Head-to-head reliability
Mercedes BENZ GLE Class vs Honda Accord
How the Mercedes BENZ GLE 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 GLE Class vs Honda Accord: The GLE averages 46.5 complaints per year with 0 recalls, while the Accord averages 452.4 complaints per year with 38 recalls. The GLE has 31 crash-related reports and 1 death; the Accord has 162 crash-related reports and 3 deaths. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mercedes BENZ GLE Class or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mercedes BENZ GLE Class
The Mercedes-Benz GLE Class is a luxury SUV that averages about 46.5 complaints per year over the past decade, with no recalls on record. Owners frequently report electrical glitches like battery warnings and blank instrument clusters, as well as engine issues such as oil pump solenoid codes and check engine lights. Power train complaints include rough acceleration and the vehicle moving while in Park, which can be unsettling. With 31 crash-related reports, 24 injuries, and 1 death, these issues can pose safety risks if ignored.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular midsize car that generates far more complaints—about 452.4 per year—and has 38 recalls over the same period. Common trouble spots include engine problems like loss of power and rattling noises, electrical failures such as power steering and braking lockups, and forward collision avoidance system malfunctions. There are also fuel/propulsion issues and reports of unintended acceleration or braking. With 162 crash-related reports, 146 injuries, and 3 deaths, the volume of complaints and recalls suggests a higher rate of reported problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mercedes BENZ GLE Class | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 465 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 0 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 31 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 46.5 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 24 Better | 146 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 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 GLE Class
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM107
- 02ENGINE107
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER82
- 04POWER TRAIN49
- 05VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL44
Owners report battery monitor warnings that appear while driving, instructing them to pull over, and instrument clusters going black, which disables speedometer, gas gauge, and safety features like blind spot monitoring. These failures can leave a driver without critical information and safety aids.
A common issue is the P06DA00 code related to the oil pump solenoid and faulty wiring harness, leading to check engine lights and potential engine problems. Owners also report rough acceleration and the car struggling to accelerate, which can affect drivability and lead to costly repairs.
Complaints include the vehicle moving forward while in Park, sometimes by millimeters to a quarter inch, and rough acceleration or noises upon accelerating. This unintended movement is a safety concern, especially if it happens on a slope or near pedestrians.
Although not detailed in the sample complaints, this component is among the top five, suggesting owners have reported issues with speed control systems. Buyers should be aware that such problems could affect acceleration or cruise control functionality.
“I have been getting Battery Monitor - Charge status very low warnings for the past month and they occur at any moment, including while driving the car. The warning then states for me to stop and pull the car over so it can charge up. MESSAGE: 12V Battery The…”
“My instrument cluster has gone black twice. Meaning I have no speedometer, gas gauge, etc. My blind spot monitoring, front parking, and other safety features do not work when this happens. It stays this way for several hours and then displays again, usually o…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report sudden loss of power with multiple alarms (Brake, hill descent, ABS, critical failure) and rattling noises during acceleration, similar to a diesel engine. These issues can cause the vehicle to lose speed unexpectedly, posing a risk in traffic.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking systems at highway speeds, leading to lockup and near-collisions. Another owner reported a TPMS warning followed by a tire failure. Such failures can be catastrophic if they occur while driving.
Owners describe the system failing to prevent collisions, with incidents occurring under similar conditions and routes, sometimes with adaptive cruise control engaged. This undermines a key safety feature that drivers may rely on.
Complaints include a persistent rotten-egg/sulfur odor that required a filter replacement and odor treatment, but the odor persisted. This could indicate fuel system issues and may be a nuisance or health concern.
“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 GLE 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 GLE Class or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Mercedes-Benz GLE Class has far fewer complaints per year (46.5 vs. 452.4) and no recalls, while the Honda Accord has many more complaints and 38 recalls. In practice, this means the GLE may have fewer reported problems overall, but the Accord's higher volume could reflect its larger sales or more widespread issues. Buyers should weigh the lower complaint rate against the GLE's potential for costly electrical and engine repairs.
Key differences
- The Mercedes-Benz GLE Class has no recalls on record, while the Honda Accord has 38 recalls covering electrical, fuel, airbag, and other systems.
- Honda Accord owners report sudden loss of power and simultaneous failure of power steering and braking, whereas GLE owners more often report battery warnings and blank instrument clusters.
- The GLE has 31 crash-related reports, 24 injuries, and 1 death; the Accord has 162 crash-related reports, 146 injuries, and 3 deaths, indicating a higher absolute number of reported incidents.
- GLE complaints include the vehicle moving while in Park, a specific safety concern not highlighted in Accord complaints, which more often involve forward collision avoidance failures.
- Check for battery monitor warnings or messages about 12V battery charge status, and test the instrument cluster for any blackouts or non-functioning gauges.
- Listen for rough acceleration or noises from the engine, and ask if the oil pump solenoid or wiring harness has been replaced due to P06DA00 code.
- Test the electronic power steering and braking systems for any hesitation or failure, especially at highway speeds, and check for recalls related to these systems.
- Verify that forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control function correctly, and look for any history of unintended braking or failure to detect obstacles.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls, especially on the Honda Accord.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with the specific model, focusing on electrical and engine systems.
- Test drive the vehicle under various conditions, including highway speeds, to check for power loss, steering, and braking issues.
- For the GLE, check for battery warnings and instrument cluster functionality; for the Accord, test forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records and confirm whether any reported issues (like oil pump solenoid or power steering failures) 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 GLE Class | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 10 |
| 2025 | 0 | 109 |
| 2024 | 0 | 219 |
| 2023 | 31 | 226 |
| 2022 | 63 | 252 |
| 2021 | 83 | 234 |
| 2020 | 123 | 362 |
| 2019 | 34 | 691 |
| 2018 | 56 | 1884 |
| 2017 | 75 | 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 GLE Class or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mercedes BENZ GLE Class vs Honda Accord
- Mercedes BENZ GLE Class total complaints
- 465
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Mercedes BENZ GLE Class total recalls
- 0
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Mercedes BENZ GLE Class avg complaints/year
- 46.5
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Mercedes BENZ GLE Class
- Mercedes BENZ GLE Class top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE