Head-to-head reliability
Lexus IS vs Honda Accord
How the Lexus IS 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
Lexus IS vs Honda Accord: Over 10 years, the IS had 58 complaints (5.8/year) and 1 recall, while the Accord had 4,524 complaints (452.4/year) and 38 recalls. The IS also had 3 injuries vs. 146 for the Accord. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Lexus IS or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Lexus IS
The Lexus IS is a compact luxury sedan with a relatively low complaint volume: 58 complaints over 10 years, averaging 5.8 per year. The most common owner-reported issues involve the fuel/propulsion system and engine, often described as recurring misfires, reduced power, and sudden loss of acceleration. There is also a notable structure complaint about a sticky, decomposing dashboard that can reflect sunlight and obscure visibility. With only 1 recall and 3 injuries reported, the IS appears to have fewer reported problems overall, but the engine and fuel issues can be serious and may require multiple dealer visits.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a midsize family sedan with a much higher complaint volume: 4,524 complaints over 10 years, averaging 452.4 per year. Owners report a wide range of problems, especially with the engine, electrical system, and forward collision avoidance, including sudden power loss, braking/steering failures, and unintended automatic braking. There are 38 recalls and 162 crash-related reports, with 146 injuries and 3 deaths. The volume and variety of complaints suggest that while many Accords are trouble-free, a buyer should be aware of potentially serious electronic and safety-system faults.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Lexus IS | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 58 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 1 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 5.8 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 3 Better | 146 |
| 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.
Lexus IS
- 01FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM14
- 02ENGINE12
- 03STRUCTURE10
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER8
- 05POWER TRAIN7
Owners of the Lexus IS report intermittent engine misfires, flashing check-engine lights, reduced engine power, and sudden loss of acceleration. These symptoms can leave a driver vulnerable in traffic and often require repeated dealer diagnostics and repairs.
Similar to the fuel system complaints, engine-related reports describe misfires, engine shaking, and power loss, sometimes with multiple repair attempts. A buyer should be aware that these issues may not be resolved with a single fix.
One owner of a 2025 Lexus IS-350 reported health and safety issues within days of purchase, though the complaint text is truncated. Another report describes a sticky, decomposing dashboard that becomes reflective in sunlight and can obscure the driver’s view.
Owners also report sudden engine shaking and check-engine lights, as well as dashboard deterioration. These issues can be distracting and may indicate underlying problems that are hard to diagnose.
“I am filing this updated complaint to supplement my prior complaint (NHTSA ID No. XXX, filed January 27, 2026) regarding a recurring, safety-critical engine defect in my 2020 Lexus IS300 RWD, 8AR-FTS engine. DEFECT: Three documented misfire events over seven…”
“This vehicle has a recurring, safety-critical defect involving intermittent engine misfires, flashing MILs, reduced engine power, sudden loss of acceleration, and noticeable engine shaking. Despite multiple repair attempts and extended diagnostics by a dealer…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Honda Accord owners report rattling noises while accelerating, rough transitions between EV and gas modes, and jerking when the charge button is pressed. Some also describe alarms for brake, hill descent, and ABS failures, followed by loss of speed.
Reports include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, as well as a tire failure shortly after a TPMS warning was supposedly fixed. These electrical faults can create immediate safety risks.
Owners describe unintended automatic braking or acceleration, sometimes under adaptive cruise control, leading to near-collisions. The system may activate when no obstruction is present, which can startle the driver and increase crash risk.
Some owners report a persistent rotten-egg or sulfur odor, which may indicate fuel or emissions issues. Others mention fuel pump problems, and there is a recall for the fuel pump on certain models.
“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.
Lexus IS — 1 recall
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2015-2022 Lexus RC, 2016-2020 GS, and 2022 IS vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
The risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed June 5, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Toyota's cust…
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
Lexus IS or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Lexus IS has far fewer complaints per year (5.8 vs. 452.4) and only 1 recall compared to 38 for the Honda Accord. In practice, this means a used IS is likely to have fewer reported problems overall, but the engine and fuel issues that do occur can be serious. The Accord’s much higher complaint volume suggests a wider range of potential faults, especially in electronics and safety systems.
Key differences
- The Lexus IS averages 5.8 complaints per year, while the Honda Accord averages 452.4 per year, a huge difference in reported problem frequency.
- The Accord has 38 recalls and 162 crash-related reports, versus 1 recall and 1 crash-related report for the IS.
- Lexus IS owners most often report engine misfires and fuel-system issues, while Accord owners report a broader mix including electrical failures, forward collision avoidance glitches, and engine rattles.
- The Accord has 146 injuries and 3 deaths reported, compared to 3 injuries and 0 deaths for the IS, though these numbers do not prove cause and should be interpreted cautiously.
- During a test drive, watch for engine misfires, shaking, or a flashing check-engine light, and ask if the fuel pump recall has been performed.
- Inspect the dashboard for a sticky or decomposing surface, especially on older models, as this can become reflective and impair visibility.
- Test the electronic power steering and brakes at low and highway speeds; any warning lights or loss of assist should be taken seriously.
- Check for unintended automatic braking or acceleration by test-driving with adaptive cruise control if equipped, and ask about any software updates or recalls for the hybrid power control unit.
Before you buy
- Ask for the vehicle’s complete NHTSA recall history and confirm that all open recalls have been repaired.
- Obtain a pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic familiar with the specific model, focusing on engine, fuel, and electrical systems.
- For the Lexus IS, request records of any misfire or fuel-system repairs and check the dashboard condition.
- For the Honda Accord, test all electronic safety features, including forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and electronic parking brake.
- Review the NHTSA complaint database for the exact model year you are considering to see if reported issues match your concerns.
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 | Lexus IS | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 10 |
| 2025 | 3 | 109 |
| 2024 | 3 | 219 |
| 2023 | 15 | 226 |
| 2022 | 13 | 252 |
| 2021 | 2 | 234 |
| 2020 | 6 | 362 |
| 2019 | 2 | 691 |
| 2018 | 3 | 1884 |
| 2017 | 10 | 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 Lexus IS or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Lexus IS vs Honda Accord
- Lexus IS total complaints
- 58
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Lexus IS total recalls
- 1
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Lexus IS avg complaints/year
- 5.8
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Lexus IS
- Lexus IS top complaint area
- FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE