipped with a 3.5" cluster and column shifter. A software error may cause the gear selection display to be inaccurate. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard n…
The risk: An inaccurate gear selection display may mislead the driver as to what gear is actually selected, leading to unexpected vehicle movement and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the cluster software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 22, 2025. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is 36C.
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Ram 1500 Pickup, Ram 2500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Cab Chassis, 4500 Ram Cab Chassis, and Ram 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles. A software error may cause the instrument panel cluster display to be blank. As such, these vehicles fail to comply…
The risk: An instrument panel display that does not show critical information, such as warning lights or gear selection, increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and update the instrument panel software or replace the instrument panel cluster, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 18, 2025. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2025 Ram 2500 Pickup, 3500 Pickup, 3500 Cab Chassis, 4500 Cab Chassis, and 5500 Cab Chassis trucks. A software error in the occupant restraint controller module may cause the driver's side air bag and/or seat belt pretensioner not to deploy in a crash and…
The risk: Driving with a disabled electronic stability control system increases the risk of a crash. Additionally, a driver's side air bag or seat belt pretensioner that does not deploy increases the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the occupant restraint controller module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 15, 2026. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Ram 1500 Pickup, Ram 2500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Cab Chassis, Ram 4500 Cab Chassis, and Ram 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles. A software error may cause the instrument panel display to fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the re…
The risk: An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as gear selection and warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the instrument panel software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 5, 2026. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is 35D. Vehicle Identification N…
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
RAM 2500 or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Honda Accord has slightly more complaints per year (443.8 vs. 438.9) but far fewer recalls (38 vs. 90). The RAM 2500’s issues are concentrated in brakes and electrical systems, while the Accord’s are spread across engine, electrical, and driver-assist features. In practice, the Accord may have fewer urgent recall campaigns, but its electronic failures can be just as disruptive.
Key differences
- RAM 2500 has 90 recalls vs. 38 for the Accord, meaning more frequent trips to the dealer for fixes.
- RAM 2500 brake complaints (2,955) dwarf the Accord’s (592), with reports of seized calipers and unintended braking.
- Accord owners report engine power loss and forward collision avoidance glitches, while RAM issues center on brakes and electrical fires.
- The Accord has more crash-related complaints (160 vs. 107) and injuries (144 vs. 51), but the RAM has one death vs. three for the Accord.
- Check brake hoses and calipers for signs of seizing or leaks; test brakes at highway speeds for unexpected engagement.
- Verify that all open recalls (especially electrical and transmission) have been completed; ask for documentation.
- Test the forward collision avoidance system, adaptive cruise control, and lane keeping assist for intermittent warnings or failures.
- Inspect tires for uneven wear or damage, and check for any electrical issues like TPMS warnings or rodent damage to wiring.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all recall repairs are done.
- Have a mechanic inspect the brakes, including hoses and calipers, on the RAM 2500.
- For the Accord, test all driver-assist features and scan for stored error codes.
- Check for signs of electrical problems, such as flickering lights or warning messages, on both vehicles.
- Take a test drive that includes highway speeds and braking to reproduce potential issues.
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 | RAM 2500 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 5 |
| 2025 | 0 | 101 |
| 2024 | 0 | 214 |
| 2023 | 144 | 224 |
| 2022 | 537 | 238 |
| 2021 | 105 | 226 |
| 2020 | 163 | 355 |
| 2019 | 192 | 677 |
| 2018 | 2562 | 1864 |
| 2017 | 686 | 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 RAM 2500 or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- RAM 2500 vs Honda Accord
- RAM 2500 total complaints
- 4,389
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- RAM 2500 total recalls
- 90
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- RAM 2500 avg complaints/year
- 438.9
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- RAM 2500
- RAM 2500 top complaint area
- SERVICE BRAKES
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE