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 1.2 complaints per year with 0 crash-related reports, while the Accord averages 452.4 complaints per year with 162 crash-related reports. The LC’s main issue is water in door handles; the Accord has engine, electrical, and driver-assist failures. 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 and convertible, so it sees very few complaints per year—about 1.2. The main pattern owners report is water getting into the exterior door handles or actuators, causing them to fail after rain or a car wash. There are also a few reports of shuddering or near-stalling during acceleration. Overall, the complaint volume is tiny, but the door-handle issue is repeated across model years and can affect getting in or out.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a high-volume family sedan, and it generates far more complaints—about 452 per year. Owners report a wide range of issues, including engine rattles and loss of power, electrical failures like power steering and braking locking up, and forward collision avoidance systems activating unexpectedly. There are also reports of fuel pump problems and other safety-related defects. The Accord has many more recalls and crash/injury reports than the LC.
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 | 11 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 3 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 1.2 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 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 LC
- 01UNKNOWN OR OTHER6
- 02STRUCTURE5
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
- 04FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM1
- 05ENGINE1
Owners repeatedly report that water enters the exterior door handle or actuator mechanism when it rains or the car is washed, causing the handle to stop working. This can trap occupants or make it hard to open the door in an emergency.
One owner said the exterior door-handle actuator fails after rain or washing, calling it a safety issue if you need to open the door in a critical situation. This matches the broader door-handle complaint pattern.
A owner reported the car shuddered and almost stalled while pulling out of a gas station. This suggests a possible fuel delivery or engine management glitch, though it is a single report.
There is one engine complaint in the data, but no specific symptom is given in the sample text. Buyers should still check for any stored fault codes or rough-running behavior.
“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
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report rattling noises while accelerating, rough transitions between EV and gas modes, and a noticeable jerk when the charge button is pressed. Another owner described alarms for brake, hill descent, ABS, and critical failure, with the vehicle losing speed.
One owner said the electronic power steering and braking systems completely failed and locked up at highway speeds, causing a near-collision. Another reported a TPMS warning followed by a catastrophic tire failure. These are serious safety concerns.
Owners report the system activating unexpectedly—once at 35 MPH with no obstructions, and another time with adaptive cruise control set to 70 MPH. This can cause sudden braking or loss of control.
There are 602 fuel/propulsion complaints, and one recall is for a fuel pump delivery issue. Owners may experience stalling, hesitation, or fuel odor, though the sample text does not give a specific fuel symptom.
“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 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 (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 LC or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Lexus LC has far fewer issues per year—about 1.2 complaints annually versus about 452 for the Honda Accord. In practice, the LC owner is much less likely to report a problem, but the door-handle issue is a repeated annoyance. The Accord’s higher volume means more chances for serious electrical, engine, and driver-assist failures.
Key differences
- The Lexus LC averages 1.2 complaints per year; the Honda Accord averages 452.4 per year.
- Lexus LC owners repeatedly report water-related door handle/actuator failures; Honda Accord owners report engine rattles, power loss, and electrical lockups.
- The Honda Accord has 162 crash-related complaints, 146 injuries, and 3 deaths; the Lexus LC has 0 in each category.
- The Honda Accord has 38 recalls, including fuel pump and driver-assist issues; the Lexus LC has 3 recalls, all for back-over prevention display function.
- Test the exterior door handles after soaking them with water or a car wash—check for sticking, failure to open, or unusual resistance.
- During a test drive, accelerate from a stop and listen for shuddering or near-stalling, especially when pulling out of a gas station.
- Scan for stored engine and hybrid fault codes, and listen for rattling noises during acceleration or rough EV-to-gas transitions.
- Test the electronic power steering and braking at low speed, and check for any warning lights related to ABS, hill descent, or forward collision avoidance.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all recalls have been performed, especially the fuel pump and driver-assist recalls on the Accord.
- Have a mechanic inspect the Lexus LC door handles and actuators for water damage or corrosion.
- For the Honda Accord, test drive at highway speeds and check for unexpected forward collision warnings or braking.
- Ask for service records showing any engine, electrical, or fuel system repairs on the Accord.
- Verify the Lexus LC has no stored engine or fuel system codes that could indicate the shuddering issue.
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 | 10 |
| 2025 | 0 | 109 |
| 2024 | 6 | 219 |
| 2023 | 0 | 226 |
| 2022 | 0 | 252 |
| 2021 | 2 | 234 |
| 2020 | 1 | 362 |
| 2019 | 0 | 691 |
| 2018 | 2 | 1884 |
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
- 11
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Lexus LC total recalls
- 3
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Lexus LC avg complaints/year
- 1.2
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Lexus LC
- Lexus LC top complaint area
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE