Head-to-head reliability
Lincoln MKX vs Honda Accord
How the Lincoln MKX 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 MKX vs Honda Accord: The MKX averages 86.6 complaints per year with brakes as the top issue, while the Accord averages 452.4 per year led by engine and electrical problems. The Accord has more crash-related reports (162 vs 35). Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Lincoln MKX or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Lincoln MKX
The Lincoln MKX is a midsize luxury SUV that averages about 87 complaints per year over a 10-year span, with brakes being the most frequent owner concern. Many complaints describe brake pedal sinking to the floor or becoming hard to push, sometimes after repairs. Electrical glitches and engine issues also appear, but the volume is lower than the Honda Accord's. Overall, it's a vehicle where brake and electrical problems dominate the ownership experience.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular midsize sedan with a much higher complaint rate—about 452 per year—driven largely by engine, electrical, and forward collision avoidance issues. Owners report stalling, loss of power, and unexpected braking from safety systems. While the Accord has more complaints overall, it also sells in far greater numbers, so the rate per vehicle may be lower. Still, the data shows a wide range of reported problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Lincoln MKX | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 866 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 37 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 35 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 86.6 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 17 Better | 146 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 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 MKX
- 01SERVICE BRAKES264
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM153
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER110
- 04ENGINE108
- 05AIR BAGS99
Owners frequently report the brake pedal sinking to the floor or becoming hard to push, sometimes intermittently. One owner had the brake booster replaced under warranty but still lost all braking shortly after. This is a critical safety concern that can lead to crashes.
Complaints include dash lights and info clusters failing to light up, and driving/brake lights not working. One owner reported the car stalled at a traffic light and then went into reverse unexpectedly. These electrical faults can cause unpredictable behavior and safety risks.
Some owners report engine defects, including a 3.7-liter engine with an inherent defect noted by a dealer, and faulty catalytic converters. These can lead to performance issues and emissions failures, potentially requiring costly repairs.
Air bag complaints are among the top components, though specific owner text is not provided. Given the safety nature, any air bag issue is serious and should be checked, especially since there are 17 injuries and 1 death reported overall.
“I HAD NOTICED A WEEK PRIOR TO DRIVING TO WORK EVERYDAY THAT MY BRAKES WERE SOMETIMES GOING TO THE FLOOR AND SOMETIMES STOPPING ALL THE WAY UP MAKING THE PEDAL HARD TO PUSH. I DRIVE 20 MILES BOTH DIRECTIONS DAILY SO I AM ON THE HIGHWAY TO WORK. ON A MONDAY MOR…”
“In 2021 I took vehicle in for intermittent soft brakes where the pedal would suddenly sink to the floor. Dealer replaced brake booster under warranty. Issue was still intermittent and 2 months into driving after the booster was replaced I suddenly lost all br…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report alarms for brake, hill descent, and ABS failures, with the vehicle losing speed and unable to accelerate. Others mention rattling noises and rough transitions between EV and gas modes. These issues can leave a driver stranded or cause sudden power loss.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, causing near-collisions. Another owner had a tire fail catastrophically after a TPMS repair. Electrical faults can disable critical safety systems without warning.
Owners describe unexpected braking or failure to avoid collisions, sometimes under adaptive cruise control. One incident occurred twice on the same route under similar conditions. This undermines trust in the car's safety features and can cause rear-end collisions.
Complaints include fuel pump issues and propulsion problems, though specific text is not provided. With 602 complaints in this area, buyers should be aware of potential stalling or fuel delivery failures that could affect drivability.
“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 MKX — 37 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford Edge and 2016-2018 Lincoln MKX vehicles. The front brake hoses may rupture prematurely.
The risk: A ruptured front brake hose will cause a brake fluid leak, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front brake hoses with the new hoses that have a revised braid material, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 13, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles. These vehicles may have door striker bolts that are shorter than intended. Vehicles with shorter door striker bolts fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 20…
The risk: If the doors open in the event of a crash, there is an increased risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the door striker bolts, free of charge. The recall began October 18, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18C06.
The defect: Ford Motor Company, Inc. (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Lincoln MKX and 2019-2020 Nautilus vehicles equipped with 16-way electric tilt seats. The seat cushion frame edge may contact the wire harness when the seat occupant uses the tilt function of the seat, potentially damaging one or more w…
The risk: An air bag that deploys inadvertently increases the risk of a crash. An air bag that does not deploy in the event of a crash increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install protective flocking tape onto the exposed edge of the 16-way seat cushion frames, and inspect the wire harness for damage, and repair or replace it as needed, free of charge. This recall be…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX, 2019 Ford Flex, and Lincoln MKT vehicles. The power supply cables at the starter and the alternator may not have been properly secured, possibly resulting in an electrical arc.
The risk: An electrical arc can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the alternator and starter motor power supply cables to verify that they are properly secured, correcting them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began September 26, 2018. Owners may…
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 MKX or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Lincoln MKX has far fewer complaints per year (about 87) compared to the Honda Accord (about 452), but the Accord's higher sales volume means the rate per vehicle may be closer. In practice, the MKX's issues cluster around brakes and electrical faults, while the Accord's span engine, electrical, and safety systems. Both have serious reported problems, so neither stands out as clearly more reliable.
Key differences
- The Lincoln MKX has 866 complaints over 10 years, while the Honda Accord has 4,524—about five times more, but the Accord also sells in much higher volumes.
- Brake problems dominate MKX complaints, with reports of pedal sinking to the floor, whereas Accord complaints center on engine and electrical failures like stalling and power steering loss.
- The Accord has 162 crash-related complaints and 146 injuries, compared to 35 crashes and 17 injuries for the MKX, suggesting more reported incidents in the Accord.
- Both have 37-38 recalls, but the MKX recalls include brake hydraulic and latch issues, while Accord recalls cover hybrid power control and fuel pumps.
- Check the brake pedal feel: it should not sink to the floor or become hard to push. Ask for service records related to brake booster or master cylinder repairs.
- Test all electrical functions, including dash lights, brake lights, and infotainment. Look for any signs of water leaks or mold, as one owner reported a significant leak.
- Listen for rattling noises during acceleration and feel for rough transitions between EV and gas modes, especially in hybrid models. These may indicate engine or transmission issues.
- Test the forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control systems on a test drive. Be alert for unexpected braking or failure to detect obstacles, as owners have reported near-collisions.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for any open recalls on the NHTSA website using the VIN.
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the brakes, electrical system, and engine for both vehicles, focusing on the specific complaint areas.
- For the Lincoln MKX, test the brakes repeatedly and check for intermittent pedal issues; for the Honda Accord, test all safety systems and listen for engine noises.
- Ask the seller for all maintenance records, especially any related to brake, electrical, or engine repairs.
- During a test drive, simulate highway speeds and stop-and-go traffic to see if any warning lights appear or if the vehicle stalls.
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 MKX | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 31 | 1884 |
| 2017 | 52 | 537 |
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 MKX or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Lincoln MKX vs Honda Accord
- Lincoln MKX total complaints
- 866
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Lincoln MKX total recalls
- 37
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Lincoln MKX avg complaints/year
- 86.6
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Lincoln MKX
- Lincoln MKX top complaint area
- SERVICE BRAKES
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE