Head-to-head reliability
Lexus LX vs Honda Accord
How the Lexus LX 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 LX vs Honda Accord: The LX has 25 complaints over 10 years with 0 crashes, while the Accord has 4,524 complaints, 162 crashes, and 3 deaths. The LX averages 2.5 complaints per year versus 452.4 for the Accord. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Lexus LX or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Lexus LX
The Lexus LX is a low-volume luxury SUV with only 25 complaints over 10 years, averaging 2.5 per year. Most complaints center on engine and cooling issues, often tied to a recall for which parts were unavailable, plus brake noise and backup camera problems. There are no reported crashes, injuries, or deaths in the data, but the engine stalling and power-loss reports are serious. Overall, it appears to have few complaints, but the ones that exist can be severe.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a high-volume family sedan with 4,524 complaints over 10 years, averaging 452.4 per year. The data shows 162 crash-related complaints, 146 injuries, and 3 deaths, with top issues in engine, electrical, and forward collision avoidance systems. Owners report sudden power loss, brake and steering failures, and false automatic braking. This suggests a much higher volume of safety-related problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Lexus LX | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 25 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 17 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 2.5 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 LX
- 01ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING8
- 02ENGINE8
- 03SERVICE BRAKES3
- 04BACK OVER PREVENTION2
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM2
Owners report engine stalling and power loss, such as a 2023 LX 600 that alerted 'Pull Over - Vehicle Losing Power and Shutting Down' at 65 mph. Many complaints involve a recall (25V767) for engine and cooling issues where the fix was not yet available, leaving owners waiting.
Complaints include engine-related recall handling delays and a 2023 LX 600 that lost power while driving. These failures can leave a driver stranded or in a dangerous situation, so buyers should verify all recall work is completed.
Owners describe abnormal humming noises when braking and a brake system warning light at low mileage (e.g., 4,588 miles). One owner worried the brakes might not work, indicating a potential safety concern even if no crash is reported.
Complaints include a distorted rearview backup camera image and a vehicle that can be turned off while still in drive or reverse, which is dangerous on hills. These issues affect parking and low-speed safety.
“The contact owns a 2024 Lexus LX 600. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V767000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was taken to the dealer because the contact w…”
“The contact owns a 2023 Lexus LX 600. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V767000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact called the dealer and the manufacturer and was informed that the remedy was not yet available. The contact sta…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report sudden power loss at highway speeds, with alarms for brake, hill descent, ABS, and critical failure. Another complaint notes rattling noises and rough transitions between EV and gas modes, suggesting engine and hybrid system problems.
A 2025 Accord Hybrid had electronic power steering and braking systems completely fail and lock up at highway speeds, causing a near-collision. Another complaint describes a tire failure after a TPMS warning, indicating electrical and sensor issues can lead to dangerous situations.
Owners report the system braking unexpectedly or failing to resolve threats, with incidents occurring under similar conditions. One complaint describes adaptive cruise control suddenly braking at 70 mph, which could cause a crash.
Complaints include persistent rotten-egg odors and a foot slipping behind a plastic side panel, which could interfere with pedal control. These may seem minor but can distract or endanger the driver.
“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 LX — 17 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Tundra, Tundra Hybrid, Lexus LX600, and 2023-2024 Sequoia Hybrid vehicles. Unexpected vehicle movement may occur when the vehicle is in neutral and the brakes are not applied.
The risk: Unexpected vehicle movement can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the transmission control ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 8, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TA02 and…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Tundra and Lexus LX600 vehicles equipped with a V35A engine. Debris from the manufacturing process may contaminate the engine and cause the main bearings to fail, which can result in an engine stall and loss of drive p…
The risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the engine assembly, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed between December 17, 2024 and February 19, 2025. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB07/…
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 2022-2024 Toyota Tundra, Lexus LX, and 2024 Lexus GX vehicles equipped with a V35A engine. Debris from the manufacturing process may contaminate the engine and cause the main bearings to fail, which can result in an engine stall…
The risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will perform an inspection on the #1 main bearing using vehicle inspection software and drive data, and if necessary, replace the engine. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner letters were mailed August 28, 2026. Owners m…
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 LX or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Lexus LX has far fewer issues per year (2.5 vs. 452.4) and no reported crashes, injuries, or deaths, while the Honda Accord has 162 crash-related complaints, 146 injuries, and 3 deaths. In practice, the LX owner faces fewer but potentially severe engine and brake problems, whereas the Accord owner faces a much higher volume of safety-related failures. The difference means the LX may be less likely to leave you stranded or in a crash, but both require careful inspection.
Key differences
- The Lexus LX has 25 complaints over 10 years with 0 crashes, injuries, or deaths; the Honda Accord has 4,524 complaints with 162 crashes, 146 injuries, and 3 deaths.
- Lexus LX complaints often involve engine stalling and brake noise, while Honda Accord complaints include sudden power loss, brake/steering failure, and false automatic braking.
- The LX has 17 recalls, including engine and backup camera issues; the Accord has 38 recalls, covering electrical, fuel pump, and seat belt problems.
- Honda Accord owners report forward collision avoidance malfunctions that can cause unexpected braking, a pattern not seen in the LX data.
- Check for any open recall on the engine and cooling system (NHTSA 25V767) and confirm the remedy has been performed, as owners report parts unavailability and power loss.
- Listen for abnormal humming or grinding noises when braking and check for brake system warning lights, as owners report these at low mileage.
- Test the electronic power steering and braking systems at highway speeds if possible, and look for any warning lights, as owners report simultaneous failure.
- Verify the forward collision avoidance system works correctly and does not brake unexpectedly; also check for any open recalls on fuel pump and electrical systems.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full NHTSA recall history for the specific VIN and confirm all recalls are repaired, especially engine and electrical recalls.
- Take a test drive that includes highway speeds and braking to check for power loss, brake noise, or unexpected automatic braking.
- Have a mechanic inspect the engine, transmission, and brake components for the reported issues, including any signs of stalling or fluid leaks.
- Check the backup camera and rearview display for distortion or failure, and test the vehicle's ability to shift out of drive/reverse before shutting off.
- Ask for maintenance records and a pre-purchase inspection focused on the top complaint areas: engine, electrical, and brakes.
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 LX | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 10 |
| 2025 | 2 | 109 |
| 2024 | 3 | 219 |
| 2023 | 13 | 226 |
| 2022 | 5 | 252 |
| 2021 | 0 | 234 |
| 2020 | 1 | 362 |
| 2019 | 0 | 691 |
| 2018 | 0 | 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 LX or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Lexus LX vs Honda Accord
- Lexus LX total complaints
- 25
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Lexus LX total recalls
- 17
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Lexus LX avg complaints/year
- 2.5
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Lexus LX
- Lexus LX top complaint area
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE