Head-to-head reliability
Mercedes BENZ GL Class vs Honda Accord
How the Mercedes BENZ GL 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 GL Class vs Honda Accord: the GL Class averaged 62.8 complaints per year with 0 recalls, while the Accord averaged 452.4 per year with 38 recalls. The GL Class logged 29 crash-related complaints and 45 injuries; the Accord had 162 crash-related and 146 injuries. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mercedes BENZ GL Class or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mercedes BENZ GL Class
The Mercedes-Benz GL Class is a large luxury SUV that, in used form, demands careful attention to its air suspension, brakes, and electronics. Over ten years it averaged about 63 complaints per year, with air bags, electrical, engine, suspension, and brake issues dominating the list. Many air bag complaints are tied to the Takata recall and parts delays, while other reports describe shuddering, warning lights, and failed struts. Overall, it is a vehicle where deferred maintenance can turn into costly repairs.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mainstream sedan with a much higher complaint volume—about 452 per year—but that reflects its far larger production and owner base. The most common trouble spots are engine and electrical problems, including hybrid system faults, power steering and braking failures, and forward collision avoidance glitches. There are also 38 recalls covering items like hybrid power control software, fuel pumps, and seat belt retractors. For a used buyer, the Accord offers more documented issues but also more recall remedies and a wider support network.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mercedes BENZ GL Class | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 628 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 0 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 29 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 62.8 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 45 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 GL Class
- 01AIR BAGS154
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM74
- 03ENGINE74
- 04SUSPENSION70
- 05SERVICE BRAKES70
Owners report Takata recall notifications with parts unavailable for months, leaving them waiting to repair potentially defective inflators. This matters because the air bag may not deploy correctly in a crash, and the fix depends on dealer parts supply.
Complaints include the instrument cluster odometer failing while driving and repeated replacements, plus brake pedal shudder with check engine lights. These faults can affect mileage records and braking confidence, so a pre-purchase scan and test drive are essential.
Owners describe noises on the right side when first driving and brake pedal shudder with the check engine light on, sometimes requiring a tow. Such symptoms can point to costly engine or sensor repairs, so listen for unusual sounds and check for stored codes.
Reports mention failed struts along with ABS and check engine lights, and a noise on the right side that persists. Air suspension repairs are expensive, so inspect for leaks, ride height issues, and warning lights before buying.
“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ GL550. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) IN MID OCTOBER OF 2017 AND WAS WAITING PATIENTLY FOR THE PART. THE DEALER (MERCEDES-BENZ OF PEMBROKE PINES, 14199…”
“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ GL450. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALE…”
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 while losing speed, plus rattling noises and rough transitions between EV and gas modes. These can indicate hybrid system or engine management faults that may strand a driver.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, and a TPMS repair followed by a tire failure. Electrical faults affecting steering and brakes are serious safety concerns, so check for recalls and software updates.
Owners describe the system failing to resolve a threat and unexpected behavior with adaptive cruise control set at highway speeds. This matters because the driver-assist features may not intervene as expected, so test them carefully and confirm any related recalls.
The recall list includes a fuel pump issue and hybrid power control unit software, and complaints mention rough EV-to-gas transitions. These can cause stalling or loss of power, so verify recall completion and ask for service records.
“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 GL 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 GL Class or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Mercedes-Benz GL Class has far fewer complaints per year (about 63 vs. 452 for the Accord), but the Accord’s higher count reflects a much larger vehicle population and more recalls. In practice, the GL Class owner faces fewer reported problems overall, while the Accord owner has more documented issues but also more recall remedies and a broader repair network.
Key differences
- The GL Class averages about 63 complaints per year with no recalls on record, while the Accord averages about 452 per year and has 38 recalls covering hybrid software, fuel pumps, and seat belts.
- GL Class complaints cluster around air bags (154), electrical (74), engine (74), suspension (70), and brakes (70), with Takata recall parts delays and strut failures reported.
- Accord complaints are led by engine (1006), electrical (895), forward collision avoidance (837), and fuel/propulsion (602), including power steering and braking failures and hybrid transition issues.
- The GL Class has 29 crash-related complaints and 45 injuries over ten years, while the Accord has 162 crash-related complaints and 146 injuries, though the Accord’s larger fleet size affects raw counts.
- Check for open Takata air bag recalls and confirm the inflator has been replaced; owners report long waits for parts.
- Inspect the air suspension for failed struts, ride height issues, and ABS/check engine lights, and listen for right-side noises on a cold start.
- Test the electronic power steering and braking at low and highway speeds, and scan for stored codes; owners report simultaneous failure.
- Verify completion of recalls for hybrid power control software and fuel pump, and check for rough EV-to-gas transitions or rattling under acceleration.
Before you buy
- Run a VIN check for open recalls on both vehicles and confirm all safety recalls have been completed.
- Obtain a pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic familiar with the model, focusing on the GL Class air suspension and the Accord hybrid/electrical systems.
- Request full service records and check for repeated odometer, brake, or warning-light repairs.
- Test drive at highway speeds and on rough roads to reproduce shuddering, rattles, or driver-assist warnings.
- Scan the vehicle for stored diagnostic trouble codes and verify that warning lights illuminate and extinguish normally.
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 GL Class or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mercedes BENZ GL Class vs Honda Accord
- Mercedes BENZ GL Class total complaints
- 628
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Mercedes BENZ GL Class total recalls
- 0
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Mercedes BENZ GL Class avg complaints/year
- 62.8
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Mercedes BENZ GL Class
- Mercedes BENZ GL Class top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE