Head-to-head reliability
Lexus NX vs Honda Accord
How the Lexus NX 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 NX vs Honda Accord: The NX averages 28.4 complaints per year over 10 years, while the Accord averages 443.8. NX owners report electrical failures causing loss of power brakes, while Accord owners face engine issues and false forward-collision alerts. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Lexus NX or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Lexus NX
The Lexus NX, over a decade, has drawn far fewer complaints than many rivals—about 28 per year—but the pattern is dominated by electrical gremlins. Owners describe sudden cascades of warning lights, loss of air conditioning, and even a perceived loss of power brakes, which can be alarming on the highway. Structural and brake complaints also appear, often tied to the same electrical events. While serious, these issues are less frequent than in the Accord, making the NX a lower-risk luxury choice if you can tolerate occasional electronic quirks.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord, with over 440 complaints per year, shows a much higher volume of issues, especially in the engine, electrical, and forward-collision systems. Owners report engine noises, sudden loss of power, and false activation of safety features like automatic braking. Electrical problems range from tire pressure sensor failures to rodent-damaged wiring, and there are reports of sunroof glass exploding. This suggests a more trouble-prone ownership experience, particularly for a mainstream sedan.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Lexus NX | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 284 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 15 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 34 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 28.4 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 26 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 NX
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM85
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER63
- 03STRUCTURE29
- 04SERVICE BRAKES21
- 05FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE21
Owners report sudden, cascading warning lights, loss of air conditioning, and a perceived loss of power brakes while driving, often on the interstate. This can be disconcerting and may indicate a systemic electrical fault.
Some owners note inadequate side mirror adjustment for shorter drivers, which can compromise visibility. Others report high electromagnetic field levels causing discomfort, though this is less common.
Structural complaints often accompany the electrical failures, with owners describing the same sudden warning light events. This suggests the issue may be rooted in wiring or modules rather than physical structure.
Brake-related complaints include disappointment with service and potential brake assist issues, possibly linked to the electrical problems. Owners mention a loss of power brakes, which is a critical safety concern.
“While driving our Lexus on 8/13/2023 on the interstate under normal driving conditions ALL of our warning lights came on one after another. We also lost air conditioning and power brakes it seemed. We immediately exited and pulled over. Opened the hood and th…”
“While driving our Lexus on 8/13/2023 on the interstate under normal driving conditions ALL of our warning lights came on one after another. We also lost air conditioning and power brakes it seemed. We immediately exited and pulled over. Opened the hood and th…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report unusual noises and sudden loss of power, with warning lights for brake, hill descent, and ABS appearing. This can lead to reduced speed and potential stalling, which is dangerous in traffic.
Electrical issues range from tire pressure monitoring system failures to rodent damage on wiring harnesses, even in newer models. These can cause warning lights and, in some cases, catastrophic tire failure.
The system may activate unexpectedly at highway speeds with no obstructions, or show intermittent errors for adaptive cruise and lane keeping. This can cause sudden braking, increasing the risk of rear-end collisions.
Brake complaints are frequent, often tied to the forward collision system's false activations. Owners report the vehicle braking on its own, which can be startling and potentially cause accidents.
“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 NX — 15 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 2022-2025 Lexus NX350, NX250, 2023-2026 RX350, and 2024-2026 TX350 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federa…
The risk: A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the rearview camera software or replace the rearview camera, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 15, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's nu…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018 Camry, 2019 Lexus NX300, and 2019 RX350L 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. Owner notification letters were mailed March 12, 2025. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TA01 and 25LA01.
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2024 Lexus RX 350, RX 350h, 2024-2025 NX 250, NX 350, and NX 350h vehicles. The head restraints on the driver and front passenger seats may be inadvertently removed without pressing the lock release button. As such, these vehicl…
The risk: A head restraint that is inadvertently removed and not reinstalled can increase the risk of injury during a rear-end crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the driver and front passenger seat head rest assemblies, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed February 14, 2025. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are…
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 NX or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Lexus NX has significantly fewer complaints per year (28.4) compared to the Honda Accord (443.8), indicating a lower rate of reported issues. In practice, this means NX owners are less likely to encounter major failures, though the electrical gremlins can still be concerning. The Accord's higher complaint volume suggests a more problematic ownership experience, especially with engine and safety systems.
Key differences
- The Lexus NX has far fewer complaints per year (28.4) than the Honda Accord (443.8), indicating a lower rate of reported issues.
- Lexus NX issues are dominated by electrical system failures that can cause loss of power brakes and warning lights, while Accord issues are more varied, including engine problems and false forward-collision warnings.
- The Accord has a higher number of crash-related complaints (160) and injuries (144) compared to the NX (34 and 26), suggesting more safety-critical events.
- The Accord's forward collision avoidance system is a top complaint, with reports of unexpected braking, while the NX's top complaints are electrical and structural.
- Check for any history of electrical system repairs or warning light issues, as these are common and can affect brakes and A/C.
- Inspect the side mirror adjustment range if you are shorter, as some owners report inadequate visibility.
- Ask about any engine noise or loss of power incidents, as these are frequent and could indicate serious problems.
- Verify that the forward collision avoidance system has been properly calibrated and has no history of false activations.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a mechanic inspect the electrical system on the Lexus NX, especially the wiring and battery.
- Test drive the Honda Accord at highway speeds to ensure no unexpected braking or warning lights occur.
- Check the sunroof glass on the Accord for any signs of stress or previous replacement.
- Review service records for any repeated repairs to the same components.
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 NX | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4 | 5 |
| 2025 | 34 | 101 |
| 2024 | 167 | 214 |
| 2023 | 29 | 224 |
| 2022 | 16 | 238 |
| 2021 | 34 | 226 |
| 2020 | 0 | 355 |
| 2019 | 0 | 677 |
| 2018 | 0 | 1864 |
| 2017 | 0 | 534 |
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 NX or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Lexus NX vs Honda Accord
- Lexus NX total complaints
- 284
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Lexus NX total recalls
- 15
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Lexus NX avg complaints/year
- 28.4
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Lexus NX
- Lexus NX top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE