Head-to-head reliability
Lincoln MKZ vs Honda Accord
How the Lincoln MKZ 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 MKZ vs Honda Accord: the MKZ averaged about 88 complaints per year with 66 recalls, while the Accord averaged about 452 complaints per year with 38 recalls. The MKZ has fewer yearly complaints but more recalls; the Accord has more complaints but fewer recalls. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Lincoln MKZ or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Lincoln MKZ
The Lincoln MKZ is a midsize luxury sedan that averaged about 88 complaints per year over a decade, with 66 recalls. Owners most often report air bag, engine, steering, and brake problems, including air bags that failed to deploy in a crash and engines that overheated or failed suddenly. Living with one means staying on top of recalls and being alert to steering wobble or brake lockup.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular family sedan that averaged about 452 complaints per year, with 38 recalls. The most common trouble spots are the engine, electrical system, forward collision avoidance, and fuel system, with reports of power loss, warning-light storms, and automatic braking that activates unexpectedly. It has more complaints per year but fewer recalls than the MKZ.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Lincoln MKZ | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 879 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 66 | 38 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 54 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 87.9 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 34 Better | 146 |
| 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 MKZ
- 01AIR BAGS180
- 02ENGINE141
- 03STEERING123
- 04SERVICE BRAKES108
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM95
Owners report air bags that did not deploy in a crash, with one saying a cracked sensor bar was found. This matters because a non-deploying air bag can leave you unprotected in a frontal impact.
Reports include a 2019 MKZ with the 2.0L EcoBoost that suddenly overheated and became inoperable, and a 2018 MKZ with white exhaust smoke and a strange smell. These symptoms can mean costly engine damage or emissions problems.
Drivers describe the steering wheel wobbling or moving back and forth while reversing, and in one case the steering wheel and wheels got stuck. A steering failure while driving is a serious safety concern.
One owner reported the brakes locking up at about 3 MPH with the ABS warning light flashing, and a dealer could not find the cause. Brake lockup or ABS faults can make the car hard to control in low-speed situations.
“I had a accident almost a year ago if not longer. I hit a deer on the freeway they couldn’t understand why my airbags didn’t deploy. They say the bar was cracked in two different spots that makes the airbag deploy. Luckily my car wasn’t total for that reason.…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report sudden power loss with brake, hill descent, and ABS warnings, plus rattling noises and rough transitions between EV and gas modes. These can leave you stranded or cause a loss of speed on the highway.
Complaints include electronic power steering and braking failing and locking up at highway speeds, and a tire failure after a TPMS warning repair. Electrical faults that affect steering or brakes are high-risk.
Drivers describe the system braking unexpectedly on open roads or with adaptive cruise control set, sometimes twice on the same route. Unwanted automatic braking can cause a rear-end collision or loss of control.
Reports include a persistent rotten-egg or sulfur odor that remained after a paid repair, and a fuel pump recall. Fuel-system issues can mean odors, stalling, or a no-start condition.
“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 MKZ — 66 recalls
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.
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.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles. The front brake hoses may rupture and leak brake fluid.
The risk: A brake fluid leak will increase brake pedal travel and extend the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the front brake hoses, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 27, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S12.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles. In the event of a crash, heat from the deployment of a seat belt pretensioner may cause a front seat belt anchor cable to fail.
The risk: A failed seat belt anchor cable cannot properly restrain the front seat occupants, increasing their risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will apply a protective coating to the seat belt cable, free of charge. The recall began September 9, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 1…
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 MKZ or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Lincoln MKZ has far fewer complaints per year (about 88) than the Honda Accord (about 452), but the MKZ has more recalls (66 vs 38). In practice, the Accord generates more owner complaints each year, while the MKZ has more manufacturer-issued recalls to track. Neither pattern is a guarantee of reliability for a specific car.
Key differences
- The Lincoln MKZ averages about 88 complaints per year, while the Honda Accord averages about 452 per year.
- The MKZ has 66 recalls over 10 years, compared with 38 for the Accord.
- MKZ owners most often report air bag, engine, steering, and brake problems; Accord owners most often report engine, electrical, forward collision avoidance, and fuel system problems.
- The Accord has more crash-related complaints (162) and injuries (146) than the MKZ (54 crashes, 34 injuries), but the MKZ has 0 deaths reported versus 3 for the Accord.
- Check for any history of air bag deployment or sensor bar damage, since owners report air bags that failed to deploy in a crash.
- Listen for engine overheating, rough running, or white exhaust smoke, especially on 2.0L EcoBoost models, and test the steering for wobble or sticking at low speed.
- Test the electronic power steering and brakes at highway speed if possible, and watch for warning lights for brake, hill descent, or ABS faults.
- Ask whether the forward collision avoidance system has ever braked unexpectedly, and check for fuel or sulfur odors that may indicate a fuel-system issue.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA.gov to see all open recalls for the specific Lincoln MKZ or Honda Accord you are considering.
- Take a test drive that includes highway speeds, reversing, and low-speed braking to feel for steering wobble, brake lockup, or unwanted automatic braking.
- Ask for service records showing any engine, electrical, or fuel-system repairs, especially for the Accord's hybrid components or the MKZ's 2.0L EcoBoost.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the air bag system, steering, brakes, and for any stored trouble codes before you buy.
- Check for unusual exhaust smoke, sulfur or rotten-egg odors, and warning lights that stay on after the engine starts.
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 MKZ | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2 | 362 |
| 2019 | 20 | 691 |
| 2018 | 35 | 1884 |
| 2017 | 138 | 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 MKZ or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Lincoln MKZ vs Honda Accord
- Lincoln MKZ total complaints
- 879
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Lincoln MKZ total recalls
- 66
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Lincoln MKZ avg complaints/year
- 87.9
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Lincoln MKZ
- Lincoln MKZ top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE