Head-to-head reliability
Mercedes BENZ AMG GT vs Honda Accord
How the Mercedes BENZ AMG GT 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
Mercedes BENZ AMG GT vs Honda Accord: the AMG GT shows about 1.0 complaints per year with 0 crash-related reports, while the Accord shows about 452 per year with 162 crash-related complaints and 146 injuries. The AMG GT's main reported issue is a transmission wiring harness that can let water in and create a fire risk. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mercedes BENZ AMG GT or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mercedes BENZ AMG GT
The Mercedes-Benz AMG GT is a low-volume performance car, and its complaint record reflects that: about 1.0 complaints per year over ten years, with no crashes, injuries, or deaths reported in the data. The pattern that does show up is concentrated in the electrical system and power train, and several owner reports describe the same transmission wiring harness and connector (X279) letting water in, which can cause a short circuit, overheating, and a fire risk. It also carries 18 recalls, including driveline, software, and occupant-classification items. In ownership terms, this looks like a car where problems are few but potentially serious and expensive when they appear.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a high-volume daily driver, and its complaint volume is on a completely different scale: about 452 complaints per year, 38 recalls, and the data records 162 crash-related complaints, 146 injuries, and 3 deaths. The complaints cluster around the engine, electrical system, and forward collision avoidance, with owners describing alarms and loss of speed at highway speeds, simultaneous power steering and braking failure, and adaptive cruise control behaving unexpectedly. There are also reports of rattling on acceleration and rough transitions between EV and gas mode on hybrid models. This is a car with many reported issues across many systems, though the counts alone don't tell you how common any single failure is.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mercedes BENZ AMG GT | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 10 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 18 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 1.0 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 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.
Mercedes BENZ AMG GT
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM6
- 02POWER TRAIN4
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER3
Owners of the 2021 AMG GT 43 report a recurring problem with the transmission wiring harness and connector X279, where water can get in and cause a short circuit, overheating, and a fire risk while driving. This is the single most repeated theme in the sample and matters because it is a fire-risk issue, not a cosmetic one.
The same harness and connector problem is also filed under power train, meaning owners experience it as a transmission/drivability fault as well as an electrical one. For a buyer, that suggests the fix may involve both wiring and transmission-related diagnosis.
One owner report describes a fault icon on the dashboard tied to the active rear wing on a 2021 AMG GT Black Series, with the issue reproduced at the dealership. It matters because a warning light on an active-aero system can be hard to diagnose and may recur.
“My 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT 43, VIN [XXX] , has had a recurring safety issue with the transmission wiring harness and connector X279. Mercedes-Benz said this connector can let water in, which can cause a short circuit, overheating, and a fire risk while the…”
“My 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT 43, VIN [XXX] , has had a recurring safety issue with the transmission wiring harness and connector X279. Mercedes-Benz said this connector can let water in, which can cause a short circuit, overheating, and a fire risk while the…”
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 appearing as they reach highway speeds, with the vehicle losing speed. Others describe rattling noises on acceleration and rough transitions between EV and gas mode on hybrids, which matters because these are drivability and possibly safety-relevant symptoms.
One report describes electronic power steering and braking failing and locking up simultaneously at highway speeds, causing a near-collision. Another describes a TPMS repair followed by a catastrophic tire failure the same day, which matters because these are sudden, high-consequence failures.
Owners describe the system failing to resolve a threat and adaptive cruise control behaving unexpectedly under the same driving and weather conditions on the same route, one year apart. This matters because drivers are relying on these systems to intervene.
Complaints in this area include a persistent rotten-egg/sulfur odor that continued after a paid filter replacement and odor treatment. It matters because a recurring odor can point to a fuel or emissions issue that is hard to fully fix.
“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.
Mercedes BENZ AMG GT — 18 recalls
The defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016-2017 AMG GTS and 2017 AMG GT vehicles. The bonding between the carbon-fiber driveshaft and the engine/transmission flange may be insufficient, causing the driveshaft to separate while in motion.
The risk: If the driveshaft separates, there may be a loss of drive, increasing the risk of crash.
The fix: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the carbon-fiber draft shaft, including the flange, free of charge. The recall began November 4, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this…
The defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2013-2017 vehicles due to a software fault that may cause the date and time for the emergency call system (eCall) to differ from the actual date and time, potentially relaying an inaccurate vehicle location. For a full list of the affected models…
The risk: An inaccurate vehicle location may delay emergency responders, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: MBUSA has initiated an Over the Air (OTA) remote update. MBUSA will also notify owners, and dealers will check software for a successful OTA or update the communication module software as needed, free of charge. The recall began December 2…
The defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016-2018 AMG GT vehicles. The bonding between the carbon-fiber driveshaft and the flange may be insufficient, which could result in driveshaft separation.
The risk: A separated driveshaft may cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the carbon-fiber driveshaft, as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed October 15, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 20210900…
The defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 - 2021 CLA-Class, GLA-Class, GLE-Class, GLS-Class, SLC-Class, A-Class, GT-Class, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, CLS-Class, SL-Class, B-Class, GLB-Class, GLC-Class, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to the Part 573 report for specific vehicle mod…
The risk: Failure of the eCall system may result in emergency responders being dispatched to the wrong location, increasing the risk of injury following a crash.
The fix: MBUSA will notify owners, and the communication module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. The recall began March 12, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8…
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
Mercedes BENZ AMG GT or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Mercedes-Benz AMG GT has far fewer complaints per year, about 1.0 versus about 452 for the Honda Accord, and no crash, injury, or death reports in the data, while the Accord data records 162 crash-related complaints, 146 injuries, and 3 deaths. In practice, the AMG GT's problems are rarer but include a fire-risk wiring issue, while the Accord's problems are far more numerous and spread across engine, electrical, and driver-assist systems.
Key differences
- Complaint volume is vastly different: about 1.0 per year for the AMG GT versus about 452 per year for the Accord.
- The AMG GT's sample complaints center on one repeated issue, a transmission wiring harness and connector that can let water in and create a short circuit, overheating, and fire risk.
- The Accord's sample complaints span engine alarms and loss of speed, simultaneous power steering and braking failure, and forward collision avoidance behaving unexpectedly.
- The data records 0 crash-related complaints, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths for the AMG GT, versus 162 crash-related, 146 injuries, and 3 deaths for the Accord.
- Ask whether the transmission wiring harness and connector X279 has been inspected or replaced, and look for any signs of water intrusion or prior electrical repairs.
- Check that all dashboard fault icons, including any active rear wing warning, are off and that the aero system cycles correctly.
- Test drive at highway speed and watch for brake, hill descent, ABS, or critical failure alarms, and confirm power steering and braking feel normal.
- Verify recall work was completed, especially for hybrid power control software, fuel pump, seat belt retractor, and occupant classification, and check for lingering fuel or sulfur odors.
Before you buy
- Pull the full recall history by VIN and confirm each recall was actually completed, not just announced.
- On the AMG GT, have a specialist inspect the transmission wiring harness and connector for water intrusion before purchase.
- On the Accord, test drive at highway speeds and exercise adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning to see if they behave consistently.
- Ask for service records showing how prior warning lights, odors, or drivability complaints were resolved.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection done by an independent shop familiar with the specific model, including a scan for stored fault codes.
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 | Mercedes BENZ AMG GT | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 10 |
| 2025 | 0 | 109 |
| 2024 | 0 | 219 |
| 2023 | 0 | 226 |
| 2022 | 0 | 252 |
| 2021 | 9 | 234 |
| 2020 | 0 | 362 |
| 2019 | 0 | 691 |
| 2018 | 0 | 1884 |
| 2017 | 1 | 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 Mercedes BENZ AMG GT or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mercedes BENZ AMG GT vs Honda Accord
- Mercedes BENZ AMG GT total complaints
- 10
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Mercedes BENZ AMG GT total recalls
- 18
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Mercedes BENZ AMG GT avg complaints/year
- 1.0
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Mercedes BENZ AMG GT
- Mercedes BENZ AMG GT top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE