Head-to-head reliability
Lincoln Continental vs Honda Accord
How the Lincoln Continental 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
Lincoln Continental vs Honda Accord: The Continental averages 38 complaints per year versus the Accord's 444, but the Continental's issues often involve safety-critical latches and electrical glitches, while the Accord's are more numerous but frequently software-related. Both have recalls, but the Accord has more. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Lincoln Continental or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Lincoln Continental
The Lincoln Continental, in its final generation, presents a mixed ownership picture. While its complaint volume is relatively low, the issues reported are often complex and electrical in nature, affecting convenience and safety features. Owners describe problems with trunk operation, door latches, and various electronic glitches, suggesting a vehicle that can be frustrating to live with despite its luxury positioning. The structural and suspension complaints also hint at potential build quality concerns.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord, a perennial best-seller, shows a much higher volume of complaints, but this is partly due to its larger sales base. The dominant issues revolve around the engine, electrical system, and advanced driver assistance features, with owners reporting problems like unexpected braking, warning lights, and engine performance issues. While the sheer number of complaints is alarming, it's important to note that many relate to software and sensor glitches rather than catastrophic failures, though the frequency of issues is a real concern for a vehicle known for reliability.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Lincoln Continental | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 266 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 18 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 14 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 38.0 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 12 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.
Lincoln Continental
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM41
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER37
- 03LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES31
- 04STRUCTURE30
- 05SUSPENSION26
Owners report a range of electrical gremlins, from trunk lids closing unexpectedly to instrument cluster presets resetting, mirrors folding on their own, and the head-up display malfunctioning. These issues can be both annoying and potentially hazardous, as seen in the trunk incident.
Door latch problems are common, with some owners experiencing doors that don't fully latch, requiring a hard slam to close. This is a safety concern as doors may open while driving. Even after a recall fix, some owners report the issue persisting.
Structural complaints include metal splitting near the door check strap, which can affect door alignment and operation. This suggests potential weaknesses in the body structure that could lead to more serious issues over time.
While specific details are limited, suspension complaints indicate ride and handling issues that could affect comfort and control, possibly related to air suspension components or bushings.
“TL* THE CONTACT LEASED A 2020 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPENING THE TRUNK FROM THE DASHBOARD AND UNLOADING GROCERIES FROM THE TRUNK, THE TRUNK LID INDEPENDENTLY CLOSED STICKING HIS HEAD. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS NO CHIME A…”
“RANDOM PROBLEMS WITH MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL AREAS; APPROACH LIGHTS NOT COMING ON, INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DEPROGRAMING PRESETS, INTERIOR LIGHTS, OUTSIDE MIRRORS FOLDING WHEN PROGRAMMED NOT TO DO SO, INTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRROR MARKEDLY CHANGING POSITION, HUD MALFUNCTIO…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Engine complaints are numerous, with owners reporting unusual noises, loss of power, and warning lights for brake, hill descent, and ABS systems. Some describe the vehicle losing speed on the highway, which is a serious safety concern.
Electrical issues range from TPMS warnings to rodent damage on wiring harnesses, which can lead to engine performance problems. The complexity of modern electronics makes these issues difficult and costly to diagnose and repair.
Many owners report problems with the forward collision avoidance system, including false activations at highway speeds and intermittent warning messages for adaptive cruise control and lane keeping. These malfunctions can be startling and potentially cause accidents.
Brake-related complaints include issues with the antilock braking system and electronic stability control, with warning lights and unexpected brake engagement. This directly impacts the vehicle's 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.
Lincoln Continental — 18 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Lincoln Continental vehicles. The door latch pawl motors may not function properly, possibly resulting in a door latch not fully engaging.
The risk: A door latch that is not fully engaged may result in a door opening while driving, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the latch assemblies on all four doors, free of charge. The recall began October 14, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S03.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2020 F-Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, and 2017-2020 Lincoln Continental vehicles equipped with the 360-degree camera system. Degradation of the camera's anit-reflective lens coating can lead to a foggy or cloudy rearview camera image.
The risk: Lack of a clear rearview camera image can reduce the driver's visibility of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 14, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S51.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2020 F-Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, and 2017-2020 Lincoln Continental vehicles equipped with the 360-degree camera system. Degradation of the camera's anit-reflective lens coating can lead to a foggy or cloudy rearview camera image.
The risk: Lack of a clear rearview camera image can reduce the driver's visibility of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 14, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S51.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-2…
The risk: A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver. Both of these situations ca…
The fix: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S72.
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
Lincoln Continental or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Lincoln Continental has far fewer complaints per year (38) compared to the Honda Accord (444), indicating a lower frequency of reported issues. However, the Continental's problems are often more complex and safety-related, such as door latches and electrical glitches. In practice, the Accord's higher volume suggests more widespread issues, but many are software-related and may be addressed by recalls, whereas the Continental's issues may be more persistent.
Key differences
- The Lincoln Continental has significantly fewer complaints per year (38) than the Honda Accord (444), but its issues are more likely to involve safety-critical systems like door latches and electrical malfunctions.
- The Honda Accord's top complaint areas are engine and electrical, with many reports of warning lights and system failures, while the Continental's top areas include latches and structure, indicating potential build quality issues.
- The Accord has more recalls (38) than the Continental (18), but many are for software updates, whereas the Continental's recalls include door latches and backup cameras.
- The Continental's complaints often describe multiple electrical systems failing simultaneously, suggesting a systemic issue, while the Accord's complaints are more varied and spread across many components.
- Inspect the operation of all doors and latches, ensuring they close securely without excessive force. Listen for any unusual sounds from the trunk mechanism.
- Test all electrical features, including the trunk release, mirrors, instrument cluster, and head-up display, to ensure they function correctly and don't reset or act erratically.
- Check for any warning lights on the dashboard, especially those related to brakes, ABS, and forward collision avoidance. Test the adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist on a safe road.
- Listen for unusual engine noises and ensure smooth acceleration. Ask for service records to see if any engine or electrical issues have been previously reported.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report to check for any open recalls and ensure they have been addressed.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the specific problem areas mentioned.
- Test drive the vehicle on various road types to experience any potential issues with braking, acceleration, or driver assistance features.
- Ask the seller for all maintenance and repair records, especially for any warranty work related to the common complaints.
- Check the NHTSA website for the latest complaints and recalls for the specific model year you are considering.
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 | Lincoln Continental | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 7 | 355 |
| 2019 | 31 | 677 |
| 2018 | 19 | 1864 |
| 2017 | 75 | 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 Lincoln Continental or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Lincoln Continental vs Honda Accord
- Lincoln Continental total complaints
- 266
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Lincoln Continental total recalls
- 18
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Lincoln Continental avg complaints/year
- 38.0
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Lincoln Continental
- Lincoln Continental top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE