Head-to-head reliability
Lexus LS vs Honda Accord
How the Lexus LS 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 LS vs Honda Accord: The Lexus LS averages 1.8 complaints per year with 0 crash-related reports, while the Honda Accord averages 452.4 complaints per year with 162 crash-related reports, 146 injuries, and 3 deaths. Both have recalls, but the Accord's higher volume and severity of reported issues stand out. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Lexus LS or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Lexus LS
The Lexus LS is a low-volume luxury sedan with an average of just 1.8 complaints per year over the past decade, suggesting most owners experience few problems. However, the complaints that do appear cluster around advanced driver aids, seats, and electrical quirks, including a collision avoidance system that can blow a fuse and stop working while the dash still shows it as active. Recalls cover airbag sensors, instrument clusters, and backup displays, so you'll want to verify those were completed. Overall, it's a car that tends to have fewer but potentially frustrating electronic and comfort issues.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a high-volume family sedan with an average of 452.4 complaints per year, reflecting its huge sales numbers but also a wide range of reported problems. Owners frequently report engine stalling or loss of power, electrical failures like power steering and braking locking up, and forward collision avoidance systems that brake unexpectedly or fail to work. There are also 162 crash-related complaints, 146 injuries, and 3 deaths in the data, which is a serious signal. Recalls address hybrid power control software, fuel pumps, seat belt retractors, and airbag sensors.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Lexus LS | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 18 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 11 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 1.8 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 LS
- 01UNKNOWN OR OTHER4
- 02WHEELS4
- 03SEATS3
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3
- 05ENGINE2
Owners report the collision avoidance system blows fuses and stops working, yet the dashboard light still indicates it's active, so you may not know it's offline until you test it. This matters because a key safety feature could be silently disabled.
Complaints include a front passenger seat belt that fails to tighten or retract, and driver's seat lumps that cause leg numbness and pain. These are comfort and safety concerns that can be expensive to fix and affect daily driving.
Some owners filed complaints about wheel issues, often tied to unresolved recall repairs. While the exact failure isn't detailed in the sample, it's worth checking for vibration, unusual wear, or recall completion.
There are reports of premature battery failure causing the car to not start without warning, sometimes in traffic. This can leave you stranded and points to electrical system weaknesses.
“APEAL AGAINST THE RECALL DONE BY LEXUS TOYOTA ON MAY 16TH, 2019, I TOOK MY CAR LEXUS 2018 LS 500 TO THE DEALER, LEXUS OF WOODLAND HILLS, WHERE I BOUGHT IT, FOR BEING RECALLED BY THE COMPANY. (NHTSA RECALL NO. 19V-134) AFTER RECALL DEFECTS WERE FIXED, I DROVE…”
“THE COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM BLOWS FUSES AND STOPS WORKING, BUT THE LIGHT ON THE DASH CONTINUES TO INDICATE THAT EVERYTHING IS WORKING. IN OTHER WORDS, THERE IS NO WAY TO LEARN THAT THE COLLISION SYSTEM IS OFFLINE UNLESS YOU'RE WILLING TO SIMULATE A NEAR CE…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners describe sudden loss of speed with multiple alarms (brake, hill descent, ABS, critical failure) and rattling noises during acceleration. These can indicate serious powertrain or hybrid system faults that may lead to breakdowns.
Reports include electronic power steering and braking failing simultaneously at highway speeds, and tire pressure monitoring issues followed by tire failure. Such failures can cause near-collisions and loss of control.
Complaints say the system can brake unexpectedly or fail to intervene, sometimes under adaptive cruise control. This unpredictability is dangerous and hard to diagnose.
There are reports of rotten-egg sulfur odors and fuel pump recalls, plus hybrid power control software issues. These can affect reliability, emissions, and even cause stalling.
“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 LS — 11 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Lexus LS500 and 2018-2020 Lexus LS500 Hybrid vehicles equipped with the "Executive Package." The front passenger seat may have been assembled with interference between internal parts that can cause the Occupant Classif…
The risk: Incorrect detection of an occupant may result in improper air bag deployment during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and repair the front passenger seat, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 7, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 2…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Toyota Venza, 2023-2025 RAV4 Prime, RAV4, Highlander, GR Corolla, Crown, 2024-2025 Lexus TX, LS, Toyota Tacoma, Grand Highlander, and 2025 Lexus RX, Toyota Crown Signia, Camry, RAV 4 Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), and 4 Runner…
The risk: An instrument panel display that does not show critical information can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will update the instrument panel software over-the-air (OTA) for non-PHEV vehicles, free of charge. For PHEV vehicles, dealers will inspect the instrument panel assembly, and either replace it, or update the software, free of charg…
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 2018 Lexus LS vehicles equipped with run-flat tires with a sidewall reinforcement layer inside the tire. The tire-on-wheel assembly process may have caused the reinforcement layer to crack, possibly resulting in the tire tread l…
The risk: If the tire tread layer separates from the vehicle, vehicle handling and stability may be affected, increasing the risk of crash.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and Lexus dealers will replace the affected tires, free of charge. The recall began April 26, 2019. Owners may contact Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. The Toyota number for this recall is KLC.
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 LS or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Lexus LS has far fewer complaints per year (1.8 vs. 452.4) and no reported crashes, injuries, or deaths in the data, while the Honda Accord has 162 crash-related complaints, 146 injuries, and 3 deaths. In practice, the Lexus LS appears to have a lower frequency of reported problems, but both have recalls and owner complaints that require careful inspection.
Key differences
- Complaint volume: Lexus LS averages 1.8 complaints/year vs. Honda Accord's 452.4/year, a massive difference likely tied to sales volume but still notable.
- Crash and injury reports: Honda Accord has 162 crash-related complaints, 146 injuries, and 3 deaths; Lexus LS has 0 in all three categories.
- Top failure areas: Lexus LS complaints center on seats, wheels, and electrical glitches; Honda Accord complaints focus on engine, electrical, and forward collision avoidance failures.
- Recall topics: Lexus LS recalls include airbag sensors and instrument clusters; Honda Accord recalls include hybrid power control software, fuel pumps, and seat belt retractors.
- Test the collision avoidance system and check for blown fuses, since owners report it can stop working while the dash still shows it as active.
- Inspect the front passenger seat belt for proper tightening and retraction, and check driver's seat for lumps that could cause numbness.
- Scan for stored engine and hybrid trouble codes, and listen for rattling noises during acceleration that owners compare to a diesel engine.
- Test the electronic power steering and braking at low and highway speeds, and verify the forward collision avoidance system doesn't brake unexpectedly.
Before you buy
- Verify all open recalls are completed by checking the NHTSA VIN lookup for both vehicles, especially airbag, fuel pump, and hybrid software recalls.
- Take a long test drive that includes highway speeds and stop-and-go traffic to feel for transmission jerks, power loss, or unexpected braking.
- Have a mechanic inspect the electrical system, including battery health, alternator, and any aftermarket electronics, given reported battery and fuse issues.
- For the Honda Accord, specifically test the forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control in safe conditions to see if it brakes erratically.
- For the Lexus LS, check seat comfort and seat belt operation, and confirm the collision avoidance system warning lights behave correctly.
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 LS | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 10 |
| 2025 | 1 | 109 |
| 2024 | 0 | 219 |
| 2023 | 1 | 226 |
| 2022 | 0 | 252 |
| 2021 | 5 | 234 |
| 2020 | 0 | 362 |
| 2019 | 1 | 691 |
| 2018 | 10 | 1884 |
| 2017 | 0 | 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 LS or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Lexus LS vs Honda Accord
- Lexus LS total complaints
- 18
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Lexus LS total recalls
- 11
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Lexus LS avg complaints/year
- 1.8
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Lexus LS
- Lexus LS top complaint area
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE