Last updated: 2026-03-04
Ford Mustang vs Honda Accord: Reliability Compared
Ford Mustang
Honda Accord
Choosing between the Ford Mustang and the Honda Accord? This page compares their reliability scores, NHTSA recall history, owner-reported complaints, and estimated annual repair costs so you can make a confident long-term ownership decision between these two midsize coupes.
Our reliability scores are based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, independent repair cost estimates, and sales-normalized complaint rates. The Honda Accord currently leads with an average score of 74/100 compared to 65/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.
How Do the Ford Mustang and Honda Accord Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Honda Accord is more reliable than the Ford Mustang, scoring 74/100 vs 65/100.
The Honda Accord demonstrates superior reliability with an average score of 86/100, significantly higher than the Ford Mustang's 68/100. Both vehicles have a similar owner complaint rate of 5.7 per 10,000 units sold, but the Accord benefits from a lower estimated annual repair cost of $400 compared to the Mustang's $709. Additionally, the Accord has fewer recalls over nine years, totaling 46 versus the Mustang's 71. Given these factors, the Accord emerges as the more reliable choice, particularly in terms of maintenance affordability and recall history.
Key Differences
- 1Honda Accord costs $309 less per year to repair
- 2Honda Accord has 25 fewer total recalls
- 3Honda Accord scores 9 points higher in reliability
Category Scoreboard
Ford Mustang vs Honda Accord: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Ford Mustang | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 65/100 | 74/100 |
| Years Tracked | 9 | 9 |
| Total Recalls | 71 | 46 |
| Complaints per 10k Sold | 5.7 | 5.7 |
| Annual Repair Cost | $709/yr | $400/yr |
| Repair Frequency | 0.2/yr | 0.3/yr |
| Major Repair Risk | 14% | 9% |
| Safety RatingNHTSA overall | 2026 NHTSA | 2026 NHTSA |
| Frontal | ||
| Side | ||
| Rollover | ||
| Year Wins | 1 | 7 |
What Are the Common Problems With the Ford Mustang and Honda Accord?
The Honda Accord has a higher overall complaint volume compared to the Ford Mustang, with significant issues reported in the electrical system, forward collision avoidance, and engine categories. Notably, the Accord's service brakes and electrical system are linked to a considerable number of crashes, with 18 crash-linked complaints each. In contrast, the Ford Mustang's most frequent issues are also in the electrical system and power train, but with a lower total count. However, the Mustang's power train issues have a relatively higher proportion of crash-linked complaints, indicating a potential area of concern for safety.
| Component | Ford Mustang | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1.5Low | 0.9Very Low |
| POWER TRAIN | 0.9Very Low | 0.3Very Low |
| ENGINE | 0.5Very Low | 0.7Very Low |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 0.3Very Low | 0.7Very Low |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 0.3Very Low | 0.6Very Low |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 0.3Very Low | 0.5Very Low |
| STEERING | 0.3Very Low | 0.4Very Low |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 0.2Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| FUEL SYSTEM | —None | 0.4Very Low |
| AIR BAGS | 0.1Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| STRUCTURE | 0.2Very Low | —None |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 0.1Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| WHEELS | —None | —None |
| SUSPENSION | —None | —None |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | —None | —None |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | —None | —None |
| LANE DEPARTURE | —None | —None |
| SEAT BELTS | —None | —None |
Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.
Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Ford Mustang or Honda Accord?
How Does Ford Mustang vs Honda Accord Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Ford Mustang | Honda Accord | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 73/1003R / 8C | 84/1001R / 65C | Honda Accord |
| 2024 | 67/10010R / 63C | 76/1006R / 166C | Honda Accord |
| 2023 | 72/1006R / 14C | 74/10010R / 199C | Honda Accord |
| 2022 | 59/10017R / 154C | 77/1003R / 201C | Honda Accord |
| 2021 | 54/10018R / 373C | 78/1005R / 215C | Honda Accord |
| 2020 | 66/1008R / 101C | 73/1008R / 344C | Honda Accord |
| 2019 | 67/1004R / 129C | 70/1005R / 574C | Honda Accord |
| 2018 | 65/1004R / 172C | 63/1008R / 1739C | Ford Mustang |
| 2026(predicted) | 71/100(predicted) | 78/100(predicted) | Honda Accord |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2025 Ford Mustang scored 73/100 and the 2025 Honda Accord scored 84/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.
Who Should Buy the Ford Mustang vs the Honda Accord?
Ford Mustang vs Honda Accord: Common Questions
- Is the Ford Mustang more reliable than the Honda Accord?
- Based on our data, the Honda Accord is more reliable with an average score of 74/100 compared to 65/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
- Which has more recalls, the Ford Mustang or the Honda Accord?
- The Ford Mustang has more recalls (71) compared to the Honda Accord (46). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.
- Which has fewer owner complaints, the Ford Mustang or the Honda Accord?
- Both models have a similar complaint rate of 5.7 per 10,000 units sold. Check individual year pages for breakdown by component.
- Which is cheaper to maintain, the Ford Mustang or the Honda Accord?
- Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Honda Accord is cheaper to maintain at $400/year versus $709/year for the Ford Mustang.
- Is the Ford Mustang or Honda Accord safer?
- Both the Ford Mustang and Honda Accord received the same NHTSA overall safety rating of 5/5 stars. Check the frontal, side, and rollover sub-ratings above for a more detailed comparison.
Related Reliability Comparisons
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How We Calculate Reliability Scores
Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.
Key Ranking Factors
Complaint Severity
NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.
Repair Costs
Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.
Recall Impact
Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.
Issue Diversity
Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.
Scores are grouped into four tiers:
- 80–100: Excellent — Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
- 60–79: Good — Reliable with some minor concerns
- 40–59: Mixed — Notable issues, research before buying
- 0–39: Risky — Significant problems, proceed with caution
Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.
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