Head-to-head reliability
Lincoln MKC vs Honda Accord
How the Lincoln MKC 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 MKC vs Honda Accord: The MKC averages 116.6 complaints per year, with engine issues dominating (314 complaints), while the Accord averages 443.8 per year, with forward collision avoidance problems (821) being common. The MKC's engine failures can be catastrophic, whereas the Accord's issues are often electronic. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Lincoln MKC or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Lincoln MKC
The Lincoln MKC, a compact luxury SUV, shows a reliability profile dominated by engine troubles, with 314 of 583 complaints over five years. Owners report coolant intrusion into cylinders, causing misfires and often requiring full engine replacement. Electrical issues, including door mirror clicking and recall part shortages, add to ownership frustrations. While crash-related complaints are relatively low, the engine problems are severe and costly, making it a risky used purchase without a thorough inspection.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord, a popular midsize sedan, has a higher total complaint count (4438 over 10 years) but also a longer reporting period. Engine issues (985) and electrical problems (863) are common, but the standout is the forward collision avoidance system (821 complaints), which owners say triggers false alerts and sudden braking. Brake system complaints (592) also appear, with reports of failures leading to loss of speed. Despite the volume, many complaints are about advanced driver-assist features, which may be less critical than the MKC's engine failures.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Lincoln MKC | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 583 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 27 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 19 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 116.6 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 9 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 MKC
- 01ENGINE314
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM67
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER63
- 04BACK OVER PREVENTION50
- 05POWER TRAIN48
Coolant intrusion into cylinders, especially cylinder 3, leads to misfires and check engine lights. Dealerships often recommend a full long block replacement, a costly repair that can recur.
Owners report abnormal clicking sounds from door mirrors and erratic mirror movement. Additionally, recall parts for electrical issues are often back-ordered, leaving owners waiting for fixes.
The rearview camera can display a black screen or become fuzzy, especially when reversing. This is linked to recall 25V572000, but parts may not be available, leaving the safety feature compromised.
“My 2016 Lincoln MKC with a 2.0L EcoBoost engine experienced coolant intrusion into cylinder 3, leading to engine misfire and check engine light to turn on. The dealership confirmed the issue for $176.55 and recommended a full long block engine replacement, es…”
“While driving a short distance to work, my 2016 MKC check engine light came on. The previous week I noticed that the engine hesitated slightly when it first started, but it drove normally. However, when the light came on, my husband took the vehicle to the de…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Reports include unusual noises and sudden loss of power with multiple warning lights (brake, hill descent, ABS). Some owners experience critical failures that make the vehicle undrivable.
Issues range from TPMS warnings to rodent damage on wiring harnesses, which can cause camshaft position sensor failures. Electrical gremlins can be intermittent and hard to diagnose.
The system often triggers false alerts or applies brakes unexpectedly, even on open roads. Owners report intermittent messages about adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist, indicating sensor or software glitches.
“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 MKC — 27 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Lincoln MKC vehicles manufactured November 25, 2013, to January 25, 2016, and 2016 Ford Explorer vehicles manufactured October 20, 2014, to January 28, 2016. The affected vehicles are equipped with 2.3L GTDI engines and engine bloc…
The risk: Overheating of the engine block increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine block heater, free of charge. Dealers will also inspect and replace the electrical cord, as necessary. The recall began on May 18, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Lincoln MKC vehicles. The battery monitor sensor may short-circuit and overheat, causing a fire in the engine compartment while parked or driving.
The risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will add an in-line fuse to the battery monitor sensor power circuit, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 8,…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Lincoln MKC, 2016-2023 Explorer, 2019-2020 Fusion, 2019-2024 Ranger, 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair, Escape, 2021-2024 Bronco, Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it…
The risk: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded bl…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Lincoln MKC, 2016-2023 Explorer, 2019-2020 Fusion, 2019-2024 Ranger, 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair, Escape, 2021-2024 Bronco, Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it…
The risk: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded bl…
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 MKC or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Lincoln MKC has fewer complaints per year (116.6) compared to the Honda Accord (443.8), but the MKC's issues are more severe, often involving engine failure. The Accord's higher volume is partly due to its longer sales history and more widespread use, but its problems are less likely to be catastrophic. In practice, the MKC poses a higher financial risk, while the Accord may have more annoying but less critical electronic glitches.
Key differences
- The MKC's engine failures often require complete replacement, while the Accord's engine issues are more varied, including power loss and noises.
- The Accord has a significant number of complaints about forward collision avoidance and braking systems, which can cause unexpected braking; the MKC's back-over camera issues are less frequent but still a safety concern.
- The MKC has fewer complaints per year, but its problems are more concentrated in the engine, making them potentially more expensive to fix.
- The Accord's electrical issues include rodent damage and TPMS problems, while the MKC's electrical complaints focus on door mirrors and recall part availability.
- Check for any signs of coolant leaks or engine misfires, and request service records for any engine work, especially on 2016 models with the 2.0L EcoBoost.
- Test the rearview camera for clarity and ensure any recall (like 25V572000) has been performed, as parts may be back-ordered.
- Test the forward collision warning and adaptive cruise control to see if they trigger false alerts, and check for any pending software updates.
- Inspect the wiring harness for rodent damage, especially if the car is parked outdoors, and verify the TPMS system works correctly.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the engine and electrical systems.
- For the MKC, specifically check for coolant level and any signs of engine repair; for the Accord, test all driver-assist features.
- Ask for service records to see if any major repairs have been done, especially engine replacements on the MKC.
- Consider an extended warranty if buying the MKC, given the high cost of engine repairs.
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 MKC | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 115 | 677 |
| 2018 | 71 | 1864 |
| 2017 | 188 | 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 MKC or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Lincoln MKC vs Honda Accord
- Lincoln MKC total complaints
- 583
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Lincoln MKC total recalls
- 27
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Lincoln MKC avg complaints/year
- 116.6
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Lincoln MKC
- Lincoln MKC top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE