Head-to-head reliability
Mercedes BENZ GLS Class vs Honda Accord
How the Mercedes BENZ GLS 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 GLS Class vs Honda Accord: The GLS averages 19.3 complaints per year with 0 recalls, while the Accord averages 452.4 complaints per year with 38 recalls. The GLS has 10 crash-related complaints and 10 injuries; the Accord has 162 crash-related and 146 injuries. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mercedes BENZ GLS Class or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mercedes BENZ GLS Class
The Mercedes-Benz GLS Class is a large luxury SUV with an average of 19.3 complaints per year over the past decade, which is relatively low for its class. However, owners frequently report electrical glitches, such as dashboard warnings for brake assist and blind spot systems, and some engine issues like low oil pressure from a faulty oil pump solenoid. There are no recalls on record, but the 10 crash-related complaints and 10 injuries suggest that when problems occur, they can be serious. Overall, it's a complex vehicle where electronic and engine faults can lead to expensive repairs.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mainstream midsize sedan with a much higher complaint rate: 452.4 per year on average, totaling 4,524 over 10 years. It has 38 recalls covering major systems like electrical, fuel, and airbags, and a significant number of crash-related complaints (162) and injuries (146). Owners report engine problems like loss of power and rough transitions, as well as electrical failures such as power steering and braking lockups. While the Accord is popular, the volume of complaints and recalls indicates a higher likelihood of encountering issues.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mercedes BENZ GLS Class | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 193 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 0 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 10 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 19.3 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 10 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 GLS Class
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM55
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER38
- 03ENGINE36
- 04FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE19
- 05POWER TRAIN17
Owners report dashboard warnings like 'Active Brake Assist Functions Limited' and 'Active Blind Spot Assist Inoperative,' often accompanied by parking brake issues. These glitches can disable safety features and require dealer visits, which may be costly after warranty.
Some owners experience low oil pressure warnings and engine lights due to a faulty oil pump solenoid valve, requiring major engine work. This can lead to sudden power loss and expensive repairs.
Complaints include the collision avoidance system shutting down without weather cause, and in one case, the radar locked up the wheels while driving. This poses a serious safety risk if the system malfunctions unexpectedly.
Issues range from software update failures for communication modules to water pooling in the passenger footwell causing limp mode and multiple system failures. These can be hard to diagnose and repair.
“As I approached a red light and removed my foot from the gas pedal to brake, my dashboard displayed several alarming messages: “Active Brake Assist Functions Limited See Owner's Manual,” “Active Blind Spot Assist Inoperative,” “To Deselect P or N Depress Brak…”
“At first, the parking brake assist would appear when vehicle was put into park or when starting. We would have to release the parking brake each time. Then, the parking brake assist light would not go on, but the parking brake assist would engage and or be st…”
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, leading to loss of speed. Also, rattling noises and rough transitions between EV and gas modes in hybrids. These can indicate serious powertrain issues.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, and TPMS warnings followed by tire failure. Such failures can cause loss of control and near-collisions.
Owners describe the system failing to resolve threats, with incidents of sudden braking or acceleration under adaptive cruise control. This undermines trust in the safety technology.
There are reports of rotten-egg sulfur odors and fuel pump issues, which can lead to stalling or fire risk. Recalls exist for fuel pump and hybrid power control unit software.
“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 GLS 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 GLS Class or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Mercedes-Benz GLS Class has far fewer complaints per year (19.3 vs. 452.4) and no recalls, while the Honda Accord has many more complaints and 38 recalls. In practice, this means the GLS may have fewer reported problems overall, but when issues occur they can be complex and expensive. The Accord's higher volume suggests a greater chance of encountering a defect, though many are covered by recalls.
Key differences
- Complaint volume: GLS averages 19.3 per year; Accord averages 452.4 per year, a 23-fold difference.
- Recalls: GLS has 0 recalls; Accord has 38 recalls covering electrical, fuel, airbags, and more.
- Crash/injury reports: GLS has 10 crash-related complaints and 10 injuries; Accord has 162 crash-related and 146 injuries.
- Reported failure types: GLS owners report electrical glitches and oil pump issues; Accord owners report engine power loss, steering/braking failures, and fuel odors.
- Check for dashboard warnings related to brake assist, blind spot, or parking brake, as these are commonly reported electrical issues.
- Listen for engine noises and check for low oil pressure warnings, which may indicate a faulty oil pump solenoid valve.
- Test drive at highway speeds to check for sudden loss of power, ABS/brake warnings, or rough transitions between EV and gas modes.
- Inspect for rotten-egg sulfur odor and ensure all recalls (especially fuel pump and hybrid software) have been performed.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all recalls have been addressed, especially for 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 (highway, stop-and-go) to replicate reported issues like warning lights or power loss.
- For the GLS, check for water leaks in the passenger footwell that can cause electrical failures.
- For the Accord, verify the operation of advanced safety features like adaptive cruise control and collision avoidance.
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 GLS Class | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 10 |
| 2025 | 0 | 109 |
| 2024 | 0 | 219 |
| 2023 | 10 | 226 |
| 2022 | 16 | 252 |
| 2021 | 37 | 234 |
| 2020 | 38 | 362 |
| 2019 | 28 | 691 |
| 2018 | 22 | 1884 |
| 2017 | 42 | 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 GLS Class or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mercedes BENZ GLS Class vs Honda Accord
- Mercedes BENZ GLS Class total complaints
- 193
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Mercedes BENZ GLS Class total recalls
- 0
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Mercedes BENZ GLS Class avg complaints/year
- 19.3
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Mercedes BENZ GLS Class
- Mercedes BENZ GLS Class top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE