Ford vs. Honda- Maintenance Cost Comparison

Ford and Honda are two of the most popular car brands in North America. When it comes to maintenance, cost, and repairs-which one is better? In this article, we will compare Ford vs Honda, head to head, so you can make an informed decision when looking for a new or used car.

Ford vs Honda – Which Brand is Cheaper to Maintain?

One of the main considerations when purchasing a car is how much it will cost to maintain. Both Ford and Honda are reliable brands, but which one is cheaper to keep on the road?

According to ReapirPal, Honda has lower maintenance costs when compared to Ford. Ford owners spend an average of $775 per year to maintain their vehicles. On the other hand, Honda owners spend an annual average of $428 for maintenance. That’s a difference of $347 per year!

However, this doesn’t mean that Honda is the cheaper option for everyone. Ford has more models available than Honda, so you may find that a particular model is cheaper to maintain. You should always compare the costs of specific models before making a decision.

Also read: Are Fords Good Cars? (and Models to Avoid)

Ford vs Honda – Typical Maintenance

Both these brands of cars have maintenance similar to all other gasoline or diesel vehicles on the road. This includes things like tires, spark plugs, oil change, air filters, and fluids.

A new set of tires costs between $600 and $1100. An average new set of Honda tires costs an average of $755, while a new set of Ford tires costs $825.

Spark plugs are another common maintenance item. Honda spark plugs cost an average of $11 each, while Ford spark plugs cost between $15 and $25 each.

Oil changes are also comparable. An oil change for a Honda will typically cost about $35, Ford oil changes cost around $45.

Maintainance of air filters is an area where Ford is cheaper than Honda. A new air filter for a Honda costs about $15-$20 while a new basic air filter for a Ford costs as low as $9.

Belts and hoses also need to be replaced regularly. The average cost for a new belt or hose is around $50. However, this may vary depending on the model.

When it comes to coolant, Ford and Honda’s maintenance costs are very similar. Honda owners pay an average of $38 to replace their coolant, while Ford owners spend about $40. Fluids are another common maintenance item. A Honda coolant flush costs about $80, Ford coolants cost about $60.

Ford vs. Honda – Most Common Repairs

This section will explore the 5 most common repairs for Fords and Hondas.

Many Fords have problems with the A/C compressor, which cycles refrigerant and turns refrigerant liquid into a gas to help cool your car. If your A/C is making strange noises, has a broken seal, or warm air is blowing through your vents when the A/C is on, you might have a broken A/C compressor. This repair can cost up to $1,300. Though it is an expensive repair, it is rare to have to repair it more than once in a car’s lifetime.

The second common Ford repair is the water pump. The water pump helps regulate the car’s engine temperature, so problems with the water pump cause the car to overheat or shut down. This repair costs $400-$600. When replacing the water pump, it is worth spending a little more money on a higher quality pump, so you won’t have to change it out for several years, if not longer.

Third, the starter motor frequently goes out. This repair costs around $800. This is another repair that lasts a long time—up to 110,000 miles.

Trending Video: How to Easily Bring Back to Life any Old Car Battery and Save Tons of Money (click to watch)

Fourth, Ford vehicles frequently require new alternators. A mechanic installing a new alternator will cost between $350 and $400. New alternators will last for 6-10 years.

Last, a fuel pump is a common repair. The car won’t run if the fuel pump is out, so this can be a critical thing to replace. The fuel pump replacement costs from $400 to $1,000. Once the new fuel pump is in, it should be reliable for at least 100,000 miles.

For Hondas, one of the most common problems is issues with the airbags. There have been many recalls connected to airbags not deploying upon impact or deploying when there was no impact. Usually, there are no costs associated with airbag replacement since they are recalled and covered by Honda.

Replacing airbags is something that only needs to be done once if they are faulty. If you find out your airbags are faulty, you should get them fixed as soon as possible.

The second common Honda repair is locking issues. Some models of Hondas have problems either locking or unlocking while others got stuck in a loop of locking and unlocking. This issued cost around $200 to fix. This is usually a quick, simple fix that needs to be done once and only if it goes bad.

Third, Hondas often have problems with engine block cracks. If a crack in the engine block isn’t covered by a warranty, it can cost over $2,500 to replace. Honda has extended warranties on cars that frequently have engine block problems. This is usually a one-time issue, and once it’s fixed it usually won’t happen again for a long time as long as you properly maintain the car’s engine.

The fourth common repair is transmission failure. From 1999 to 2004, many Honda models are known for transmission issues. Transmission repairs frequently cost more than $2,000. Transmission failures in Hondas originate with a faulty torque converter. Usually, once the vehicle hits around 90,000 miles is when the transmission failure happens.

Replacing or overhauling a transmission is another fix that is usually only required once. The transmission overhaul costs about $800 as opposed to the more expensive replacement.

Last, Honda’s issue of premature brake wear is a common repair. This can be a costly repair for Honda owners because it can happen as soon as 50,000 miles. Sometimes the rear brakes need to be replaced every 40,000-60,000 because they tend to wear down quickly and excessively. This means some owners are changing their brakes once per year. Each time this repair costs from $300-$800 if it requires new brakes and rotors.

Also read: Where is Honda Made? (The Full List)

Ford vs Honda – Insurance Comparison

This section will explore the different insurance prices for Ford and Honda vehicles by comparing insurance costs for three popular models of each make of car.

The Ford Fusion and Honda Accord are remarkably similar when it comes to insurance. To insure a new Ford Fusion for a year will cost an average of $1600 per year or $133 per month while insuring a new Honda Accord for the same amount of time will cost about $1700 or $141 per month. Though they are very similar, it is cheaper to insure the Ford Fusion.

The Ford Fusion also costs around $1200 less to purchase than a new Honda Accord, making it cheaper to buy and insure.

Also, click here to read the most common questions about Ford Fusion before you buy it.

It is also useful to compare the insurance costs to two popular SUVs–the Ford Escape and the Honda CR-V. The Ford Escape is slightly less expensive to insure than the Honda CR-V. To insure a new Ford Explorer will cost an average of $1328 per year or $110 per month while insuring a Honda CR-V for the same amount of time costs $1387 per year or $115 per month on average.

This makes the Ford Explorer only $5 cheaper to insure than the Honda CR-V.

Last, the F-150 and Honda Ridgeline are similar vehicles with different insurance costs. An F-150’s insurance is an average of $1500 a year or $125 per month. The Hond Ridgeline also costs $1500 a year to insure.

All in all, similar Ford and Honda vehicles cost almost the same to insure. It’s important to note that insurance rates vary widely depending on the year of the car, the state it is owned, and the age and driving record of the driver.

Ford vs. Honda – Depreciation

When understanding the true cost and value of a vehicle, it’s crucial to know how the vehicle will depreciate.

The Ford Fusion depreciates more than the Honda Accord. A new Ford Fusion depreciates an average of $2600 or 20% in its first year while a new Honda Accord’s value is only reduced by about $1100 or 18%.

This means that over five years, the total depreciation cost for the Ford will be about $13,500 while the Honda Accord is only going to lose an average of $8900.

The Honda CR-V depreciates at a much slower rate than the Ford Escape. A new Honda CR-V loses an average of only $1500 in value each year while a new Ford escape loses $2500 on average annually.

This means that over five years, the total depreciation cost for the Honda CR-V would be $7500 while the Ford Escape would lose $12,500 in value.

When looking at depreciation costs over five years, the Honda Ridgeline is a better deal than the Ford F-150. The Ford F-150 loses $22,000 in total value while the Honda Ridgeline only loses $19,000 in total value over five years.

From this data, it’s clear that Honda vehicles depreciate slower than Ford vehicles in each of these three cases. As a whole brand, Honda has an edge over Ford because overall Hondas hold their value better.

Conclusion

Both Honda and Ford vehicles have strong reputations but also require maintenance and upkeep. Look close at the specific model you’re interested in to find the perfect car for you.