Head-to-head reliability
Mercedes BENZ CLE vs Honda Accord
How the Mercedes BENZ CLE 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 CLE vs Honda Accord: The CLE has 10 complaints over 3 years and 1 recall, while the Accord has 4,524 complaints over 10 years and 38 recalls. CLE owners report throttle lag and a blacking-out instrument cluster; Accord owners report steering/braking failures and collision-avoidance issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mercedes BENZ CLE or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mercedes BENZ CLE
The Mercedes-Benz CLE is a low-volume luxury coupe, and its complaint pattern over three years is small but focused on drivability. Owners repeatedly describe a severe throttle delay and unpredictable acceleration from a stop, plus a digital instrument cluster that can go black while driving. With only 10 complaints and 1 recall, the CLE's issues are fewer in number but potentially alarming when they occur.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a high-volume family sedan with a much larger complaint history over ten years, including 4,524 complaints and 38 recalls. Owners report a wide range of problems, from engine and electrical failures to forward collision avoidance malfunctions and fuel system issues. The Accord's higher complaint count reflects its huge sales volume, but the variety of serious safety-related reports is notable.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mercedes BENZ CLE | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 10 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 1 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 3.3 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 CLE
- 01ENGINE4
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER2
- 04POWER TRAIN2
- 05TIRES1
Owners report a severe throttle delay and unpredictable acceleration, especially when pulling away from intersections or traffic lights. This 'dead zone' can make the car feel unresponsive and then surge, which is a real concern in stop-and-go traffic.
Complaints include the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster going completely black while driving, removing speed and fuel information. Another owner reported continuous static and sparking sounds through the speakers, pointing to electrical gremlins.
The same throttle lag and unpredictable acceleration are also filed under power train, suggesting the issue may involve transmission and turbo behavior. Buyers should test low-speed acceleration carefully.
One owner described the driver-side display blacking out entirely during operation, which is a safety risk because it hides critical vehicle data. This overlaps with the electrical cluster recall.
“SEVERE THROTTLE DELAY & UNPREDICTABLE ACCELERATION When applying pressure to the accelerator pedal at intersections or traffic lights, there is a substantial "dead zone" delay where the vehicle fails to respond or move forward. To prompt movement in normal tr…”
“THROTTLE LAG With the 2026 Mercedes CLE 300, throttle lag is driven by a combination of software programming, transmission behavior, and turbocharger dynamics working simultaneously.The following situation is when it usually occurs:Transitioning from a slow r…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report sudden loss of speed and multiple dashboard alarms (brake, hill descent, ABS, critical failure) at highway speeds. Others describe rattling noises while accelerating and rough transitions between EV and gas modes.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, as well as a tire failure shortly after a TPMS warning was supposedly fixed. These are serious safety events.
Owners report the system failing to prevent collisions or activating unexpectedly, even with adaptive cruise control set. One complaint describes repeated incidents under identical driving conditions, suggesting a persistent defect.
A persistent rotten-egg or sulfur odor is reported, which can indicate fuel or emissions problems. One owner paid for a filter replacement and odor treatment, but the smell returned.
“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 CLE — 1 recall
The defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2024-2026 AMG GT, C-Class, E-Class, SL, CLE, and GLC vehicles. The infotainment control unit may reset while the vehicle is in motion and cause the instrument panel display to go blank.
The risk: An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer and warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the infotainment control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 29, 2026. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2026050004. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. Ve…
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 CLE or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Mercedes-Benz CLE has far fewer complaints per year (about 3.3) than the Honda Accord (about 452.4), but the CLE's issues center on throttle response and a blacking-out instrument cluster. The Accord's much higher volume brings a wider array of serious safety complaints, including steering, braking, and collision-avoidance failures. In practice, the CLE may have fewer problems overall, but the Accord's problems are more varied and sometimes more severe.
Key differences
- The CLE has 10 complaints over 3 years, while the Accord has 4,524 over 10 years, but the Accord sells in far higher numbers.
- CLE owners report throttle lag and a blacking-out instrument cluster; Accord owners report steering/braking failure, collision-avoidance malfunctions, and fuel odors.
- The CLE has 1 recall for the instrument cluster; the Accord has 38 recalls covering hybrid software, tires, seat belts, air bags, and fuel pumps.
- The Accord has 162 crash-related complaints, 146 injuries, and 3 deaths; the CLE has 1 crash-related complaint and no injuries or deaths.
- During a test drive, check for a delay or dead zone when pressing the accelerator from a stop, and see if the car surges unexpectedly.
- Turn on the car and watch the digital instrument cluster for any flickering or blacking out, especially while driving over bumps.
- Test the electronic power steering and brakes at low and highway speeds for any warning lights or loss of assist.
- Check for a rotten-egg or sulfur smell near the fuel tank or exhaust, and ask if any fuel-system repairs have been done.
Before you buy
- Ask for the full NHTSA complaint and recall history for the specific VIN, and confirm all recalls are repaired.
- On the test drive, deliberately accelerate from a stop and at highway speeds to feel for throttle lag or transmission jerks.
- Inspect the instrument cluster and all electronics (audio, displays) for flickering, static, or blackouts.
- For the Accord, test the forward collision warning and adaptive cruise control in a safe area, and check for any warning lights.
- Have a trusted mechanic scan for stored error codes and inspect the fuel system, brakes, and steering components.
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 CLE | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 10 |
| 2025 | 1 | 109 |
| 2024 | 7 | 219 |
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 CLE or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mercedes BENZ CLE vs Honda Accord
- Mercedes BENZ CLE total complaints
- 10
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Mercedes BENZ CLE total recalls
- 1
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Mercedes BENZ CLE avg complaints/year
- 3.3
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Mercedes BENZ CLE
- Mercedes BENZ CLE top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE