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 28 complaints per year over 8 years, while the Accord averages 444 per year over 10 years. Nautilus owners report transmission jerking and electrical glitches, while Accord owners face engine failures and false collision warnings. 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, a midsize luxury SUV, shows a moderate complaint rate of about 28 per year over eight years, with powertrain and electrical issues dominating. Owners report transmission jerking and unexpected shifts to neutral, as well as electrical glitches like the steering column adjusting on its own. These reports suggest that while the Nautilus offers a comfortable ride, buyers should be prepared for potential drivability and electronic gremlins that could require dealer visits.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord, a popular midsize sedan, has a much higher complaint volume, averaging over 440 per year, but this reflects its larger sales base. Engine problems, including sudden power loss and warning lights, are the most common, followed by electrical issues and false forward-collision warnings. The high number of complaints, including some serious incidents, indicates that the Accord, despite its reputation, has notable reliability concerns that buyers should investigate.
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 | 224 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 33 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 11 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 28.0 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 3 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 Nautilus
- 01POWER TRAIN57
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM44
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER39
- 04ENGINE26
- 05STRUCTURE17
Owners report the 8F35 transmission causing sputtering, jerking, and even automatic shifting into neutral while driving, which can be dangerous in traffic. This issue is subject to a class-action lawsuit and multiple TSBs, indicating a known problem.
Electrical failures include the vehicle shifting into neutral unexpectedly and the steering column tilt/telescopic adjusting on its own while driving, which can distract the driver and affect control.
Engine-related complaints often accompany transmission issues, with the check engine light coming on and the vehicle losing power, sometimes forcing the driver to pull over.
“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
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Engine problems are widespread, with reports of sudden loss of power, warning lights for brake and ABS systems, and even critical failures that cause the vehicle to slow down on highways.
Electrical issues include TPMS warnings that lead to tire failures and rodent damage to wiring harnesses, which can disable critical systems and are costly to repair.
The forward collision avoidance system often triggers false alerts, with the vehicle braking unexpectedly or displaying warnings for adaptive cruise control and lane keeping, which can be startling and potentially cause accidents.
“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 Nautilus — 33 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Lincoln Nautilus vehicles. The window automatic reversal system may not react correctly after detecting an obstruction, and the window reversal distance does not meet the minimum requirement. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the re…
The risk: A closing window may exert excessive force by pinching a driver or passenger before retracting, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will recalibrate the driver door module (DDM) and the passenger door module (PDM), free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 28, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's numb…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Lincoln Nautilus, 2023-2025 Escape, 2023 Lincoln Corsair, 2025 Lincoln Corsair, Maverick, and Bronco Sport vehicles equipped with a 1.5L or 2.0L MPC engine and an engine block heater. The engine block heater may overheat when the vehicle is p…
The risk: An overheated engine block heater can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will replace the block heater element and inspect the electrical cord, replacing it if necessary, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded blanking plug coupl…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Ranger, Lincoln Nautilus, Mustang, Maverick, Explorer, Escape, Lincoln Corsair, Bronco Sport, and Bronco vehicles. The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve may fail, resulting in an unexpected loss of drive power.
The risk: An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the EGR valves, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 31, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S10. Vehicle Identification Numbers (…
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…
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 Nautilus or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Lincoln Nautilus has far fewer complaints per year (28 vs. 444), but that doesn't necessarily mean it's more reliable—it's a lower-volume vehicle. In practice, the Nautilus's issues are concentrated in transmission and electrical gremlins, while the Accord's problems are more varied and frequent, including engine and safety-system failures. Buyers should weigh the severity and frequency of issues against their own tolerance for repairs.
Key differences
- The Nautilus has a known transmission issue (jerking, shifting to neutral) that can be dangerous, while the Accord's engine problems often cause sudden power loss.
- Electrical glitches in the Nautilus include the steering column moving on its own, whereas the Accord has false forward-collision warnings that can cause unexpected braking.
- The Accord has a much higher complaint rate, but it also sells in far greater numbers, so per-vehicle risk may be lower.
- Recalls differ: Nautilus has recalls for power windows and EGR valves, while Accord has recalls for hybrid power control unit software and fuel pumps.
- Test the transmission for any hesitation, jerking, or unexpected shifts, especially during acceleration.
- Check that the steering column stays firmly in place and doesn't move on its own while driving.
- Listen for unusual engine noises and watch for warning lights related to brakes, ABS, or hill descent.
- Verify that the forward collision warning system doesn't activate without reason, and check for any pending recalls.
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 transmission and electrical systems.
- Take a thorough test drive at highway speeds to feel for any jerking or loss of power.
- Ask for service records, especially for transmission repairs or software updates.
- Check the NHTSA website for the latest complaints and recall information for the specific model year.
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 | 8 | 5 |
| 2025 | 21 | 101 |
| 2024 | 21 | 214 |
| 2023 | 7 | 224 |
| 2022 | 13 | 238 |
| 2021 | 21 | 226 |
| 2020 | 33 | 355 |
| 2019 | 100 | 677 |
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
- 224
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Lincoln Nautilus total recalls
- 33
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Lincoln Nautilus avg complaints/year
- 28.0
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Lincoln Nautilus
- Lincoln Nautilus top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE