Head-to-head reliability
Lexus RZ vs Honda Accord
How the Lexus RZ 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 RZ vs Honda Accord: The RZ averages 9.8 complaints per year with 0 injuries, while the Accord averages 443.8 complaints per year with 144 injuries and 3 deaths. The RZ’s main issues are cold-weather battery range loss and sudden propulsion loss; the Accord’s include engine and electrical failures. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Lexus RZ or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Lexus RZ
The Lexus RZ is an electric SUV with a low complaint rate—about 10 per year over four years—but the complaints that do exist cluster around battery range in cold weather and sudden power loss when the battery hits 0%. Recalls cover defroster, backup camera display, and electrical propulsion issues. For a buyer, this means fewer reported problems overall, but the ones reported can leave you stranded or cold.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mainstream sedan with a much higher complaint volume—roughly 444 per year over ten years—and a broader mix of engine, electrical, and driver-assist problems. Recalls include hybrid power control software, antilock brakes, airbag sensors, and fuel pumps. For a buyer, this means more frequent trips to the dealer and a wider range of potential failures to watch for.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Lexus RZ | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 39 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 7 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 3 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 9.8 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 RZ
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM25
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER7
- 03LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES6
- 04LANE DEPARTURE2
- 05SEAT BELTS2
Owners report severe battery range loss in cold weather, requiring excessive charging, and sudden propulsion loss when the battery reaches 0% with only a soft alert. This matters because you could lose power unexpectedly or face long charging stops in winter.
A 2026 RZ-450E owner reported the driver’s side door failed to respond when parked and trying to start the vehicle, with no warning light. This matters because a door that won’t open or close properly can be a safety and security issue.
Complaints filed under lane departure repeat the same cold-weather battery range concern, suggesting the lane-keeping system may be affected by or linked to electrical issues. This matters because driver-assist features should work reliably, especially in bad weather.
Owners describe sudden propulsion loss at normal road speeds when the traction battery hits 0%, with only a single soft audible alert and no escalating warnings. This matters because a sudden loss of power on the road can be dangerous.
“I am reporting a safety concern involving a 2024 Lexus RZ300e related to battery range performance and charging requirements in cold weather. In real-world winter conditions in Massachusetts, the vehicle experiences severe range loss, requiring excessive and…”
“I am reporting a safety concern involving a 2024 Lexus RZ300e related to battery range performance and charging requirements in cold weather. In real-world winter conditions in Massachusetts, the vehicle experiences severe range loss, requiring excessive and…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report noises, loss of speed, and multiple alarms (brake, hill descent, ABS, critical failure) during highway driving. This matters because engine problems can leave you stranded or cause a crash.
Complaints include tire pressure warning failures leading to a catastrophic tire failure, and rodent damage to the camshaft position wiring harness on a nearly new car. This matters because electrical gremlins can cause safety systems to fail or lead to expensive repairs.
Owners report intermittent dashboard warnings for adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, road departure mitigation, and automatic high beams, and one owner says the dealer failed to resolve a threat. This matters because these systems are meant to prevent crashes, and if they malfunction you can’t rely on them.
Complaints include brake system alarms and critical failure messages, with the vehicle losing speed. This matters because brake problems directly affect your ability to stop safely.
“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 RZ — 7 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2025 bZ4X, Lexus RZ, and Subaru Solterra vehicles. During certain HVAC system faults, such as electrical compressor failure, the defroster and defogger system may become inoperative.
The risk: An inoperative defroster and defogger system can decrease the driver's visibility under certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the HVAC control ECU software, free of charge. Dealers will also inspect the electrical compressor, and replace it, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 17, 2025. Owners may conta…
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 2023-2025 bZ4X, Lexus RZ, and Subaru Solterra vehicles. During certain HVAC system faults, such as electrical compressor failure, the defroster and defogger system may become inoperative.
The risk: An inoperative defroster and defogger system can decrease the driver's visibility under certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the HVAC control ECU software, free of charge. Dealers will also inspect the electrical compressor, and replace it, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 17, 2025. Owners may conta…
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 (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 RZ or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Lexus RZ has far fewer complaints per year (about 10 vs. 444 for the Accord) and no reported injuries or deaths in the data, while the Accord has 144 injuries and 3 deaths. In practice, the RZ owner is less likely to face frequent repair visits, but the Accord’s issues are more varied and sometimes involve serious safety systems.
Key differences
- The Lexus RZ averages about 10 complaints per year, while the Honda Accord averages about 444 per year over a longer period.
- The RZ’s main reported issues are cold-weather battery range loss and sudden propulsion loss at 0% charge; the Accord’s include engine noise, electrical failures, and forward collision avoidance warnings.
- The Accord has 160 crash-related complaints, 144 injuries, and 3 deaths in the data; the RZ has 3 crash-related complaints, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths.
- The RZ has 7 recalls, including defroster and backup camera display; the Accord has 38 recalls, including hybrid power control software and fuel pumps.
- Check the battery health and ask about cold-weather range; owners report severe range loss in winter.
- Test the driver’s side door lock and latch operation, as one owner reported a door that failed to respond.
- Listen for engine noises and check for any warning lights related to brakes, ABS, or hill descent, as owners report multiple alarms and loss of speed.
- Test the forward collision avoidance system, adaptive cruise control, and lane keeping assist for intermittent warnings or failures.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all recalls have been performed.
- For the RZ, ask for a battery health check and test drive in cold weather if possible.
- For the Accord, have a mechanic inspect the engine, brakes, and electrical system, and scan for stored trouble codes.
- Test all driver-assist features (lane keeping, adaptive cruise, forward collision warning) during the test drive.
- Check door locks, latches, and seat belts for proper operation on both vehicles.
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 RZ | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 15 | 5 |
| 2025 | 4 | 101 |
| 2024 | 10 | 214 |
| 2023 | 10 | 224 |
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 RZ or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Lexus RZ vs Honda Accord
- Lexus RZ total complaints
- 39
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Lexus RZ total recalls
- 7
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Lexus RZ avg complaints/year
- 9.8
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Lexus RZ
- Lexus RZ top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE