Head-to-head reliability
Cadillac Lyriq vs Honda Accord
How the Cadillac Lyriq 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
Cadillac Lyriq vs Honda Accord: The Lyriq averages 42 complaints per year with 17 recalls, while the Accord averages 444 complaints per year with 38 recalls. The Lyriq's issues often involve sudden power loss and braking, whereas the Accord's include engine noises and electrical glitches. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Cadillac Lyriq or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Cadillac Lyriq
The Cadillac Lyriq is an electric SUV that has been on the road for four years, averaging about 42 complaints per year. Owners frequently report sudden loss of power, 12-volt battery failures that lock them out, and braking issues including phantom braking. There are also complaints about headlights that dim and point downward, and forward collision warnings that trigger without obstacles.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular midsize car with a 10-year history and about 444 complaints per year. Common owner reports include engine noises and failures, electrical problems like tire pressure warnings and rodent damage, and forward collision avoidance system errors. Some also report sunroof glass shattering and brake system issues.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Cadillac Lyriq | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 169 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 17 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 25 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 42.3 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 10 Better | 144 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 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.
Cadillac Lyriq
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM52
- 02FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE51
- 03SERVICE BRAKES36
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING33
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER21
Owners report the vehicle suddenly losing all propulsion while driving, leaving it disabled on the road. Also, the 12-volt battery can die even when the main battery is charged, locking owners out of the car.
Drivers experience phantom braking, where the car brakes unexpectedly with no obstacles nearby, often at speeds of 20-40 mph. Some also see 'camera blocked' messages that recur despite cleaning.
Complaints include issues with the anti-lock braking system and the transition between regenerative and friction braking, which can cause inconsistent braking feel or performance.
The low beam headlights have poor throw and can point downward after 30 minutes of driving, reducing visibility to about one car length. Also, the instrument panel uses the parking lights symbol instead of the low beam symbol.
“On August 9, 2026, at approximately 3:40 a.m., while driving, the vehicle suddenly lost all propulsion and became completely disabled on the roadway. The vehicle remained powered on but would not move forward or backward. At approximately the time of the fail…”
“The 12 volt battery of my 2023 Lyriq died even though the main battery was at 79% charge. The car had sat unused for three days. The 12 volt battery controls the opening of doors, charging ports, and all other accessories. I was effectively locked out of my c…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report noises from the engine that may indicate internal problems, and some experience sudden loss of power with multiple dashboard warnings like brake and hill descent system failures.
Issues include tire pressure monitoring system warnings that may not be resolved, and rodent damage to wiring harnesses even on new vehicles, causing potential safety concerns.
Drivers see intermittent dashboard warnings for adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and other systems, which can occur without obstruction and may indicate sensor or software glitches.
Reports include catastrophic tire failure shortly after service and sunroof glass shattering unexpectedly while driving, posing risks of injury or distraction.
“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.
Cadillac Lyriq — 17 recalls
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2025 Cadillac LYRIQ vehicles. The owner's manual inaccurately describes the rear outboard head restraints. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 202, "Head Restraints."
The risk: Incorrect head restraint information may lead to improperly adjusted head restraints, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: GM will mail owner's manual inserts with the correct illustrations and descriptions for rear outboard head restraints, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 30, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Cadillac LYRIQ vehicles. The left or right front stabilizer bar bracket bolts may have been improperly tightened, which can allow the bolts to loosen and separate from the vehicle frame. A detached stabilizer bar or bracket can damage the vehic…
The risk: Damaged cables or coolant lines can result in a vehicle shutdown, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and tighten the left and/or right stabilizer bar bracket bolts, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 8, 2025. Owners may contact Cadilac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. GM's numb…
The defect: General Motors (GM) is recalling certain 2026 Cadillac VISTIQ vehicles and 2025 Cadillac LYRIQ vehicles. The bolts attaching the high voltage battery to the interior floor may be missing or loose.
The risk: An improperly secured battery may become damaged in a crash, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the high-voltage battery bolts and replace or re-tighten the bolts, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are scheduled to be mailed September 8, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Cadillac LYRIQ vehicles. A software error in the driver video display control module may cause the instrument panel to go blank.
The risk: A blank instrument panel will not show critical information, such as vehicle speed and warning lights, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: GM will update the video display control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 15, 2022. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N222379510.
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
Cadillac Lyriq or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Cadillac Lyriq has far fewer complaints per year (about 42) compared to the Honda Accord (about 444), but the Lyriq's issues often involve sudden loss of power or braking, which can be alarming. The Accord's higher volume means more reported problems, but many are less severe or more varied. In practice, the Lyriq may have fewer overall issues, but the ones it has can be serious.
Key differences
- The Lyriq has about 42 complaints per year, while the Accord has about 444 per year, but the Lyriq's complaints often involve sudden loss of propulsion or braking, which can be dangerous.
- The Lyriq's top issues are electrical system, forward collision avoidance, and service brakes; the Accord's top issues are engine, electrical system, and forward collision avoidance.
- The Lyriq has 17 recalls over 4 years, including traction battery and instrument cluster issues; the Accord has 38 recalls over 10 years, including hybrid power control and fuel pump issues.
- Owner reports for the Lyriq include 12-volt battery failures and phantom braking; for the Accord, reports include engine noises, rodent damage, and sunroof shattering.
- Check for any history of sudden loss of propulsion or 12-volt battery failure, as these are frequently reported and can leave you stranded.
- Test the forward collision avoidance system and brakes for phantom braking or inconsistent performance, and inspect headlight aim and brightness.
- Listen for unusual engine noises and check for any signs of rodent damage to wiring, especially if the car has been sitting.
- Verify that all driver assistance systems (adaptive cruise, lane keeping) function without intermittent warnings, and inspect tires and sunroof for defects.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with EVs for the Lyriq and with Hondas for the Accord.
- Test drive the Lyriq to check for sudden power loss, braking issues, and headlight performance.
- Test drive the Accord to listen for engine noises and check all electronic systems, including tire pressure monitors.
- Ask the seller for any service records related to electrical, braking, or engine repairs.
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 | Cadillac Lyriq | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 14 | 5 |
| 2025 | 18 | 101 |
| 2024 | 113 | 214 |
| 2023 | 24 | 224 |
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 Cadillac Lyriq or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Cadillac Lyriq vs Honda Accord
- Cadillac Lyriq total complaints
- 169
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Cadillac Lyriq total recalls
- 17
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Cadillac Lyriq avg complaints/year
- 42.3
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Cadillac Lyriq
- Cadillac Lyriq top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE