Head-to-head reliability
Lincoln MKS vs Honda Accord
How the Lincoln MKS 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 MKS vs Honda Accord: The MKS averages 46.6 complaints per year with 59 deaths, while the Accord averages 452.4 complaints per year with 3 deaths. The MKS has fewer complaints but more severe outcomes, often involving steering loss. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Lincoln MKS or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Lincoln MKS
The Lincoln MKS is a full-size luxury sedan with a troubling reliability record: 373 complaints over 8 years, averaging 46.6 per year, plus 19 recalls. The most common owner-reported problem is power steering failure, often described as sudden loss of assist or a 'Power Steering Assist Fault' warning, which can make the car hard to steer. Other frequent issues include engine overheating and brake problems. With 59 deaths and 54 injuries reported in crash-related complaints, buyers should be aware of serious safety concerns.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular midsize car with a much higher complaint volume: 4,524 complaints over 10 years, averaging 452.4 per year, and 38 recalls. Owners report a wide range of problems, especially with the engine, electrical system, and forward collision avoidance. Many complaints involve stalling, loss of power, and false automatic braking. Although the death count is lower (3), the sheer number of complaints suggests frequent issues across many systems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Lincoln MKS | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 373 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 19 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 23 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 46.6 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 54 Better | 146 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 59 | 3 Better |
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 MKS
- 01STEERING120
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM55
- 03ENGINE47
- 04SERVICE BRAKES33
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER27
Owners frequently report power steering failure, with warnings like 'Power Steering Assist Fault' and steering becoming very hard to turn, especially at low speeds. Some had prior recalls for the electric power assist system, but failures still occur, posing a serious safety risk.
Complaints include power steering assist faults and instrument panel messages that can lead to stalling, as seen in a 2011 MKS where a health report scan caused the vehicle to stall. These electrical glitches can disable critical systems unexpectedly.
Owners describe overheating and coolant reservoir issues, with the car smoking and the temperature gauge not showing hot until after problems start. Some report loss of motive power when the temperature rises, indicating potential engine damage.
Reports include brake pedal vibration at highway speeds, often leading to rear rotor replacement. In some cases, steering lock-up and brake malfunction occur together, with multiple warning lights, creating a dangerous situation.
“What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Power Steering While driving yesterday, doing shopping and online order deliveries, the steering wheel started having slight resistance during turns. It became…”
“In 2015 a recall was done to repair the power steering failure issue. In October of 2021, while driving the vehicle down the highway, the power steering went out making the vehicle almost impossible to steer. Had the vehicle towed to the dealership where they…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report sudden loss of speed, alarms for brake, hill descent, ABS, and critical failure, as well as rattling noises and rough transitions between EV and gas modes in hybrids. These issues can leave drivers stranded or cause unsafe driving conditions.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, and TPMS warnings followed by tire failure. Such electrical faults can lead to loss of control and near-collisions.
Owners describe unexpected activation of automatic braking or adaptive cruise control issues, sometimes occurring repeatedly under similar conditions. This can cause sudden deceleration and increase crash risk.
Complaints include persistent rotten-egg odors and fuel pump problems, with some recalls for fuel delivery. These issues can indicate fuel leaks or performance problems that may lead to stalling.
“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…”
“Vehicle makes rattling noises while accelerating similar to a diesel engine also rough transitions between EV mode and Gas mode also when you press the charge button the engine makes a very noticeable jerk once it’s on ,Honda does not want to fix my issue and…”
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 MKS — 19 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Ford Taurus vehicles manufactured December 1, 2009, to July 31, 2010, and 2011-2013 Lincoln MKS vehicles manufactured June 1, 2011, to October 31, 2011. In the affected vehicles, the interior door handle return spring may unseat, r…
The risk: If the interior door handle return spring is unseated, the door may unlatch in the event of a side impact crash, increasing the risk of personal injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect all four of the interior door handles and either repair or replace them, free of charge. The recall began March 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Ford Fusion vehicles without a 3.5L engine and Lincoln MKZ hybrid electric vehicles, 2011 Mercury Milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with a 3.5L GTDI engine and 2013 For…
The risk: If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will check the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) for Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC). If dealers find any loss of steering assist DTCs, the steering gear will be replaced, free of charge. If, no codes…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Ford Flex, 2008 and 2010-2012 Ford Taurus, 2008-2009 Ford Taurus X, 2008 Mercury Sable, 2009 and 2011 Lincoln MKS vehicles. The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high spe…
The risk: An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the driver's frontal air bag module, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on June 13, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Ford Taurus vehicles manufactured December 1, 2009, to July 31, 2010, and 2011-2013 Lincoln MKS vehicles manufactured June 1, 2011, to October 31, 2011. In the affected vehicles, the interior door handle return spring may unseat, r…
The risk: If the interior door handle return spring is unseated, the door may unlatch in the event of a side impact crash, increasing the risk of personal injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect all four of the interior door handles and either repair or replace them, free of charge. The recall began March 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's…
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 (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021 Accord Sedan, Accord Hybrid, CR-V, Ridgeline, 2022 Insight and CR-V Hybrid vehicles. The automatic locking retractor on the second-row center seat belt assembly may deactivate improperly, which can result in an unsecured child restraint sys…
The risk: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the second-row center seat belt assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
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 MKS or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Lincoln MKS has far fewer complaints per year (46.6) than the Honda Accord (452.4), but the MKS's issues often involve critical safety systems like steering and brakes. The Accord's higher complaint rate means more frequent visits to the shop, but its problems are spread across more areas. In practice, the MKS may have fewer overall problems, but when they occur, they can be severe.
Key differences
- The Lincoln MKS has a much lower complaint rate (46.6 per year) compared to the Honda Accord (452.4 per year), but MKS complaints often involve life-threatening steering and brake failures.
- Honda Accord complaints frequently mention engine stalling, electrical failures, and forward collision avoidance malfunctions, while MKS complaints center on power steering loss and overheating.
- The MKS has 59 reported deaths in crash-related complaints, while the Accord has 3, though the Accord has more crash-related complaints overall (162 vs. 23).
- Both vehicles have multiple recalls, but the Accord has 38 recalls versus 19 for the MKS, covering systems like fuel pumps and seat belts.
- Check for any history of power steering assist faults or warning messages, and test steering at low speeds for resistance or lock-up.
- Inspect for coolant leaks, overheating signs, and ensure the temperature gauge functions correctly, as owners report overheating without warning.
- Test the forward collision avoidance system and adaptive cruise control for unexpected braking or warnings, as owners report false activations.
- Listen for engine rattles or rough transitions between EV and gas modes in hybrids, and check for any stored electrical fault codes.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models, especially steering and fuel system recalls.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with the specific model, focusing on steering, brakes, and electrical systems.
- Test drive at various speeds, including highway, to check for steering assist, braking, and any warning lights.
- For the Accord, verify that forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control function without false alerts.
- For the MKS, check for power steering fluid leaks and ensure the electric power assist system has been serviced under recall if applicable.
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 MKS or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Lincoln MKS vs Honda Accord
- Lincoln MKS total complaints
- 373
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Lincoln MKS total recalls
- 19
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Lincoln MKS avg complaints/year
- 46.6
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Lincoln MKS
- Lincoln MKS top complaint area
- STEERING
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE