Head-to-head reliability
Mercedes BENZ CL Class vs Honda Accord
How the Mercedes BENZ CL Class 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 CL Class vs Honda Accord: the CL Class shows about 4.5 complaints per year with 0 recalls, while the Accord shows roughly 452 per year with 38 recalls. The CL Class record centers on suspension and fuel leaks; the Accord on engine, electrical, and driver-assist issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mercedes BENZ CL Class or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mercedes BENZ CL Class
The Mercedes-Benz CL Class is a low-volume luxury coupe, and its complaint record reflects that: about 4.5 complaints per year over ten years, with no recalls on file. The pattern that emerges is not one of frequent minor annoyances but of expensive, recurring systems — fuel delivery, the active suspension, electrical faults, and air bags. With four reported injuries and no deaths in the data, the record suggests a car where the main ownership risk is repair cost and downtime rather than sheer volume of problems.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a high-volume mainstream sedan, and its complaint volume is correspondingly large: roughly 452 complaints per year, 38 recalls, 162 crash-related reports, 146 injuries, and 3 deaths. The dominant themes are engine and electrical faults, forward collision avoidance behavior, and fuel system issues, with several complaints tied to late-model hybrid vehicles. For a buyer, this means the Accord generates far more documented trouble overall, though many complaints cluster around specific newer model years and software-driven systems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mercedes BENZ CL Class | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 45 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 0 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 4.5 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 4 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 CL Class
- 01FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM9
- 02SUSPENSION7
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM6
- 04AIR BAGS5
- 05SERVICE BRAKES5
Owners report strong gasoline smells inside the cabin and oil or fuel leakage, including one case where the car made noise and stopped suddenly in the road with oil pooling in the driveway before 30,000 miles. A reported fuel filter flange cracking issue is cited in complaints, so a buyer should expect fuel-system inspection to be part of any purchase.
Complaints describe the Active Body Control system lowering the car, illuminating warning lights, and leaving puddles of fluid when parked. This is a complex hydraulic suspension, and owners describe it as a continuous risk, which matters because repairs tend to be costly and recurring.
Reported electrical problems range from a car stopping suddenly in traffic to a fire that the fire department and insurance adjuster attributed to electrical components. Because electrical faults can disable the vehicle or create a fire risk, this is a serious area to have checked.
Owners report an unresolved Takata airbag recall situation and, in one case, a side impact airbag deploying at 20 mph without a crash, causing bruising that needed medical attention. A buyer should confirm recall status and airbag history before purchase.
“CAR MADE NOISE & STOPPED SUDDENLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, OIL LEAKAGE HAPPENED BEFORE 30,000 MILEAGE ,DRIVEWAY FULL OF OIL LEAKAGE ,TOOK TO THE DEALER, INITIALLY COULD NOT FIND ANY DEFECT ,AFTER INSISTING THAT THERE IS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM, THEY CALLED ME…”
“My 2011 Mercedes-Benz CL550 4MATIC with 63,335 miles. it has a strong gas smell in the inside. There was a recall pertaining to, "Due to the irregularity stemming from the molding process of the fuel filter flange, the filter may crack when operated in high t…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners describe alarms for brake, hill descent, and ABS systems appearing at highway speed followed by loss of speed, plus rattling noises under acceleration and rough transitions between EV and gas mode on hybrids. These reports suggest powertrain and hybrid-control faults that can affect drivability.
Complaints include electronic power steering and braking failing and locking up simultaneously at highway speed, and a tire failing shortly after a TPMS warning was serviced under warranty. Electrical and brake-related failures at speed are the kind of issue a buyer should take seriously.
Owners report the system failing to resolve a perceived threat and unexpected behavior with adaptive cruise control set at highway speeds, occurring repeatedly under similar conditions. Because these systems are meant to intervene in emergencies, unexpected behavior is a real concern.
Fuel system complaints appear among the top categories, and the recall list includes a gasoline fuel pump delivery recall. A buyer should check whether the specific vehicle had that recall performed.
“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 CL Class
No recalls on record.
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 CL Class or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Mercedes-Benz CL Class has far fewer complaints per year, about 4.5 versus roughly 452 for the Honda Accord, and no recalls on record versus 38. In practice, the CL Class record points to fewer but potentially very expensive system failures, while the Accord record shows a much larger volume of reported problems spread across engine, electrical, and driver-assist systems.
Key differences
- Complaint volume is dramatically different: about 4.5 per year for the CL Class versus roughly 452 per year for the Accord.
- The CL Class has no recalls on record, while the Accord has 38, including hybrid power control software, fuel pump, and airbag sensor recalls.
- CL Class complaints center on Active Body Control suspension leaks and lowering, fuel smells and leaks, and electrical fire risk.
- Accord complaints center on engine alarms and power loss, electronic steering and brake lockup, and forward collision avoidance behavior.
- Check the Active Body Control suspension for fluid leaks, puddles under the car, and warning lights, since owners report lowering and fluid loss.
- Inspect for fuel and oil leaks and gasoline odor in the cabin, and confirm the status of any fuel filter flange or Takata airbag recall.
- Ask whether the fuel pump delivery recall and hybrid power control software recall were performed on the specific vehicle.
- Test the forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control behavior, and check for electronic power steering or brake warning messages.
Before you buy
- Pull the full NHTSA complaint and recall history for the exact model year and trim of each car.
- On the CL Class, have a specialist inspect the Active Body Control suspension and check for fuel or oil leaks.
- On the Accord, confirm all open recalls were completed, especially fuel pump and hybrid control software.
- Test driver-assist features such as adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning during a test drive.
- Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic familiar with the specific model.
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 CL Class or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mercedes BENZ CL Class vs Honda Accord
- Mercedes BENZ CL Class total complaints
- 45
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Mercedes BENZ CL Class total recalls
- 0
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Mercedes BENZ CL Class avg complaints/year
- 4.5
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Mercedes BENZ CL Class
- Mercedes BENZ CL Class top complaint area
- FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE