Head-to-head reliability
Lincoln TOWN CAR vs Honda Accord
How the Lincoln TOWN CAR 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 TOWN CAR vs Honda Accord: The Town Car averages 73.9 complaints per year with 22 recalls, while the Accord averages 452.4 complaints per year with 38 recalls. The Town Car's issues often involve unintended acceleration and brake failures, whereas the Accord's include engine and electrical problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Lincoln TOWN CAR or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Lincoln TOWN CAR
The Lincoln Town Car is a large, rear-wheel-drive sedan often used as a livery vehicle, and its 739 complaints over 10 years (about 74 per year) suggest a moderate rate of owner-reported issues. The most common complaints involve unintended acceleration, air bag problems, brake trouble, suspension faults, and steering defects. Recalls repeatedly address steering rack and pinion issues, which can affect control. For a buyer, this means checking these systems carefully, as some failures could be sudden and dangerous.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular midsize car with 4,524 complaints over 10 years (about 452 per year), a much higher annual rate than the Town Car. Owners frequently report engine problems, electrical glitches, forward collision avoidance malfunctions, and fuel system issues. Recalls cover hybrid power control software, tires, seat belts, air bag sensors, and fuel pumps. This suggests that while the Accord is common, it may require more frequent attention to a wider range of systems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Lincoln TOWN CAR | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 739 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 22 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 103 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 73.9 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 66 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 TOWN CAR
- 01VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL150
- 02AIR BAGS129
- 03SERVICE BRAKES98
- 04SUSPENSION91
- 05STEERING85
Owners describe sudden unintended acceleration, such as the engine racing as if the gas pedal were floored, sometimes leading to rear-end collisions. This is a serious safety concern that can happen at low speeds or during highway driving.
Complaints include air bags deploying without a crash, such as the passenger-side air bag inflating unexpectedly at 45 mph. This can startle the driver and cause loss of control, and it may indicate a sensor or wiring fault.
Drivers report intermittent trouble stopping, including being unable to stop when approaching a toll booth. This suggests brake system failures that could lead to crashes if not addressed.
The air suspension system often triggers warning lights for check air suspension and tire fault, with mechanics finding issues with the air springs. This can lead to a rough ride or uneven stance, and repairs can be costly.
“WE HAD A SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF OUR CAR. WE WERE TRAVELING WEST ON THE NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY (I-90) TOWARDS NIAGARA FALLS. AS WE EXITED INTO A REST AREA, SUDDENLY THE ENGINE RACED AS IF THE GAS PEDAL WERE FLOORED. THE DRIVER PRESSED ON THE BRAKE V…”
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AT A SLOW SPEED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE AND REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND NO POLICE…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report alarms for brake, hill descent, ABS, and critical failure, along with loss of speed. Others mention rattling noises while accelerating and rough transitions between EV and gas modes, indicating potential engine or hybrid system problems.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, causing a near-collision. Another owner had a TPMS warning repaired, but the tire later failed catastrophically, suggesting electrical or sensor issues.
Drivers report the system failing to resolve threats, with incidents occurring under similar conditions, such as adaptive cruise control set at 70 mph suddenly braking or not reacting. This can undermine trust in the safety feature.
Although not detailed in the sample complaints, this is a top component with 602 complaints, and recalls include fuel pump issues. Owners may experience stalling or fuel delivery problems, which can be dangerous.
“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 TOWN CAR — 22 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 Ford Crown Victoria, 2005-2011 Mercury Grand Marquis vehicles manufactured March 23, 2004, to August 30, 2011, and 2005-2011 Lincoln Town Car vehicles manufactured March 8, 2004, to August 30, 2011, and on which the upper intermedi…
The risk: Improper servicing of the upper intermediate shaft could cause the shaft to separate, which can then result in a loss of steering control, and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify the owners of vehicles whose repair records reflect that the upper intermediate steering shaft was repaired during the course of the prior recall 13V-385. Dealers will inspect and replace the upper immediate shaft if neces…
The defect: Ford is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 Ford Crown Victoria (including Crown Victoria Police Interceptors), Mercury Grand Marquis, and Lincoln Town Car vehicles. The affected vehicles are currently registered or were originally sold in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinoi…
The risk: If the lower bearing separates, the vehicle may experience a loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners and dealers will replace the lower intermediate shaft, free of charge. The upper intermediate shaft and steering column lower bearing will be inspected to identify any damage that may have occurred as a result of lo…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 Ford Crown Victoria, 2005-2011 Mercury Grand Marquis vehicles manufactured March 23, 2004, to August 30, 2011, and 2005-2011 Lincoln Town Car vehicles manufactured March 8, 2004, to August 30, 2011, and on which the upper intermedi…
The risk: Improper servicing of the upper intermediate shaft could cause the shaft to separate, which can then result in a loss of steering control, and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify the owners of vehicles whose repair records reflect that the upper intermediate steering shaft was repaired during the course of the prior recall 13V-385. Dealers will inspect and replace the upper immediate shaft if neces…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 Ford Crown Victoria, 2005-2011 Mercury Grand Marquis vehicles manufactured March 23, 2004, to August 30, 2011, and 2005-2011 Lincoln Town Car vehicles manufactured March 8, 2004, to August 30, 2011, and on which the upper intermedi…
The risk: Improper servicing of the upper intermediate shaft could cause the shaft to separate, which can then result in a loss of steering control, and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify the owners of vehicles whose repair records reflect that the upper intermediate steering shaft was repaired during the course of the prior recall 13V-385. Dealers will inspect and replace the upper immediate shaft if neces…
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 TOWN CAR or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Lincoln Town Car has far fewer complaints per year (about 74) compared to the Honda Accord (about 452), meaning owners of the Town Car report issues less frequently. However, the Town Car's complaints include severe safety defects like unintended acceleration and brake failure, while the Accord's higher volume covers a broader range of systems. In practice, the Town Car may have fewer problems overall, but the ones it has can be critical.
Key differences
- The Lincoln Town Car has about 74 complaints per year, while the Honda Accord has about 452 per year, a six-fold difference in reported issue frequency.
- Town Car complaints often involve unintended acceleration and brake failures, which are immediate safety risks; Accord complaints more often involve engine alarms, electrical glitches, and forward collision avoidance malfunctions.
- The Town Car has 22 recalls over 10 years, many for steering rack and pinion; the Accord has 38 recalls, covering hybrid software, tires, seat belts, air bag sensors, and fuel pumps.
- The Town Car's air suspension and air bag deployment issues are recurring themes, while the Accord's electrical and engine problems appear in newer models, including hybrids.
- Check for any history of unintended acceleration or sudden engine racing, and test the brake pedal for responsiveness at low speeds.
- Inspect the air suspension system for warning lights and listen for compressor noise; also check for any signs of air bag deployment without a crash.
- Look for warning lights related to brakes, hill descent, ABS, or critical failure, and test the electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds if possible.
- Ask about any forward collision avoidance system malfunctions, such as unexpected braking or failure to alert, and check for fuel pump recall completion.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models, especially steering for the Town Car and fuel pump for the Accord.
- Have a mechanic inspect the Town Car's brakes, suspension, and air bag system, and scan for any stored trouble codes.
- For the Accord, test drive at various speeds to check for engine rattles, electrical glitches, and proper function of forward collision avoidance.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, particularly for the Town Car's air suspension and the Accord's hybrid system if applicable.
- Verify that all safety recalls have been performed by checking the NHTSA website with the VIN.
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 TOWN CAR or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Lincoln TOWN CAR vs Honda Accord
- Lincoln TOWN CAR total complaints
- 739
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Lincoln TOWN CAR total recalls
- 22
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Lincoln TOWN CAR avg complaints/year
- 73.9
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Lincoln TOWN CAR
- Lincoln TOWN CAR top complaint area
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE