Head-to-head reliability
Mercedes BENZ Sprinter vs Honda Accord
How the Mercedes BENZ Sprinter 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 Sprinter vs Honda Accord: The Sprinter has only 6 complaints over 10 years (0.6/yr) versus the Accord's 4,438 (443.8/yr). The Sprinter's issues include transmission failure and recall noncompliance, while the Accord faces engine, electrical, and safety system problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mercedes BENZ Sprinter or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mercedes BENZ Sprinter
The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is a commercial van that owners rely on for work and travel. Over the past decade, it has generated very few owner complaints—just six in ten years—but those complaints point to serious issues: sudden transmission failures that leave the van unable to move, and suspension/equipment problems tied to a safety recall (25V747) involving noncompliance with federal safety standards. The low complaint rate suggests that most Sprinters avoid major trouble, but the few that do fail can be costly and disruptive, especially for a vehicle that's often used for business.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular midsize sedan with a much higher complaint volume—4,438 over ten years, or about 444 per year. Owners report a wide range of issues, but the most frequent involve the engine (985 complaints), electrical system (863), and forward collision avoidance system (821). Many complaints describe sudden power loss, warning lights, and false activations of safety features, which can be alarming and potentially dangerous. The high number of crash-related complaints (160) and injuries (144) underscores that these failures can have real safety consequences.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mercedes BENZ Sprinter | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 6 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 46 | 38 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.6 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 144 |
| 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 Sprinter
- 01POWER TRAIN3
- 02SUSPENSION3
- 03EQUIPMENT3
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER3
Owners report sudden transmission failure while driving, causing the vehicle to lose the ability to move or accelerate. This is a critical safety issue, especially if it happens in traffic, and likely requires expensive transmission repair or replacement.
Complaints reference Safety Recall 25V747, indicating that the vehicle does not comply with FMVSS 110 (tire and rim selection) and 49 CFR Part 567 (certification). This suggests potential issues with the suspension or tire/rim setup that could affect handling and safety.
Similar to suspension, equipment complaints also cite the same recall, pointing to problems with labels or other equipment that fail to meet federal standards. This could lead to confusion about proper tire pressure or vehicle capacity, increasing the risk of tire failure or overloading.
“Subject: Transmission Failure Safety Complaint I am submitting a complaint regarding a serious transmission problem with my vehicle. While driving, the transmission suddenly failed, and the vehicle lost the ability to move properly. The car would not accelera…”
“Subject: Transmission Failure Safety Complaint I am submitting a complaint regarding a serious transmission problem with my vehicle. While driving, the transmission suddenly failed, and the vehicle lost the ability to move properly. The car would not accelera…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report unusual noises and sudden loss of power, with warning lights for brake, hill descent, ABS, and critical failure appearing. This suggests potential engine or drivetrain issues that can cause the car to slow down unexpectedly, creating a hazard on highways.
Complaints include TPMS warnings followed by catastrophic tire failure, and rodent damage to the camshaft position wiring harness. Electrical gremlins can lead to warning lights, system malfunctions, and even tire blowouts, which are dangerous at speed.
The system can falsely activate or show intermittent problems with adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, and automatic high beams. Owners report the vehicle braking unexpectedly on open roads, which could cause rear-end collisions or loss of control.
While not detailed in the sample, the high number of complaints (592) suggests issues with braking performance, possibly related to the antilock brake system or brake control module, which could increase stopping distances or cause brake failure.
“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 Sprinter — 46 recalls
The defect: Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner Sprinter vehicles. The airbag systems may not have been activated after vehicle production. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbe…
The risk: An inactive airbag system can increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The fix: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles to determine if the airbag systems have been activated, correcting them as necessary, free of charge. DVUSA issued owners an interim notification on November 22, 2019. The rec…
The defect: Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Sprinter and Metris vehicles. The vehicles left the reassembly plant without the final quality inspection of safety-relevant parts or bolt connections, resulting in possible unknown safety risks.
The risk: Failure to identify loose safety related parts can increase the risk of crash and injury.
The fix: DVUSA will notify owners, and vehicles will be returned to the reassembly plant for comprehensive inspection and, if necessary, corrective action, free of charge. The recall began November 15, 2019. Owners may contact DVUSA customer servic…
The defect: Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner Sprinter 1500, 2500, 3500 and 4500 vehicles. The rear side windows may be single-pane safety glass instead of laminated safety glass.
The risk: In the event of a side impact crash or vehicle rollover, the fitted side windows may not adequately protect the rear occupants from being ejected, increasing their risk of injury.
The fix: DVUSA will notify owners, and Mercedes-Benz or Freightliner dealers will replace the single-pane safety glass with laminated safety glass., free of charge. DVUSA issued owners an interim notification on August 16, 2019. The recall began Ja…
The defect: Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Freightliner Sprinter vehicles. The spare tire label may indicate the maximum speed at 55 kilometers per hour (kph) rather than as 34 miles per hour (mph).
The risk: With only the metric speed listed on the spare tire label, the driver could misinterpret the kph as mph and operate the vehicle with the spare tire installed at higher speeds than the tire can withstand, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: DVUSA will notify owners, and Mercedes-Benz or Freightliner Sprinter dealers will replace it with the label with the correct maximum speed information indicated in miles per hour, free of charge. The recall began May 15, 2020. Owners may c…
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 Sprinter or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter has far fewer complaints per year (0.6) compared to the Honda Accord (443.8), indicating a much lower rate of owner-reported issues. However, the Sprinter's complaints are severe, involving transmission and safety compliance, while the Accord's issues are more frequent but varied. In practice, the Sprinter may be more reliable in terms of avoiding problems, but when problems occur, they can be more serious and costly.
Key differences
- The Sprinter has only 6 complaints over 10 years, while the Accord has 4,438—a dramatic difference in owner-reported issues.
- Sprinter complaints focus on transmission failure and recall noncompliance, whereas Accord complaints span engine, electrical, and advanced safety systems.
- The Accord has 160 crash-related complaints and 144 injuries, suggesting that its issues can lead to actual accidents, while the Sprinter has zero crash-related complaints.
- The Sprinter has 46 recalls, more than the Accord's 38, but the Accord's recalls include critical systems like airbags and brakes, while the Sprinter's include labels and glass.
- Check for any open recalls, especially Safety Recall 25V747, and ensure the vehicle has been repaired to comply with FMVSS 110 and 49 CFR Part 567.
- Test the transmission thoroughly, including acceleration and shifting, and look for any signs of slipping or failure, as owners report sudden loss of drive.
- Inspect the electrical system, particularly wiring harnesses for rodent damage, and check for any TPMS warnings or previous tire issues.
- Test the forward collision avoidance system on a safe road to ensure it doesn't activate falsely, and check for any warning lights related to adaptive cruise control or lane keeping.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for any open recalls on both vehicles.
- For the Sprinter, have a mechanic inspect the transmission and suspension, and verify that any recall work is completed.
- For the Accord, check the engine for unusual noises, test all safety systems, and look for signs of electrical issues.
- Take both vehicles for a test drive, including highway speeds, to feel for any hesitation or warning lights.
- Consider a pre-purchase inspection by a certified mechanic who can check for common issues like rodent damage or transmission wear.
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 Sprinter | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 5 |
| 2025 | 6 | 101 |
| 2024 | 0 | 214 |
| 2023 | 0 | 224 |
| 2022 | 0 | 238 |
| 2021 | 0 | 226 |
| 2020 | 0 | 355 |
| 2019 | 0 | 677 |
| 2018 | 0 | 1864 |
| 2017 | 0 | 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 Sprinter or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mercedes BENZ Sprinter vs Honda Accord
- Mercedes BENZ Sprinter total complaints
- 6
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Mercedes BENZ Sprinter total recalls
- 46
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Mercedes BENZ Sprinter avg complaints/year
- 0.6
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Mercedes BENZ Sprinter
- Mercedes BENZ Sprinter top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE