Head-to-head reliability
Mercedes BENZ ML Class vs Honda Accord
How the Mercedes BENZ ML 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 ML Class vs Honda Accord: The ML Class averaged 67 complaints per year with no recalls, while the Accord averaged 444 complaints per year and had 38 recalls. The ML Class had 27 crash-related complaints and 1 death; the Accord had 160 crash-related complaints and 3 deaths. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mercedes BENZ ML Class or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mercedes BENZ ML Class
The Mercedes-Benz ML Class is a luxury SUV that can be costly to maintain as it ages. Over four years, owners filed 268 complaints, averaging 67 per year, with no recalls on record. The most common issues involve the engine, electrical system, and fuel/propulsion system, often leading to unexpected breakdowns and expensive repairs. While crash-related complaints are relatively low at 27, the potential for stalling and electrical glitches makes it a vehicle that demands careful inspection.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular midsize car with a generally strong reliability reputation, but recent models have generated a high volume of complaints. Over ten years, there were 4,438 complaints, averaging about 444 per year, along with 38 recalls. The most frequent problems involve the engine, electrical system, and forward collision avoidance systems. Many complaints describe serious safety issues like sudden power loss and malfunctioning driver-assist features, which can be alarming for buyers.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mercedes BENZ ML Class | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 268 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 0 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 27 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 67.0 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 18 Better | 144 |
| 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 ML Class
- 01ENGINE70
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM50
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER43
- 04FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM31
- 05POWER TRAIN26
Owners report random check engine lights that come and go, and camshaft solenoid leaks that can lead to oil soaking the engine harness, resulting in repair bills around $8,000. These issues can cause stalling and expensive engine damage if ignored.
Complaints include warning lights on side mirrors and intermittent check engine lights, often linked to the same camshaft solenoid leak. Electrical gremlins can be hard to diagnose and may leave you stranded.
Water accumulating in the spare wheel well can damage the fuel module and fuel pump, causing the vehicle to stall in traffic. Owners describe sudden engine shutdowns, which pose a serious crash risk.
One owner reported a rear wiper issue where dust accumulated and then a pop sound with red lights on the dash, suggesting potential rear window or electrical problems. Such vague symptoms can be frustrating to trace.
“In the last year, randomly, when starting the vehicle, the yellow check engine light comes on. Turn the vehicle off, it is gone. The side view mirrors have the yellow lights lit up on them when driving down any road, the red warning lights that tell you there…”
“HELLO, REF: ML350 CAMSHAFT SOLENOID LEAK! I AM SEEKING OUT FOR YOUR HELP WRT TO A SITUATION WITH 2012 ML350. ENCLOSED HEREWITH IS AN INSPECTION REPORT FROM A RECENT SERVICE VISIT REQUIRING CLOSE OF $8K IN REPAIRS FOR YOUR REFERENCE. ENGINE HARNESS (OIL LLED H…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report noises and, in some cases, sudden loss of power with multiple dashboard alarms like brake and hill descent system failures. These issues can occur at highway speeds, creating dangerous situations.
Complaints include TPMS warnings leading to tire failure, and rodent damage to wiring harnesses even on new vehicles. Electrical faults can disable safety systems and leave you with costly repairs.
Many owners experience intermittent warnings for adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and automatic high beams, sometimes with no obstruction. These malfunctions can undermine trust in the car's safety features.
While not detailed in the sample complaints, the high number of brake-related complaints (592) suggests issues with the antilock/traction control system. Brake problems are critical for safety and should be thoroughly checked.
“I purchased this vehicle at 0 miles in July 2025 from Honda Accord in Pensacola Florida. I reported in July 2025 that there was a noise and I was unhappy with the vehicle and would like to exchange the vehicle within the 30 days months later, the noise got lo…”
“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…”
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 ML 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 (America Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023 Civic, Acura RDX, Acura Integra, and 2022 Honda Accord vehicles. A ball valve in the vehicle stability assist (VSA) modulator may leak brake fluid, which can result in unintended vehicle movement when the brake hold feature is engaged or an…
The risk: Unintended vehicle movement or an unexpected increase in brake pedal travel can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the VSA modulator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are OEJ, XEK, AEY, XEX and OEW.
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 ML Class or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Mercedes-Benz ML Class has far fewer complaints per year (67) compared to the Honda Accord (444), but the ML's issues often involve expensive engine and fuel system repairs. The Accord's higher complaint volume includes many advanced safety system glitches, but also benefits from 38 recalls that may have addressed some defects. In practice, the ML may be cheaper to buy but riskier to own due to costly breakdowns, while the Accord's issues are more widespread but potentially covered by recalls.
Key differences
- The ML Class has no recalls on record, while the Accord has 38 recalls, meaning many Accord defects may have been addressed for free.
- ML Class complaints often involve engine oil leaks and fuel pump failures leading to stalling, whereas Accord complaints frequently mention advanced safety system warnings and sudden power loss.
- The Accord has a much higher complaint rate per year (444 vs. 67), but its issues are spread across more vehicles, while the ML's lower volume still includes serious safety risks.
- Both vehicles have crash-related complaints, but the Accord has more (160 vs. 27) and more injuries (144 vs. 18), though the ML has 1 death and the Accord has 3.
- Check for oil leaks around the camshaft solenoids and inspect the engine wiring harness for oil contamination, as this can lead to costly repairs.
- Inspect the spare wheel well for water accumulation, which can damage the fuel module and cause stalling.
- Test all driver-assist features like adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist for intermittent warnings or failures.
- Look for signs of rodent damage to wiring, especially if the car has been parked outside, and check for TPMS warning lights that may indicate tire issues.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report to see if recalls were performed, especially for the Accord.
- Have a mechanic inspect the engine for leaks, unusual noises, and check the fuel system for proper operation.
- Test drive the vehicle at highway speeds to see if any warning lights appear or if it loses power.
- For the ML Class, specifically check the rear wiper and electrical components for proper function.
- For the Accord, verify that all safety systems (forward collision avoidance, lane keeping) work without error messages.
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 ML Class or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mercedes BENZ ML Class vs Honda Accord
- Mercedes BENZ ML Class total complaints
- 268
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Mercedes BENZ ML Class total recalls
- 0
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Mercedes BENZ ML Class avg complaints/year
- 67.0
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Mercedes BENZ ML Class
- Mercedes BENZ ML Class top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE