Head-to-head reliability
Lexus UX vs Honda Accord
How the Lexus UX 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 UX vs Honda Accord: The UX has 11 complaints over 8 years and 0 recalls, while the Accord has 4,438 complaints over 10 years and 38 recalls. The Accord also reports 144 injuries and 3 deaths, versus none for the UX. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Lexus UX or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Lexus UX
The Lexus UX is a small luxury SUV with very few owner complaints—just 11 over 8 years, averaging 1.4 per year. The pattern shows a mix of low-speed parking issues (brakes and speed control) and some power train stalling, plus tire chunking. With zero recalls and no injuries or deaths reported, it appears to have a low rate of serious problems, but the few complaints that exist are worth noting.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular midsize sedan with a much higher complaint volume: 4,438 over 10 years, averaging 443.8 per year. Owners report a wide range of issues, especially with the engine, electrical system, and forward collision avoidance, and there are 38 recalls plus 144 injuries and 3 deaths linked to complaints. This suggests that while many Accords are on the road, some have experienced significant safety-related failures.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Lexus UX | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 11 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 0 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 4 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 1.4 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 UX
- 01VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL3
- 02SERVICE BRAKES3
- 03POWER TRAIN2
- 04TIRES2
- 05VISIBILITY1
Owners describe unintended acceleration or braking problems, often during low-speed maneuvers like parallel parking. One complaint mentions a crash into a restaurant due to brake malfunction, though the speed control complaint also involves parking incidents. These issues matter because they can lead to loss of control in tight spaces.
Reports include brake malfunction causing a crash, and another complaint about brakes during parking. The brake problems seem to occur at low speeds, but any brake failure is a serious safety concern that should be checked immediately.
Owners report stalling while driving at around 30 mph and during acceleration from a stop, often with the check engine light on. A new vehicle also had a check engine light and a 'mal' alert on the freeway. Stalling can leave you stranded or cause an accident, so this is a key area to inspect.
Front tires are chunking or peeling at the treads with low mileage, even without alignment issues or accidents. This can affect grip and safety, and replacement costs add up quickly.
“I am [XXX] old, have been driving since I was 16, and until this incident, have never been in an accident. On [XXX], I was parallel parking in my friend's quiet suburban neighborhood, as we do yoga together every Sunday morning. I reversed into the space. The…”
“This is a new vehicle. It had been serviced according to the manufacturer’s recommendations at 5000 miles, around 3 weeks prior to the date of this incident. While driving on the freeway, I got an alert that the check engine light came on and there was a “mal…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report noises, loss of power, and multiple dashboard alarms (brake, hill descent, ABS) at highway speeds, leading to speed loss. Some complaints involve brand-new vehicles, indicating potential engine or sensor problems that can be dangerous.
Issues include TPMS warnings followed by catastrophic tire failure, and rodent damage to wiring harnesses in nearly new cars. Electrical glitches can disable safety systems and leave you with unexpected repairs.
Owners report intermittent warnings for adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and automatic high beams, sometimes with no obstructions. These failures can undermine driver confidence and potentially disable crash-avoidance features.
Complaints include sunroof glass exploding and tire failures after service. These unpredictable issues can be frightening and costly, and they show that even new Accords may have defects outside major systems.
“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 UX
No recalls on record.
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 UX or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Lexus UX has far fewer issues per year (1.4 vs. 443.8) and no recalls, injuries, or deaths in the data, while the Honda Accord has many more complaints and 38 recalls. In practice, this means the UX is likely to have fewer reported problems, but the Accord's higher volume also reflects its much larger sales. Still, the Accord's complaint rate and severity are notably higher.
Key differences
- Complaint volume: Lexus UX has 11 complaints over 8 years; Honda Accord has 4,438 over 10 years, a massive difference in reported issues.
- Recalls: Lexus UX has 0 recalls; Honda Accord has 38 recalls covering electrical, brakes, air bags, fuel pump, and more.
- Safety outcomes: Lexus UX reports 0 injuries and 0 deaths; Honda Accord reports 144 injuries and 3 deaths in complaint data.
- Top issues: Lexus UX problems center on speed control, brakes, power train, and tires; Honda Accord problems are dominated by engine, electrical, forward collision avoidance, and unknown issues.
- Check for any signs of unintended acceleration or braking issues, especially during low-speed parking—test drive in a parking lot and note any hesitation or sudden braking.
- Inspect tires for chunking or peeling, particularly the front tires, and ask if they have been replaced due to tread separation.
- Look for engine noises, check engine lights, or stalling during test drive, and ask for service records related to engine or transmission repairs.
- Test all electrical systems, including TPMS, forward collision warnings, and sunroof, and check for any rodent damage under the hood.
Before you buy
- Run a VIN check for open recalls on both vehicles, especially the Honda Accord which has 38 recalls.
- Take a long test drive at various speeds, including highway and parking maneuvers, to feel for stalling, brake issues, or unintended acceleration.
- Have a mechanic inspect the tires on the Lexus UX for chunking and the Honda Accord for uneven wear or damage.
- For the Honda Accord, specifically test adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and automatic high beams for intermittent failures.
- Ask for a pre-purchase inspection focusing on engine, electrical, and brake systems, and review all available service records.
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 UX | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 5 |
| 2025 | 2 | 101 |
| 2024 | 1 | 214 |
| 2023 | 0 | 224 |
| 2022 | 0 | 238 |
| 2021 | 4 | 226 |
| 2020 | 4 | 355 |
| 2019 | 0 | 677 |
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 UX or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Lexus UX vs Honda Accord
- Lexus UX total complaints
- 11
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Lexus UX total recalls
- 0
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Lexus UX avg complaints/year
- 1.4
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Lexus UX
- Lexus UX top complaint area
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE