Head-to-head reliability
Mercedes BENZ E Class vs Honda Accord
How the Mercedes BENZ E 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 E Class vs Honda Accord: The E-Class averages 40.7 complaints per year with 0 recalls, while the Accord averages 452.4 complaints per year and has 38 recalls. The Accord also shows 3 deaths and 146 injuries in the data, versus 0 deaths and 27 injuries for the E-Class. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mercedes BENZ E Class or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mercedes BENZ E Class
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class is a luxury sedan with an average of about 41 complaints per year over the past decade, which is relatively low for its class. However, the absence of recalls is unusual and may indicate that problems are addressed through service campaigns rather than formal recalls. Owners report issues with electrical systems, engines, and power train, including stalling, loss of power, and trunk lid injuries. While the overall complaint count is modest, the severity of some reported failures—such as sudden engine shutdown—means buyers should carefully inspect any used model.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mainstream family sedan with a much higher complaint volume: about 452 per year, plus 38 recalls in ten years. The most common trouble spots are the engine, electrical system, and forward collision avoidance, with reports of stalling, power steering and braking failure, and unintended automatic braking. There are also three reported deaths and 146 injuries in the data, underscoring that some defects can be serious. Buyers should expect more frequent trips for repairs and verify that recall work has been completed.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mercedes BENZ E Class | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 407 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 0 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 14 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 40.7 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 27 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 E Class
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM86
- 02ENGINE85
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER69
- 04POWER TRAIN43
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM35
Owners report fault codes like P240200 for the EVAP system and instances where the car shut off while waiting at a light. These electrical glitches can leave you stranded or cause a loss of power in traffic.
Complaints include violent shaking, loss of power, and oil/engine lights coming on, sometimes within the first few thousand miles. Another report describes premature cylinder head wear in 2.0L turbo engines, leading to misfires and sudden power loss.
The same stalling incidents are often filed under power train, and one owner noted cylinder head issues causing unsafe driving conditions. These problems can be expensive to fix and may recur if not properly addressed.
Multiple reports describe the trunk lid closing unexpectedly and causing injuries, including a deep wound. This is a physical safety hazard that is easy to overlook during a quick test drive.
“My 2023 Mercedes 450E car was purchased on June 11, 2023 and has 1,750 miles. On 2 to 3 different occasions, I was stopped at a light waiting to make a left turn, fortunately my light was red and not a green permitting turning, which would have meant I would…”
“Vehicle: 2021 Mercedes-Benz E350 Sedan (W213) VIN: [XXX] While operating the vehicle, the diagnostic system displayed the fault code P240200 related to the Evaporative Emission Control System (EVAP). The warning message indicated a “positive short circuit” in…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report alarms for brake, hill descent, and ABS failure followed by loss of speed, as well as rattling noises and rough transitions between EV and gas modes. These symptoms can indicate serious powertrain issues that may require costly repairs.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, and a tire failure shortly after a TPMS repair. Such failures can lead to near-collisions and demand immediate attention.
Owners describe the system braking unexpectedly on open roads or with adaptive cruise control engaged, sometimes twice on the same route. This erodes trust in the safety technology and could cause a rear-end collision.
Reports include a persistent rotten-egg odor that returned after a paid repair, and a foot getting trapped behind a center console panel. These may seem minor but point to quality and design issues that affect daily ownership.
“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 E 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 E Class or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class has far fewer complaints per year (about 41 vs. 452 for the Honda Accord) and no recalls on record, while the Accord has 38 recalls and more reported crashes, injuries, and deaths. In practice, the E-Class owner may face fewer trips to the dealer, but the problems reported—like stalling and trunk lid injuries—can be severe. The Accord’s higher volume means more known issues, but also more available recall fixes.
Key differences
- The Mercedes-Benz E-Class has no recalls in the data, while the Honda Accord has 38 recall subjects, including hybrid power control software and fuel pump issues.
- Honda Accord owners report forward collision avoidance braking unexpectedly, a pattern absent from the E-Class complaints.
- Mercedes-Benz E-Class complaints include trunk lid injuries, a physical hazard not seen in the Accord data.
- The Honda Accord has 3 deaths and 146 injuries in the data, compared with 0 deaths and 27 injuries for the E-Class, though these figures depend on reporting and exposure.
- Check for any history of electrical faults or stalling, especially fault codes like P240200, and test the car at idle and low speeds.
- Inspect the trunk lid operation carefully—open and close it multiple times to ensure it does not slam shut unexpectedly.
- Test the electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds if possible, and ask if any related repairs or software updates have been done.
- Verify that all recalls, especially for fuel pump and hybrid power control software, have been completed by a Honda dealer.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all recall work is completed, especially for the Honda Accord.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with the specific model, focusing on engine, electrical, and safety systems.
- During the test drive, listen for engine rattles or rough transitions (Accord) and check for hesitation or stalling (E-Class).
- Test all electronic features: power steering, braking, forward collision warnings, and trunk operation.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records and any documentation of previous complaints or 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 | Mercedes BENZ E Class | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 6 | 10 |
| 2025 | 0 | 109 |
| 2024 | 25 | 219 |
| 2023 | 24 | 226 |
| 2022 | 22 | 252 |
| 2021 | 20 | 234 |
| 2020 | 21 | 362 |
| 2019 | 54 | 691 |
| 2018 | 68 | 1884 |
| 2017 | 167 | 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 E Class or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mercedes BENZ E Class vs Honda Accord
- Mercedes BENZ E Class total complaints
- 407
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Mercedes BENZ E Class total recalls
- 0
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Mercedes BENZ E Class avg complaints/year
- 40.7
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Mercedes BENZ E Class
- Mercedes BENZ E Class top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE