Head-to-head reliability
Mercedes BENZ GLA Class vs Honda Accord
How the Mercedes BENZ GLA 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 GLA Class vs Honda Accord: The GLA averaged 16 complaints per year with 0 recalls, while the Accord averaged 452 complaints per year and had 38 recalls. The GLA's issues often involve engine and electrical failures, whereas the Accord's include forward collision avoidance problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mercedes BENZ GLA Class or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mercedes BENZ GLA Class
The Mercedes-Benz GLA Class is a compact luxury SUV that averaged 16 owner complaints per year over the past decade, with no recalls on record. The most common trouble spots are the engine, electrical system, and power train, where owners describe sudden warning lights, loss of acceleration, and transmission malfunctions. These reports suggest that while the GLA may be appealing, it can demand more attention and repair visits than a typical mainstream vehicle.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mainstream midsize sedan with a much higher complaint volume—about 452 per year—but also 38 recalls, which means many issues are being addressed through official safety campaigns. Owners frequently report problems with the engine, electrical system, and forward collision avoidance, including stalling, power steering failure, and unintended automatic braking. The high complaint count reflects the Accord's huge sales volume, but the presence of recalls shows that some defects are serious enough to trigger manufacturer action.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mercedes BENZ GLA Class | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 160 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 0 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 7 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 16.0 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 8 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 GLA Class
- 01ENGINE37
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER33
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM30
- 04POWER TRAIN27
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM15
Owners report engine-related warnings and sudden loss of power, such as a 2022 GLA 250 that stalled in heavy rain and a 2019 GLA250 that failed to accelerate at 70 mph. These symptoms can leave a driver vulnerable in fast-moving traffic.
Multiple complaints describe a cluster of dashboard lights—ABS, engine, anti-skid, 4MATIC, and transmission malfunction—often accompanied by steering lock-up and brakes that won't engage. This pattern points to a serious electrical or sensor fault that can disable critical safety systems.
Drivers report transmission malfunction warnings and a loss of acceleration, sometimes requiring a tow. A 2020 GLA250 also failed to start from a cell phone command, suggesting electronic or software glitches in the power train.
Although fewer complaints appear here, fuel and propulsion issues can cause stalling or poor performance. Buyers should be aware that any fuel-related warning should be taken seriously, as it may affect engine reliability.
“I own a 2022 Mercedes Benz GLA 250 2022. in [XXX], it was pouring rain and I was driving from [XXX] to attain [XXX] to drive home. It was pouring that night and driving conditions were horrible. I was in the middle lane driving roughly 55-65 mph. about 15 min…”
“The ABS Sensor light, engine light, anti skid light and 4 matic malfunction, transmission malfunction all lit up on my dashboard on Tuesday July 22, 2025. The stearing would lock up and the brakes would not break it also shifted gears into neutral. The dashbo…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners describe alarms for brake, hill descent, ABS, and critical failure, with the vehicle losing speed and unable to accelerate. Others report rattling noises and rough transitions between EV and gas modes, which can indicate deeper engine or hybrid system problems.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, as well as a tire failure after a TPMS warning. These electrical faults can create immediate safety hazards and may be linked to recalls for hybrid power control software.
Owners report the system activating unexpectedly, such as sudden braking with adaptive cruise control set at 70 mph, even with no obstacles. This can cause near-collisions and erode trust in the car's safety features.
Some complaints mention a persistent rotten-egg or sulfur odor, which can indicate fuel or emissions problems. While not always dangerous, it may signal a failing component that could affect performance or pass emissions tests.
“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 GLA 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 GLA Class or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Mercedes-Benz GLA Class has far fewer complaints per year (16 vs. 452 for the Honda Accord), but the Accord has 38 recalls that address some of its most serious issues. In practice, the GLA may have fewer reported problems overall, but the Accord's recalls mean many defects are being fixed under manufacturer campaigns. Buyers should weigh the lower complaint rate of the GLA against the higher likelihood of a recall fix on the Accord.
Key differences
- The GLA has no recalls on record, while the Accord has 38 recalls covering electrical, fuel, airbag, and seat belt systems.
- GLA owners frequently report simultaneous dashboard warnings and loss of acceleration, whereas Accord owners report unintended automatic braking and power steering failure.
- The Accord's complaint volume is about 28 times higher than the GLA's, but this is partly due to much higher sales volume.
- The GLA's top issues are engine and electrical; the Accord's top issues are engine, electrical, and forward collision avoidance.
- Check for any history of multiple dashboard warning lights (ABS, engine, anti-skid, 4MATIC, transmission) coming on together, as this may indicate a serious electrical or sensor fault.
- Test drive at highway speeds and listen for transmission hesitation or loss of acceleration, which owners have reported as a prelude to a tow.
- Verify that all recalls, especially those for hybrid power control software and fuel pumps, have been performed.
- Test the forward collision avoidance system in a safe environment to ensure it does not brake unexpectedly, and check for any history of power steering or braking failure.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm whether any open recalls exist for the specific model year.
- Ask for maintenance records, focusing on electrical, engine, and transmission repairs.
- During a test drive, pay attention to any warning lights, unusual noises, or hesitation during acceleration.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the vehicle, including a scan for stored error codes in the engine, transmission, and ABS systems.
- For the Accord, specifically test the forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control functions on a highway drive.
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 GLA Class | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 10 |
| 2025 | 0 | 109 |
| 2024 | 0 | 219 |
| 2023 | 8 | 226 |
| 2022 | 4 | 252 |
| 2021 | 23 | 234 |
| 2020 | 10 | 362 |
| 2019 | 30 | 691 |
| 2018 | 51 | 1884 |
| 2017 | 34 | 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 GLA Class or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mercedes BENZ GLA Class vs Honda Accord
- Mercedes BENZ GLA Class total complaints
- 160
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Mercedes BENZ GLA Class total recalls
- 0
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Mercedes BENZ GLA Class avg complaints/year
- 16.0
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Mercedes BENZ GLA Class
- Mercedes BENZ GLA Class top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE