Head-to-head reliability
Mercedes BENZ S Class vs Honda Accord
How the Mercedes BENZ S 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 S Class vs Honda Accord: The S-Class has 172 complaints over 10 years (17.2/year) and 0 recalls, while the Accord has 4,438 complaints (443.8/year) and 38 recalls. The S-Class reports electrical fires and brake seizures; the Accord reports engine power loss and tire failures. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mercedes BENZ S Class or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mercedes BENZ S Class
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a luxury sedan with 172 complaints over 10 years, averaging 17.2 per year. It has no recalls on record, but owners report electrical glitches, forward collision avoidance quirks, brake problems, and engine issues. Living with it means dealing with complex electronics that can cause unexpected behavior, though the overall complaint rate is low.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mainstream sedan with 4,438 complaints over 10 years, averaging 443.8 per year. It has 38 recalls covering electrical, brake, fuel, and airbag systems. Owners report engine, electrical, forward collision avoidance, and brake issues, with some crashes and injuries. It's a high-volume vehicle with many 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 S Class | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 172 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 0 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 6 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 17.2 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 7 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 S Class
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM31
- 02FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE30
- 03SERVICE BRAKES23
- 04ENGINE23
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER22
Owners report harsh transmission shifts, burning odors, smoke, and even fires under the driver's seat. These electrical faults can lead to costly repairs and safety risks like fires.
Complaints include the vehicle shutting off at stop lights, sudden deceleration during cruise control, and misreading speed limit signs. These glitches can cause unexpected speed changes and loss of power.
Owners describe rear brake actuator seizing, making the vehicle inoperable, and seat belts tightening unexpectedly. Brake failures can compromise stopping ability and lead to loss of control.
Reports include jerking upon acceleration with auxiliary battery warnings, and false service messages. These issues can indicate underlying electrical or engine management problems.
“I am reporting a recurring transmission/drivability issue with my 2024 Mercedes-Benz S580. The vehicle has been experiencing a harsh, abnormal shift between approximately 3rd and 4th gear at around 25–35 mph during normal acceleration. The shift feels like a…”
“The contact owns a 2019 Mercedes-Benz S560. The contact stated that while parking their vehicle, a burning-leather odor entered the cabin, and they noticed smoke in the cabin. The contact noticed a small fire beneath the driver's seat. The fire was extinguish…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report noises, alarms, loss of speed, and critical failure messages. Some vehicles lose power at highway speeds, which is a serious safety concern.
Complaints include tire pressure monitoring failures leading to tire blowouts, and rodent damage to wiring harnesses. Electrical gremlins can cause sudden failures and expensive repairs.
Owners report adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, and automatic high beam problems, with intermittent warnings. These systems may fail to assist, increasing crash risk.
Brake-related complaints include ABS and traction control issues, with some crashes reported. Brake malfunctions can lead to loss of control and accidents.
“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 S 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 S Class or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class has far fewer complaints per year (17.2) compared to the Honda Accord (443.8). However, the S-Class has zero recalls while the Accord has 38, indicating different types of issues. In practice, the S-Class may have fewer overall problems but can still suffer from complex electrical and brake faults, while the Accord's higher volume means more reported issues and recalls.
Key differences
- The Mercedes-Benz S-Class has 172 complaints over 10 years with no recalls, while the Honda Accord has 4,438 complaints and 38 recalls.
- S-Class owners report electrical fires, transmission jerks, and brake actuator seizures; Accord owners report engine power loss, tire failures, and forward collision system glitches.
- The S-Class has 6 crash-related complaints and 1 death; the Accord has 160 crash-related complaints and 3 deaths.
- The Accord's recalls cover critical systems like fuel pumps, airbags, and brakes, while the S-Class has no recalls on record.
- Check for signs of electrical burning or smoke under the driver's seat, as owners reported fires.
- Test the transmission for harsh shifts between 3rd and 4th gear at 25-35 mph, and verify brake actuator function.
- Inspect tires for uneven wear or damage, as owners reported catastrophic tire failures after TPMS warnings.
- Test adaptive cruise control and lane keeping systems for intermittent failures, and check for engine noises or power loss.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls, especially on the Honda Accord.
- Have a mechanic inspect the electrical system, brakes, and engine for both models, focusing on reported issues.
- Test drive the Mercedes-Benz S-Class at various speeds to check for transmission jerks and brake performance.
- For the Honda Accord, test all driver-assist features and listen for engine noises during acceleration.
- Verify that any recall repairs have been completed, and consider an extended warranty for costly electrical or engine repairs.
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 S Class | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 5 |
| 2025 | 0 | 101 |
| 2024 | 6 | 214 |
| 2023 | 12 | 224 |
| 2022 | 46 | 238 |
| 2021 | 34 | 226 |
| 2020 | 7 | 355 |
| 2019 | 16 | 677 |
| 2018 | 29 | 1864 |
| 2017 | 22 | 534 |
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 S Class or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mercedes BENZ S Class vs Honda Accord
- Mercedes BENZ S Class total complaints
- 172
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Mercedes BENZ S Class total recalls
- 0
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Mercedes BENZ S Class avg complaints/year
- 17.2
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Mercedes BENZ S Class
- Mercedes BENZ S Class top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE