Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class Complaints

329 consumer complaints on file.

#11774126October 28, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLA-250. The contact stated that on several occasions while stopped at a traffic light or a stop sign, the vehicle independently shifted into neutral(N) with the neutral(N) indicator light illuminated. The driver turned off and restarted the vehicle and shifted back into drive(D). The vehicle was scheduled for inspection.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11771995October 19, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
When starting vehicle a strong fuel smell is noticed in the vehicle cabin.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11772277October 19, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Vehicle: 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 VIN: [XXX] I am filing a safety complaint regarding a severe, recurring defect in the Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) and vehicle braking system. On three separate occasions, the vehicle has malfunctioned while driving, dangerously creating an imminent risk of an accident. Without warning, the vehicle acts as if the emergency parking brake has been manually engaged. Immediately following this event, multiple warning lights illuminate on the dashboard (including a warning stating "Active Brake Assist Functions Limited"). Once these lights appear, the braking system completely locks up the wheels, stalling the vehicle in place and making it entirely impossible to move. This failure has occurred in active traffic, leaving the vehicle stranded and creating a severe rear-end collision hazard. I have already paid over $2,000 in out-of-pocket repair costs attempting to diagnose and fix this issue at independent shops, but the dangerous malfunction continues to happen. I am aware of a recent XXX Mercedes-Benz safety recall concerning defective door latch microswitches causing identical electronic parking brake lockups on GLA models. However, when checking my specific VIN on the manufacturer's database, it states my vehicle is not included. Given that my vehicle exhibits the exact same life-threatening failure symptoms as the recalled population, I request that the NHTSA investigate this issue to determine if the current recall scope needs to be expanded to include my vehicle's batch. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11771920October 18, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The parking brake comes on while driving , the screen goes off and on while driving it makes it impossible to give signal because it's inoperable.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11770304October 10, 2026
ENGINE
Time chain problem. Dealer removed the engine light fuse so they hide the problem
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11768142September 30, 2026
STRUCTURE:BODY
I have a 2020 GLA 250 4 matic mileage 62000 with a rear differential failure Was confirmed by a dealer. Mercedes is aware of this problem, there should be a safety recall before someone gets hurt.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11767526September 28, 2026
ENGINE
Faulty Turbo Wastegate Actuator P0299 code Faulty Thermostat PO128 code
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11766331September 23, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The windshield wipers come on when the right turn signal is used.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11766452September 23, 2026
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
The contact owns a 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA250. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V481000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted by the manufacturer. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11766491September 23, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My car had 78,530 miles on it when the rear differential binding causes shuddering/thumping during turns, which risks sudden wheel lockup or loss of control on sharp turns or low-traction surfaces. Please Note that Mercedes-Benz acknowledged this issue in TSB LI35.31-P-072105 but has not issued a safety recall. Dealer Diagnostic & Repair: Dealership confirmed a total component failure of the rear differential. The entire rear axle differential assembly (Part #A1763503100) and related hardware had to be removed and replaced. Total cost for rear axle replacement alone was $7,541.30.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11765458September 19, 2026
ENGINE
On 7/17/26, while driving at highway speed, the check engine light illuminated and the vehicle lost power and shut off. I safely pulled over. It would not restart; a red battery warning displayed. Towed to Mercedes-Benz of Wilkes-Barre, RO #8388432. Dealer found battery severely discharged, replaced it, then found engine would not turn by hand. Diagnosis: internal engine damage/seized; recommended full engine replacement, est. $20,128, on a 2021 GLA 250 with 82,137 miles. MBUSA TSB MC-10241534-0001 (8/4/2023) extends the emission warranty on the exhaust valve assembly (cylinder head, exhaust valves, valve seat rings/guides) on the M260 2.0L turbo engine from 4yr/50k mi to 15yr/150k mi, covering MY2021-2022 GLA 250. My vehicle falls within this window. The bulletin's defect (valve guide/seat wear causing misfire and MIL activation) is consistent with the check engine light observed at failure. I have repeatedly asked MBUSA in writing to confirm whether the DTCs referenced in this bulletin were pulled/reviewed, and whether my case was cross-checked against the bulletin before any offer. MBUSA has not provided a written response. Reps made verbal offers ($2,100 toward the engine; separately $800.20 "service credit" equal to a battery charge that does not appear to have been performed), and on one call described the bulletin as "only a sensor issue," inconsistent with its own text. Filing to document a possible unaddressed engine defect on a GLA 250 within this TSB's covered model years, and concern that vehicles with catastrophic seizure may not be evaluated against this known condition before being treated as ordinary out-of-warranty repairs.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11765106September 17, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My vehicle is a 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 4Matic with 79,779 miles. It is actively experiencing the severe, hazardous drivability issues detailed in your filings—specifically, unexpectedly rejecting gears and shifting into Neutral or Park when coming to a complete stop. This condition leaves the vehicle completely stranded at intersections, creating an immediate and unreasonable risk of a rear-end collision. Objective Diagnostic Data (Documented September 16, 2026): A professional diagnostic scan of my powertrain system failed due to critical communication dropouts. The scanner pulled active Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) U1457, explicitly defined as: "The Signal 'Fuel Level' From The Rear Signal Acquisition And Actuation Module Was Not Received By The Instrument Cluster." Chronological Symptoms & Environmental Ingress Link: Erratic Gauge Indicators: Immediately preceding a complete system failure, the vehicle's fuel gauge fluctuates erratically up and down while driving. Instrument Cluster Blackout: Following the gauge erraticism, the entire instrument cluster drops off the digital high-speed network line (the CAN Bus) and displays a completely blank, unresponsive black screen. The CAN bus chain drops communication with individual modules—including the Transmission Control Module—forcing the vehicle to dangerously drop into Neutral or Park at low speeds.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11764183September 14, 2026
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
After the vehicle's main battery fully discharged and the vehicle was jump-started, multiple SRS / driver airbag warnings appeared immediately, the horn and steering wheel controls stopped working, and a clicking noise developed in the steering column when turning the wheel. None of these symptoms existed before the battery discharge / jump-start event. Mercedes-Benz of Sarasota (Repair Order / Invoice 675113) performed XENTRY diagnostics and documented fault codes B000113 and B000213 (driver airbag squib stage 1 and stage 2 malfunction - open circuit), U100800 (LIN bus 1 malfunction in the steering column module), and B1F4500 (starter battery excessive resistance current; 12V battery failed test). The technician documented the root cause as "defective steering angle sensor and internal wiring of steering column module, thus no completed electrical circuit to driver airbag and steering wheel," and noted that the vehicle is unsafe to drive because the driver airbag will not deploy in a crash. Mileage approximately 73,447. No crash, fire, or injury occurred - the defect was discovered as a non-functioning driver airbag. I am reporting this because the failure mode appears related to the steering column module / clock spring / driver airbag circuit addressed in NHTSA recall 17V627 (MB campaign 2017110011), for which this VIN is not included; this vehicle was produced after the recall's stated production cutoff. Three dealership managers stated in writing that the failure was mechanical and unrelated to the electrical event, which is inconsistent with their own technician's documented electrical root cause. The dealership's Service Director stated he could not determine why the failure occurred. Mercedes-Benz USA (case 24257427) has not performed any engineering or product safety review of this failure. I request that NHTSA evaluate whether steering column module / driver airbag circuit failures are occurring in vehicles built after the 17V627 production cutoff.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11762814September 8, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I am writing to formally submit an urgent safety escalation and Lemon Law notice regarding my 2026 GLA 250, purchased brand new on February 26, 2026, as a replacement vehicle following the severe operational disruptions associated with the EQB 300 recall. As a parent of a family member with a disability, reliable and secure transportation is an absolute necessity. I selected the Mercedes-Benz brand based on its reputation for engineering integrity and safety. Regrettably, the vehicle delivered has proven to be mechanically hazardous and operationally compromised. Since taking delivery, the vehicle has experienced the following recurring, catastrophic failures: • Multiple recurrent check engine warnings. • Three separate instances of complete failure to shift while actively operating in traffic. • Four complete starting failures accompanied by a permanent black screen. • Two total blackouts of the entire instrument cluster, odometers, and operational systems while in motion, with the most recent occurrence taking place on September 4, 2026.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11762883September 8, 2026
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK
The contact owns a 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLA250. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and groceries were being placed inside the trunk, the hatch unexpectedly closed. The hatch struck the contact on the head and failed to raise up. The contact moved out of the way before the hatch completely closed. The contact was traumatized by the failure and was taking aspirin for the pain. The dealer was contacted but the vehicle was not yet diagnosed. The manufacturer was contacted by phone and was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 1,600.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11760508August 28, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My 2016 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 (VIN: [XXX]) has a check engine light for code P052E, which points to a broken crankcase ventilation valve. My car has only 59,000 miles on it, but this same exact part already broke once before and was replaced under the original warranty. Now, the replacement part has failed too. This proves the part is defective and keeps breaking. Mercedes-Benz already knows this part is defective. They gave a free 15-year or 150,000-mile extended warranty to fix this exact issue for free on the C-Class and other longitudinal M274 engine platforms. However, they are actively denying coverage for my CLA 250's M270 engine variant, despite the two vehicles sharing nearly identical engine blocks, matching subcomponents, and the exact same broken part. Because of this unfair engine code technicality, Mercedes-Benz is forcing CLA owners to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket for a recurring problem they fix for free on a C-Class. I urge the NHTSA to look into this engine loophole and force Mercedes-Benz to include the M270 engine variants under the 15-year/150,000-mile free repair program. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11759718August 26, 2026
SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE:BODY
During an inspection, an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealership discovered severe corrosion and perforation, including holes, in the rear subframe of my 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA. There were no warning lights or messages alerting us to the condition before it was discovered. The dealership confirmed that the subframe requires replacement and estimated the repair at approximately $6,000. The vehicle has approximately 140,000 miles. The rear subframe is a structural component that supports suspension components. Its advanced corrosion and perforation create concern that it could weaken or fail while the vehicle is being driven, potentially affecting vehicle stability and control. The vehicle and affected component are available for inspection upon request, and photographs of the corrosion and holes are available. Mercedes-Benz USA was notified of the problem but has not agreed to cover the repair. Mercedes-Benz has issued a 20-year/unlimited-mile extended warranty for corrosion with perforation of rear subframes on several other Mercedes-Benz models, but the GLA is not currently included. I am reporting this because the same type of premature structural subframe corrosion appears to be occurring in this vehicle and may present a safety defect affecting other GLA owners.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11758450August 21, 2026
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN
See attached document for complaint
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11757781August 18, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I request that NHTSA investigate whether 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 vehicles and other H247 vehicles are susceptible to foreign-material intrusion into the HVAC blower system and whether the existing intake grille/sealing design adequately prevents debris from reaching and damaging the blower motor. I further request that NHTSA determine whether Mercedes-Benz has received additional warranty claims, dealer repair records, blower-motor replacements, customer complaints, or other reports involving foreign material entering the blower assembly, abnormal blower noise, blower imbalance, or blower-motor failure.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11757199August 15, 2026
SEATS, LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION
A bicyclist claims I almost ran him over. I didn’t hit him, but he fell over and made sued my insurance company. He claims he was at the right side of my car as I was merging towards the right to make a turn. If he was indeed in my blind spot, then it’s important to note that the blind spot assist didn’t alarm and that the design of the passenger seat does create a blind spot, especially for someone of short stature since I cannot see over the passenger seat. To avoid anything like this, I’ve had to remove the passenger headrest, it even at the lowest to the ground setting, the top of the passenger seat is higher than the rear passenger window, but at least the headrest no longer obstructs the view over my shoulder
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

← Back to Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class