Head-to-head reliability
Lincoln Nautilus vs Honda Accord
How the Lincoln Nautilus 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 Nautilus vs Honda Accord: The Nautilus averages 29 complaints per year with 33 recalls, while the Accord averages 452 complaints per year with 38 recalls. The Accord has 162 crash-related reports and 146 injuries versus 11 crashes and 3 injuries for the Nautilus. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Lincoln Nautilus or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Lincoln Nautilus
The Lincoln Nautilus is a midsize luxury SUV that averages about 29 complaints per year over eight years, with 33 recalls and 11 crash-related reports. Owners frequently describe transmission shuddering, jerking, and unexpected shifts into neutral, as well as electrical glitches like steering column self-adjustment and driver-assist features turning off. These patterns suggest that while the Nautilus may be comfortable, it can demand patience and repair visits, especially for powertrain and electronic issues.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular midsize sedan that averages about 452 complaints per year over ten years, with 38 recalls and 162 crash-related reports. Common owner complaints include engine rattles, rough hybrid transitions, electronic power steering and braking failures, and forward collision avoidance system malfunctions. The higher complaint volume reflects its huge sales numbers, but the reported issues can be serious, including sudden loss of speed and unintended braking.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Lincoln Nautilus | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 232 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 33 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 11 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 29.0 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 3 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 Nautilus
- 01POWER TRAIN58
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM45
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER42
- 04ENGINE26
- 05STRUCTURE18
Owners report sputtering, jerking, and auto-shifting from drive into neutral, often linked to the 8F35 transmission. This can leave you stranded or cause a loss of power while merging, making it a critical area to test and research.
Complaints include the steering column tilt and telescopic moving on its own, and the vehicle unexpectedly shifting into neutral with the check engine light on. These glitches can be distracting and potentially dangerous if they occur while driving.
Some owners report the engine acting strangely, with the check engine light appearing and the vehicle losing power or shifting oddly. This overlaps with transmission issues and can indicate deeper mechanical problems.
Reports include the Ford BlueCruise hands-free system turning off safety alerts without warning, and general odd behavior within miles of home. These unpredictable electronic faults can undermine trust in the vehicle's safety features.
“The contact owns a 2022 Lincoln Nautilus. The contact stated that while another person was driving approximately 15-50 MPH, the vehicle sputtered and jerked. The vehicle was driven to the workplace, and the contact attempted to test-drive the vehicle. The con…”
“There is a class action lawsuit for the 2019-2021 Nautilus with the 8F35 transmission, which is the same transmission that my 2022 Nautilus has. Ford has also issued multiple technical service bulletins (25-2154, 21-2389) regarding the 8F35 transmission. My t…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners describe rattling noises while accelerating, rough transitions between EV and gas modes, and sudden loss of speed with multiple dashboard alarms. These symptoms can indicate hybrid system or engine management problems that may be costly to diagnose.
Complaints include electronic power steering and braking systems failing simultaneously at highway speeds, and TPMS warnings followed by tire failure. Such failures can cause near-collisions and require immediate attention.
Owners report the system braking unexpectedly or failing to respond, sometimes under adaptive cruise control. This can lead to sudden deceleration or a crash if the system misjudges obstacles.
Some owners note a persistent rotten-egg or sulfur odor, which may point to fuel or emissions issues. While not always a safety risk, it can be a sign of incomplete combustion or catalytic converter problems.
“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 Nautilus — 33 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Bronco, F-150, Edge, Explorer, Lincoln Nautilus, and Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with either a 2.7L or 3.0L Nano EcoBoost engine. The engine intake valves may break while driving, which can result in engine failure and a loss of drive p…
The risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will perform an engine cycle test and replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 3, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall i…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Bronco, F-150, 2021-2024 Edge, 2022-2025 Escape, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, F-600, 2022-2024 Expedition, 2022-2025 Transit, 2021-2023 Mach-E, 2024 Ranger, Mustang, 2021-2023 Lincoln Nautilus, 2022-2024 Navigator, and 2023-2024 Corsair vehicl…
The risk: A frozen or missing rearview camera image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: The accessory protocol interface module (APIM) software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air update, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model an…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 Edge and Lincoln Nautilus vehicles. The child seat tether wire welds on the second-row left-side seat back frame may be insufficient, which can reduce the seat's ability to properly restrain a child during a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to…
The risk: A child that is not properly restrained during a crash can have an increased risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the left-side second-row seat back frame, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 11, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23C09.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 Lincoln Nautilus vehicles. The rear shock absorbers may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in damage to the rear brake hose, rear axle half shaft, wheel speed sensor, and/or stabilizer bar end links.
The risk: A damaged brake hose can extend the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the rear shocks, rear brake hoses, rear wheel speed sensor, and rear half shafts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 17, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer servic…
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 Nautilus or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Lincoln Nautilus has far fewer complaints per year (about 29) than the Honda Accord (about 452), but the Accord's higher volume is partly due to its much larger sales. In practice, the Nautilus may have fewer reported issues overall, but the Accord's issues can be more severe, including crashes and injuries. Buyers should weigh frequency against potential severity.
Key differences
- The Lincoln Nautilus averages about 29 complaints per year, while the Honda Accord averages about 452 per year, though the Accord sells in much higher numbers.
- Nautilus owners frequently report transmission jerking and unexpected shifts into neutral, while Accord owners report engine rattles and hybrid mode transitions.
- The Accord has far more crash-related reports (162) and injuries (146) than the Nautilus (11 crashes, 3 injuries), suggesting more severe outcomes in reported incidents.
- Both have electrical complaints, but the Nautilus issues often involve steering column and driver-assist glitches, while the Accord's include power steering and braking failures.
- During a test drive, accelerate at various speeds and listen for jerking, shuddering, or hesitation that could indicate 8F35 transmission problems.
- Check that the steering column tilt and telescopic functions stay put and do not move on their own, and verify that all driver-assist alerts and BlueCruise features are functioning.
- Test the electronic power steering and braking by driving at highway speeds if possible, and be alert for any warning lights or sudden changes in steering effort or brake feel.
- Listen for rattling noises during acceleration and pay attention to transitions between EV and gas modes; also check for any persistent sulfur or rotten-egg odor.
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 transmission and electrical systems, focusing on the specific complaints reported for each model.
- During a test drive, simulate highway merging and acceleration to check for power loss, jerking, or unexpected gear changes.
- Verify that all safety systems, including forward collision avoidance and electronic stability control, are operational and do not show warning lights.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially any repairs related to the transmission, engine, or electrical components.
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 Nautilus | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 11 | 10 |
| 2025 | 21 | 109 |
| 2024 | 22 | 219 |
| 2023 | 7 | 226 |
| 2022 | 13 | 252 |
| 2021 | 23 | 234 |
| 2020 | 33 | 362 |
| 2019 | 102 | 691 |
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 Nautilus or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Lincoln Nautilus vs Honda Accord
- Lincoln Nautilus total complaints
- 232
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Lincoln Nautilus total recalls
- 33
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Lincoln Nautilus avg complaints/year
- 29.0
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Lincoln Nautilus
- Lincoln Nautilus top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE