Head-to-head reliability
RAM 3500 vs Honda Accord
How the RAM 3500 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 3500 vs Honda Accord: The RAM 3500 averages 175 complaints per year with 86 recalls, while the Honda Accord averages 452 complaints per year with 38 recalls. The Ram's top issue is service brakes (934 complaints), and the Accord's is engine (1006 complaints). Both have serious safety-related reports. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the RAM 3500 or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
RAM 3500
The RAM 3500 is a heavy-duty truck often used for towing and hauling, and its complaint pattern reflects that hard work. Over 10 years, it has averaged 175 complaints per year, with brakes being the most common trouble spot. Owners frequently report brake pedal issues and electrical glitches that can affect towing safety. While recalls are numerous, the real-world complaints show that brake and electrical problems can leave you without full control when you need it most.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular family sedan and hybrid, and its complaint volume is much higher—averaging 452 complaints per year. The most common issues involve the engine, electrical system, and forward collision avoidance. Owners describe sudden loss of power, electronic steering and braking failures, and false alarms from safety systems. These problems can be frightening, especially at highway speeds, and some have led to near-collisions.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | RAM 3500 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,750 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 86 | 38 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 51 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 175.0 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 31 Better | 146 |
| 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 3500
- 01SERVICE BRAKES934
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM297
- 03POWER TRAIN223
- 04HYDRAULIC196
- 05VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL161
Owners report soft or long brake pedal travel, sometimes requiring the pedal to be pushed halfway down before brakes engage. One owner towing a 14,000-pound trailer lost trailer brakes and stability control on hilly terrain, reducing control. This matters because brake problems directly affect your ability to stop safely, especially when loaded.
Complaints include infotainment blackouts, cruise control buttons failing, and backup camera wiring issues causing distorted images. These glitches can distract the driver and may indicate deeper wiring problems. For a buyer, electrical faults can be expensive to trace and fix.
Reports describe stalling after an accelerator control sensor warning, and multiple drivetrain failures shortly after purchase. Stalling in traffic is dangerous and can leave you stranded. These issues suggest potential sensor or transmission problems that need prompt attention.
Hydraulic complaints often relate to brake or steering assist failures, though specific owner text is limited. Any hydraulic issue can compromise braking or steering, so it's a critical area to inspect. Buyers should check for leaks or warning lights.
“Loss of various systems while towing 14,000# trailer in hilly terrain. Loss of trailer brakes caused diminished control on the vehicle. * 4WD System Temporarily Unavailable * Service Antilock Brake System * Service Electronic Stability Control * Service Trail…”
“The brakes do not apply until after the pedal reaches half of its travel distance and still not as good they should. Very soft pedal feeling and too long of pedal travel to apply brakes. Very unsafe! I have had it to the dealer 3 times for this condition sinc…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report sudden loss of speed with multiple alarms (brake, hill descent, ABS) and rattling noises during acceleration, especially in hybrids. These symptoms can indicate serious engine or hybrid system faults. A buyer should test drive and listen for unusual noises or warning lights.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, and TPMS warnings followed by tire failure. Such failures can cause loss of control. Electrical gremlins in modern Hondas can be hard to diagnose and repair.
Owners describe false activations of automatic braking or adaptive cruise control under clear conditions, sometimes nearly causing rear-end collisions. These safety features are meant to help, but when they malfunction they become a hazard. Buyers should verify any recall software updates.
Complaints include persistent rotten-egg odors and fuel pump issues, with one recall for fuel pump failure. A failing fuel pump can cause stalling or no-start conditions. This is a safety concern and should be checked before purchase.
“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…”
“Vehicle makes rattling noises while accelerating similar to a diesel engine also rough transitions between EV mode and Gas mode also when you press the charge button the engine makes a very noticeable jerk once it’s on ,Honda does not want to fix my issue and…”
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 3500 — 86 recalls
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Ram 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis, and 4500, 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles equipped with a Cummins 6.7L Turbo Diesel engine. An electrical short may occur in the heater grid relay with the ignition on or off.
The risk: An electrical short in the relay can result in an engine compartment fire with the ignition on or off, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the relay, free of charge. This will be a Phased campaign. Phase 1 will include 2023 model year vehicles. FCA US will not…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Ram 1500, Ram 3500 Cab Chassis with GVWR less than 10,000 lbs., and 2022-2024 Ram 2500 vehicles. The radio software may prevent the rearview image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Veh…
The risk: A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 24, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 97A.
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2023 Ram 1500 Classic, Ram 3500 Classic, 3500 Cab Chassis, 2023-2024 Ram 2500, 4500/5500 Cab Chassis, and Ram 3500 vehicles. The steering column control module may cause the high beams to activate when the turn signal is used or activate the turn signal w…
The risk: Turn signals and/or high beams that do not function as intended may cause confusion or reduced visibility to other road users, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the steering column control module (SCCM) software, and inspect and replace the module, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 19, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer ser…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) (Stellantis) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Ram 1500, Jeep Wrangler, Jeep Wagoneer, Jeep Grand Wagoneer, Chrysler Pacifica, Ram 3500, Ram 3500 cab chassis, Ram 2500, Ram 4500 cab chassis, Ram 5500 cab chassis, 2023 Jeep Gladiator, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Grand Cherokee L, R…
The risk: An air bag that does not deploy in a crash can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the steering column control module, as necessary free of charge. Some owner notification letters were mailed April 11, 2024 through June 20, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-85…
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 (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.
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 3500 or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The RAM 3500 has far fewer complaints per year (175 vs. 452 for the Honda Accord), but its issues often involve brakes and towing safety. The Accord's higher complaint rate includes many electrical and engine problems that can occur at speed. In practice, the Ram may be more reliable overall, but both have serious reported defects that require careful inspection.
Key differences
- The RAM 3500 averages 175 complaints per year, while the Honda Accord averages 452—more than double the rate.
- RAM 3500 owners most often report brake pedal and trailer brake loss; Honda Accord owners report engine stalling and electronic steering/braking failures.
- The Accord has more crash-related complaints (162 vs. 51) and injuries (146 vs. 31), though the Ram has 1 death vs. 3 for the Accord.
- Both have electrical complaints, but the Ram's are often infotainment or camera glitches, while the Accord's include simultaneous loss of power steering and brakes.
- Check for soft or long brake pedal travel and any warning lights for ABS or stability control—these are common complaints and can indicate brake system faults.
- Test all electrical features, especially infotainment, cruise control, and backup camera, and look for signs of wiring repairs or aftermarket fixes.
- During a test drive, listen for rattling noises during acceleration and watch for any warning lights related to the engine, ABS, or hill descent—these may signal hybrid or engine issues.
- Verify that all forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control recalls have been performed, and test these systems in a safe area to ensure they don't false-activate.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website using the VIN.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the brake system (RAM) or hybrid/electrical systems (Accord) before purchase.
- Test drive at highway speeds and in stop-and-go traffic to feel for brake pedal response, stalling, or unexpected warnings.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for brake fluid changes (RAM) or software updates (Accord).
- Check tire condition and TPMS functionality, as both vehicles have complaints related to tires or pressure monitoring.
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 3500 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 27 | 10 |
| 2025 | 42 | 109 |
| 2024 | 44 | 219 |
| 2023 | 17 | 226 |
| 2022 | 190 | 252 |
| 2021 | 62 | 234 |
| 2020 | 116 | 362 |
| 2019 | 136 | 691 |
| 2018 | 804 | 1884 |
| 2017 | 312 | 537 |
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 3500 or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- RAM 3500 vs Honda Accord
- RAM 3500 total complaints
- 1,750
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- RAM 3500 total recalls
- 86
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- RAM 3500 avg complaints/year
- 175.0
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- RAM 3500
- RAM 3500 top complaint area
- SERVICE BRAKES
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE