Head-to-head reliability
Lexus LC vs Honda Accord
How the Lexus LC 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 LC vs Honda Accord: The LC averages 1.1 complaints per year over 9 years, with 3 recalls and no crash-related incidents. The Accord averages 443.8 complaints per year over 10 years, with 38 recalls and 160 crash-related reports. The LC's main issue is door handles, while the Accord has widespread engine and electronic problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Lexus LC or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Lexus LC
The Lexus LC is a low-volume luxury coupe or convertible with a very low complaint rate—about 1.1 per year over nine years. Most complaints center on a single structural issue: door handles and actuators that can fail, often after water intrusion. A few isolated reports mention engine or fuel-system concerns, but these are rare. Overall, the LC appears to be a reliable grand tourer, with the main caveat being a potential door-handle defect that could affect access.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a high-volume mainstream sedan with a much higher complaint rate—about 444 per year over ten years. Complaints are spread across many systems, but engine, electrical, and forward-collision-avoidance issues dominate. Owners report problems ranging from sudden power loss and warning-light cascades to false automatic braking and even a sunroof explosion. While many Accords are trouble-free, the sheer volume and variety of reported issues suggest a more inconsistent ownership experience.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Lexus LC | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 10 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 3 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 1.1 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 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.
Lexus LC
- 01STRUCTURE5
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER5
- 03FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM1
- 04ENGINE1
Owners report that water can enter the door handle/actuator assembly, causing the handles to malfunction or fail. This can make it difficult or impossible to open the doors from inside or outside, which is a safety concern in an emergency.
One owner reported that a rock penetrated the large front grille and damaged the radiator, leading to overheating on a busy highway. This suggests the grille may not adequately protect the cooling system from debris.
A single complaint describes the car shuddering and nearly stalling after leaving a gas station, indicating a possible fuel-delivery or engine-management glitch. This appears to be an isolated incident rather than a widespread pattern.
“GOOD DAY GENTLEMEN: THIS REPORT IS CONCERNING A KNOWN, ONGOING AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH LEXUS LC500 CARS FROM 2018 UP TO AND INCLUDING 2025 COUPES AND CONVERTIBLES. THE PROBLEM CONCERNS THE DOOR HANDLES/ACTUATORS. APPARENTLY WATER SEEMS TO BE TH…”
“GOOD DAY GENTLEMEN: THIS REPORT IS CONCERNING A KNOWN, ONGOING AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH LEXUS LC500 CARS FROM 2018 UP TO AND INCLUDING 2025 COUPES AND CONVERTIBLES. THE PROBLEM CONCERNS THE DOOR HANDLES/ACTUATORS. APPARENTLY WATER SEEMS TO BE TH…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report a range of engine issues, including unusual noises, sudden loss of power, and warning lights for brakes, hill descent, and ABS appearing while driving. Some vehicles have experienced critical failures that cause them to slow down unexpectedly, which is dangerous on highways.
Complaints include TPMS warnings that led to tire failure, and rodent damage to wiring harnesses, which can cause various electrical malfunctions. These issues can be costly to repair and may affect vehicle reliability.
Many owners report that the forward collision warning and automatic braking systems activate without reason, or that adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist malfunction intermittently. This can be startling and may increase the risk of rear-end collisions if the system behaves unpredictably.
“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.
Lexus LC — 3 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru Solterra vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may cause the rearview camera to freeze or d…
The risk: A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the parking assist software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TB13 and 25LB06. Subaru's nu…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Mirai, Lexus LS500, LS500H, 2023-2024 Lexus ES250, ES300H, ES350, 2024 Lexus LC500, and LC500H vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. Due to incorrect programming of the parking-assist electronic cont…
The risk: A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the parking assist ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TA01 and 24LA0…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru Solterra vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may cause the rearview camera to freeze or d…
The risk: A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the parking assist software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TB13 and 25LB06. Subaru's nu…
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
Lexus LC or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Lexus LC has far fewer complaints per year (1.1 vs. 443.8) and no reported crashes, injuries, or deaths, while the Accord has many more issues and some serious outcomes. In practice, the LC is likely to be a more trouble-free ownership experience, but the Accord's higher volume also reflects its much larger sales base.
Key differences
- The LC has a specific door-handle/actuator issue that can affect door operation, while the Accord has a broader range of problems including engine power loss and false collision warnings.
- The Accord has a much higher complaint rate (443.8 per year) compared to the LC (1.1 per year), indicating a greater likelihood of encountering problems.
- The Accord has reported crashes, injuries, and deaths, whereas the LC has none in the data.
- The Accord's issues often involve safety-critical systems like brakes and forward collision avoidance, while the LC's main issue is more of a convenience/access concern.
- Check the door handles and actuators for any signs of water intrusion or intermittent operation, as this is the most common complaint.
- Inspect the front grille and radiator for damage or debris impact, given the report of a rock causing overheating.
- Test the forward collision warning and adaptive cruise control on a safe road to ensure they don't activate without reason.
- Look for any warning lights related to engine, brakes, or electrical systems, and ask for service records to see if any recurring issues have been addressed.
Before you buy
- For the Lexus LC: operate each door handle multiple times from inside and outside, and check for any moisture or sticking.
- For the Honda Accord: have a mechanic inspect the wiring harnesses for rodent damage and check the condition of the TPMS sensors.
- For the Honda Accord: take a test drive and deliberately trigger the forward collision warning (in a safe area) to see if it behaves correctly.
- For both: review the NHTSA recall lists and ensure all recalls have been performed.
- For both: get a pre-purchase inspection from a trusted mechanic, focusing on the specific problem areas mentioned.
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 LC | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 5 |
| 2025 | 0 | 101 |
| 2024 | 6 | 214 |
| 2023 | 0 | 224 |
| 2022 | 0 | 238 |
| 2021 | 1 | 226 |
| 2020 | 1 | 355 |
| 2019 | 0 | 677 |
| 2018 | 2 | 1864 |
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 LC or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Lexus LC vs Honda Accord
- Lexus LC total complaints
- 10
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Lexus LC total recalls
- 3
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Lexus LC avg complaints/year
- 1.1
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Lexus LC
- Lexus LC top complaint area
- STRUCTURE
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE