Head-to-head reliability
Mercedes BENZ GLC vs Honda Accord
How the Mercedes BENZ GLC 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 GLC vs Honda Accord: The GLC averages 129 complaints per year with 3 recalls, while the Accord averages 452 complaints per year with 38 recalls. The GLC has fewer complaints but often involves costly engine and electrical repairs. The Accord has more recalls, which may fix defects for free. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mercedes BENZ GLC or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mercedes BENZ GLC
The Mercedes-Benz GLC is a luxury compact SUV that can be costly to maintain as it ages. Over 10 years, it has averaged about 129 complaints per year, with engine and electrical problems being the most common. Owners report issues like engine misfires, headlight condensation, and sudden power loss. These problems can lead to expensive repairs and safety concerns.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular midsize sedan known for its reliability, but it has a higher complaint rate than the GLC, averaging about 452 complaints per year. The most frequent issues involve the engine, electrical system, and forward collision avoidance. Some owners report serious problems like simultaneous power steering and braking failure. Despite the higher complaint count, the Accord has more recalls, which may address some defects.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mercedes BENZ GLC | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,288 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 3 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 64 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 128.8 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 64 Better | 146 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 2 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 GLC
- 01ENGINE381
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM271
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER236
- 04FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM116
- 05POWER TRAIN104
Owners report engine misfires, rough running, and shaking, often accompanied by a check engine light. In some cases, the vehicle enters limp mode, losing power suddenly. These issues can be dangerous and costly to fix.
Complaints include moisture inside headlights causing them to fail completely. Some owners note that their vehicle is not covered by a related recall, leaving them with repair bills. This can affect visibility and safety.
Drivers describe intermittent loss of power, especially at low speeds or on inclines, with the check engine light on. This can create dangerous speed differences with other traffic.
Reports include vehicle fires and rear windows shattering spontaneously. These are rare but serious incidents that owners say happened without warning or impact.
“While driving my vehicle on March 3, 2025 the check engine light came on. Additionally my vehicle began to shake. I was scheduled for a service appointment on March 5, 2025 and told the service department the check engine light need to be addressed. Upon insp…”
“Vehicle Information: Year: 2021 Make: Mercedes-Benz Model: GLC 300 Engine: M264 Mileage at time of failure: Approximately 65,000 miles Complaint Description: While driving, my 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 began experiencing repeated engine misfires and rough ru…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report rattling noises during acceleration, rough transitions between EV and gas modes, and sudden loss of speed with multiple warning lights. These issues can affect drivability and safety.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of power steering and braking at highway speeds, as well as tire pressure monitoring system problems leading to tire failure. These are severe safety risks.
Drivers describe unexpected braking or failure to avoid collisions, sometimes under adaptive cruise control. This can lead to near-misses or crashes if not addressed.
Some owners report persistent rotten-egg odors and interior trim issues that can trap feet. These are less severe but indicate quality control problems.
“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 GLC — 3 recalls
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…
The defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2023-2025 GLC 300, GLC 300 4MATIC, 2024-2025 AMG GLC 43 4MATIC, 2025 GLC 350E 4MATIC, and AMG GLC 63 S E vehicles equipped with a panoramic sunroof. In certain crash scenarios, where the rear occupant's head contacts the C-pillar, the pillar may n…
The risk: In the event of a crash, insufficient impact protection can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will modify the roof lining and C-pillar trim, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 9, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
The defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2023-2026 EQE and GLC vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. The steering coupling bolt may have been improperly tightened, allowing the steering coupling to loosen from the steering rack.
The risk: A loose steering coupling can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will tighten the steering coupling bolts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 6, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
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 GLC or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Mercedes-Benz GLC has far fewer complaints per year (about 129) compared to the Honda Accord (about 452). However, the GLC's issues often involve expensive engine and electrical repairs, while the Accord's higher complaint count includes many for advanced safety systems. In practice, the GLC may cost more to maintain, but the Accord may have more frequent visits to the dealer.
Key differences
- The GLC has about 129 complaints per year, while the Accord has about 452, but the GLC's complaints often involve costly engine and electrical failures.
- The Accord has 38 recalls over 10 years, compared to 3 for the GLC, meaning more defects may be addressed for free.
- GLC owners report sudden limp mode and headlight failures; Accord owners report simultaneous steering and braking failure and forward collision avoidance issues.
- Both have crash-related complaints, but the Accord has more (162 vs 64) and more injuries (146 vs 64), though the GLC has fewer deaths (2 vs 3).
- Check for signs of headlight condensation or moisture, as this can lead to complete headlight failure and may not be covered by recall.
- Test drive at various speeds and listen for engine misfires or shaking, and watch for sudden loss of power or limp mode.
- Test the electronic power steering and braking systems at highway speeds, as simultaneous failure has been reported.
- Listen for rattling noises during acceleration and check for rough transitions between EV and gas modes, which may indicate engine issues.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report to check for open recalls and previous repairs.
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the engine, electrical system, and safety features specific to the model.
- For the GLC, check headlight assemblies for moisture and test drive for engine performance.
- For the Accord, test drive at highway speeds to check for steering and braking issues, and verify forward collision avoidance operation.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records and ensure all recalls have been addressed.
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 GLC | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 9 | 10 |
| 2025 | 44 | 109 |
| 2024 | 31 | 219 |
| 2023 | 121 | 226 |
| 2022 | 124 | 252 |
| 2021 | 66 | 234 |
| 2020 | 231 | 362 |
| 2019 | 138 | 691 |
| 2018 | 294 | 1884 |
| 2017 | 230 | 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 GLC or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mercedes BENZ GLC vs Honda Accord
- Mercedes BENZ GLC total complaints
- 1,288
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Mercedes BENZ GLC total recalls
- 3
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Mercedes BENZ GLC avg complaints/year
- 128.8
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Mercedes BENZ GLC
- Mercedes BENZ GLC top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE