Head-to-head reliability
Lexus RC vs Honda Accord
How the Lexus RC 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 RC vs Honda Accord: The RC has 9 complaints and 7 recalls over 10 years, while the Accord has 4,438 complaints and 38 recalls. The RC's main issue is a fuel pump defect; the Accord's top problems are engine and electrical. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Lexus RC or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Lexus RC
The Lexus RC is a low-volume luxury coupe with very few complaints—9 over 10 years—but the pattern shows a serious fuel pump defect that can leave owners waiting months for a fix. Other issues include sunroof glass shattering, window glass distortion, and brake squeaks. Overall, it's a niche car with a small but potentially frustrating problem set.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a high-volume family sedan with thousands of complaints and a wide range of issues, from engine and electrical problems to advanced safety systems acting up. Some complaints involve crashes, injuries, and even deaths, though these are rare relative to the huge number of Accords on the road. It's a mainstream car with mainstream reliability challenges.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Lexus RC | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 9 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 7 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.9 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 RC
- 01FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM4
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER2
- 03VISIBILITY/WIPER2
- 04SERVICE BRAKES1
- 05WHEELS1
Owners report fuel pump failures that cause the car to stall or not start, and some have waited months for a recall fix because parts are unavailable. This can leave you stranded and without your car for an extended period.
Complaints include side window glass with severe optical distortion that makes it hard to see, especially at night, and a sunroof that shattered spontaneously while driving. These issues can impair your view and create a safety hazard.
Some owners hear squeaking from the brake pads even when they don't need replacement, and dealers may say it's normal despite a service bulletin. It's annoying but not necessarily a safety risk.
Reports include a sunroof shattering without impact and a car sold with wrong-size tires after a collision repair. These suggest potential quality control or dealer issues that could affect safety and satisfaction.
“On March 26, 2026 my vehicle was towed to dealership and diagnosed with a bad fuel pump. On April 8 it was recalled for this pump. It has been sitting at the dealership since then, almost 4 months, with Lexus claiming they do not know when they can fix it due…”
“On March 26, 2026 my vehicle was towed to dealership and diagnosed with a bad fuel pump. On April 8 it was recalled for this pump. It has been sitting at the dealership since then, almost 4 months, with Lexus claiming they do not know when they can fix it due…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report noises, loss of power, and multiple warning lights (brake, hill descent, ABS) that can cause the vehicle to slow down unexpectedly. These issues can be dangerous if they occur at highway speeds.
Complaints include tire pressure monitoring system failures leading to tire blowouts, and rodent damage to wiring harnesses in new cars. Electrical gremlins can be hard to diagnose and expensive to fix.
Drivers report intermittent warnings for adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and automatic high beams, and in some cases the system may brake or steer unexpectedly. This can be distracting and erode trust in safety features.
There are complaints about brake system issues, including ABS and traction control problems that may affect stopping ability. Brake problems are always a safety concern.
“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 RC — 7 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2015-2022 Lexus RC, 2016-2020 GS, and 2022 IS 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. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed June 5, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Toyota's cust…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2015-2022 Lexus RC, 2016-2020 GS, and 2022 IS 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. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed June 5, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Toyota's cust…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2015-2022 Lexus RC, 2016-2020 GS, and 2022 IS 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. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed June 5, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Toyota's cust…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2015-2022 Lexus RC, 2016-2020 GS, and 2022 IS 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. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed June 5, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Toyota's cust…
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 RC or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Lexus RC has far fewer complaints per year (0.9 vs. 443.8), but its fuel pump defect can be severe and parts shortages make repairs slow. The Honda Accord has many more complaints, but most are less severe; however, the sheer volume means you're more likely to encounter some issue. In practice, the RC may be less troublesome overall, but the Accord's problems are better documented and often addressed through recalls.
Key differences
- The Lexus RC has only 9 complaints over 10 years, while the Honda Accord has 4,438—a massive difference in reported problems.
- The RC's main issue is a fuel pump defect that can cause stalling and long repair delays; the Accord's top issues are engine and electrical problems that can cause power loss and warning lights.
- The Accord has 160 crash-related complaints, 144 injuries, and 3 deaths; the RC has 1 crash-related complaint and no injuries or deaths.
- Both have fuel pump recalls, but the RC's recall has led to parts shortages and extended waits, while the Accord's recalls cover a broader range of systems including brakes and air bags.
- Check if the fuel pump recall has been performed; if not, ask about parts availability and potential wait times.
- Inspect the sunroof and side window glass for any cracks, distortion, or signs of shattering.
- Listen for engine noises or warning lights during a test drive, especially at highway speeds.
- Check for electrical issues like TPMS warnings or rodent damage to wiring, and verify all safety systems work properly.
Before you buy
- Look up the VIN on NHTSA's recall website to see if any open recalls exist and have them fixed before purchase.
- Take a thorough test drive on both city streets and highways, paying attention to engine performance, braking, and any warning lights.
- Ask for maintenance records, especially for fuel pump replacements or electrical repairs.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the car, focusing on the fuel system for the RC and the engine/electrical systems for the Accord.
- For the Accord, test the forward collision avoidance features to ensure they don't trigger falsely.
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 RC | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | 101 |
| 2024 | 0 | 214 |
| 2023 | 0 | 224 |
| 2022 | 2 | 238 |
| 2021 | 0 | 226 |
| 2020 | 1 | 355 |
| 2019 | 1 | 677 |
| 2018 | 1 | 1864 |
| 2017 | 1 | 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 RC or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Lexus RC vs Honda Accord
- Lexus RC total complaints
- 9
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Lexus RC total recalls
- 7
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Lexus RC avg complaints/year
- 0.9
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Lexus RC
- Lexus RC top complaint area
- FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE