Head-to-head reliability
Lincoln Navigator vs Honda Accord
How the Lincoln Navigator 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 Navigator vs Honda Accord: The Navigator averages 27.3 complaints per year over 10 years, while the Accord averages 443.8. Navigator owners report engine fires and transmission failures, while Accord owners face engine and electrical issues. Both have recalls, but the Navigator's are fewer. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Lincoln Navigator or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Lincoln Navigator
The Lincoln Navigator is a full-size luxury SUV that owners keep for years, but the complaint record shows a pattern of persistent, sometimes alarming issues. Over the past decade, owners have reported vibrations at highway speeds that resist multiple repair attempts, transmissions that slip into neutral, electrical gremlins causing unintended braking and window failures, and even engine fires and exploding glass. While the total complaint count is relatively low, the severity and recurrence of these issues suggest that living with a Navigator can involve repeated dealer visits and safety concerns.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular midsize sedan with a much higher complaint volume, reflecting its large owner base. The dominant issues are engine problems, electrical faults, and a suite of driver-assistance features that can malfunction, causing false collision warnings or unintended braking. Owners also report sudden loss of power, tire failures, and even a sunroof explosion. While many complaints are about annoyances, the sheer number and the potential for sudden power loss or braking issues mean buyers should be aware of these patterns.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Lincoln Navigator | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 273 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 89 | 38 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 16 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 27.3 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 15 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 Navigator
- 01POWER TRAIN69
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM47
- 03ENGINE39
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER31
- 05SEAT BELTS26
Owners report a persistent vibration at highway speeds (70-85 mph) that persists despite tire rebalancing, new tires, and even replacement of the transfer case and rear driveshaft. Others report the transmission unexpectedly shifting into neutral while driving, which can be dangerous if it happens in traffic.
Electrical issues are common, including uncontrolled and spontaneous events like unintended braking on the interstate, driver window malfunctions, and key fob problems. Some owners have had to return the vehicle multiple times for the same electrical faults, indicating a lack of a permanent fix.
There are reports of engine fires that start while the vehicle is parked, with popping noises and flames seeping from under the hood. Another owner reported the vehicle lurching forward and crashing into a garage door, then shutting down, which could cause injury.
Owners have reported loud explosions and shattered rear windshields without warning, which is alarming and could cause injury or panic while driving.
“The vehicle has a vibration at interstate speeds 70-85 mph. The dealership has rebalanced the tires that came on the car, installed new tires and road forced balanced, replaced transfer case, rear drive shaft, but different size tires on car, and done another…”
“The contact owns a 2024 Lincoln Navigator. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH on several occasions, the transmission independently shifted into neutral(N). The contact stated that during each failure, the drive(D) button was pressed wi…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Engine issues are the most common, with reports of unusual noises that get louder over time, and sudden loss of power accompanied by warning lights for brake, hill descent, and ABS systems. This can be dangerous if it occurs at highway speeds.
Electrical problems include TPMS warnings that lead to catastrophic tire failure shortly after service, and rodent damage to wiring harnesses, which can cause engine or safety system malfunctions. These issues may not be covered under warranty and can be costly.
Many owners report the forward collision avoidance system malfunctioning, causing false alerts or unintended braking at moderate speeds on open roads. This can be startling and may increase the risk of rear-end collisions.
There are reports of sunroof glass exploding while driving, which could cause injury and distraction. Also, some complaints overlap with electrical issues, such as tire failures after TPMS warnings.
“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 Navigator — 89 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 F-150, 2024 Expedition and 2024 Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with a 3.5L GTDI engine. The engines may have a misaligned engine cup plug, which can result in a rapid oil leak.
The risk: A rapid oil leak can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, an oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the engine cup plug alignment, and replace the plug if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 23, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for th…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, 2020-2024 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2018-2024 F-150, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The air bag warning label may be missing from the dashboard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirement…
The risk: Without a label that shows the proper restraint usage guidelines, the occupants may have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The fix: Ford will mail owners the warning labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 19, 2024. Owners may call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24C39.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 F-150, Expedition, and 2024 Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines. The engine may have a misaligned engine cup plug, which can result in a rapid oil leak.
The risk: A rapid oil leak can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, an oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the engine cup plug alignment, and replace the plug if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 22, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Navigator and Expedition vehicles. The front brake lines may contact the engine air cleaner outlet pipe and become damaged, possibly resulting in a brake fluid leak and reduced brake function.
The risk: A loss of brake function increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the front brake line and replace the brake line or air cleaner outlet pipe, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 29, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.…
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 Navigator or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Lincoln Navigator has far fewer complaints per year (27.3) compared to the Honda Accord (443.8), but the Navigator's issues are often more severe, including fires and unintended shifting. The Accord's higher volume reflects its popularity, but the sheer number of engine and electrical complaints suggests a higher likelihood of encountering a problem. In practice, the Navigator may offer a more exclusive ownership experience but with potentially more serious safety concerns, while the Accord is more mainstream but with a higher chance of niggling issues.
Key differences
- The Navigator has a much lower complaint rate per year (27.3) than the Accord (443.8), but its complaints include more severe safety issues like engine fires and unintended shifting.
- The Accord's top issue is engine problems (985 complaints), while the Navigator's top is power train (69), but the Navigator's power train issues involve vibrations and transmission failures that are hard to fix.
- Electrical system issues are common in both, but the Navigator's electrical problems include unintended braking and window malfunctions, while the Accord's include TPMS-related tire failures and rodent damage.
- The Accord has a significant number of complaints about forward collision avoidance (821), which can cause false braking, a feature not as prominent in the Navigator's complaints.
- Check for any signs of engine fire risk, such as unusual smells or discoloration under the hood, and ask about any recalls related to engine oil or cooling.
- Test the transmission for any hesitation or unexpected shifting into neutral, especially at highway speeds, and have a mechanic inspect the driveline for vibration issues.
- Inspect the wiring harness for any signs of rodent damage, especially if the vehicle is parked outdoors, and check for any pending recalls related to the hybrid power control unit.
- Test the forward collision avoidance system in a safe area to ensure it doesn't false-alert or brake unexpectedly, and ask about any software updates for the system.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for any open recalls on both models.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the engine, transmission, and electrical systems.
- Test drive at highway speeds to feel for vibrations or transmission issues in the Navigator, and test the Accord's driver-assistance features on a quiet road.
- Ask for service records to see if the Navigator has had repeated repairs for the same issues, and if the Accord has had any electrical or engine work.
- Consider purchasing an extended warranty, especially for the Navigator, given the potential for costly repairs.
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 Navigator | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 5 |
| 2025 | 11 | 101 |
| 2024 | 15 | 214 |
| 2023 | 6 | 224 |
| 2022 | 20 | 238 |
| 2021 | 32 | 226 |
| 2020 | 31 | 355 |
| 2019 | 75 | 677 |
| 2018 | 52 | 1864 |
| 2017 | 31 | 534 |
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 Navigator or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Lincoln Navigator vs Honda Accord
- Lincoln Navigator total complaints
- 273
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Lincoln Navigator total recalls
- 89
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Lincoln Navigator avg complaints/year
- 27.3
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Lincoln Navigator
- Lincoln Navigator top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE