Mercedes BENZ GLA Class Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls β NHTSA data
Comparing used Mercedes BENZ GLA Class options? We analyzed 10 model years (2017β2026) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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Model-year trends show patterns β they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.
- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Mercedes BENZ GLA Class has 152 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls across model years 2017β2026. The most reported issue area is ENGINE. 2018 drew the most complaints; 2022 drew the fewest.
- Make
- Mercedes BENZ
- Model
- GLA Class
- Model years analyzed
- 2017β2026 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 152
- Safety recall campaigns
- 0
- Crash-related complaints
- 7
- Fire-related complaints
- 2
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2018 (49 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2022 (4 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- ENGINE
- Reliability signal
- Poor
By model year
Mercedes BENZ GLA Class: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used β lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record β lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
NCAP crash test ratings for this model are not yet loaded or this vehicle was not tested in the years analyzed. NHTSA tests a subset of new vehicles each year. Check nhtsa.gov/ratings directly for the latest results.
What the complaint data suggests
PoorThe MERCEDES BENZ GLA CLASS has 152 NHTSA complaints and 0 recalls on record. 7 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 152 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 0 federal recall campaigns
- 7 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Aug 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
0 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
No NHTSA recalls were found in our database for this model. Always verify open recalls using your specific VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2017β2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 152 NHTSA complaints β these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
152 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
The emergency braking system keeps coming on every time I go to drive, my car automatically shifts into neutral gear when driving and I have an error message saying that I canβt reverse. My seat will Not go further back and I have an air bag issue light
The contact owns aΒ 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission inadvertently shifted to neutral(N), causing a loss of drive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated, and the message "See Dealer" was displayed. The vehicle was restarted and driven to the residence. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V033000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximatelyΒ 39,000.
The contact owns a 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLA250. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 70 MPH, several unknown warnings illuminated on the instrument cluster. The contact stated that upon depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond while the engine revved. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and turned the vehicle off. Upon restarting the vehicle, no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to drive to the destination without further incidents. The contact stated that the vehicle had been experiencing the failure intermittently. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the spark plugs and coils needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact had called an independent mechanic, who advised that the failure was related to the transmission. Upon researching online, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V033000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact back to the dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was 145,495.
I was driving my vehicle and it shifted into neutral and would not go back into gear until I pulled over to side of the road, turned it off and back on. A check engine light came on when I restarted the vehicle and I took the vehicle to the dealership for diagnosis. They told me they couldn't find an issue and reset the check engine light. A week later, I was driving on the freeway and it shifted into neutral again at 70 miles an hour. Luckily, I was in the right hand lane and was able to coast to the side. At that point I started looking online to see if others had this issue and came across this: Campaign No. : 2021020038 NHTSA ID: 21V033 Campaign Desc. : Replace Transmission Control Unit 21P5495403 Which is exactly what is happening to my vehicle
The contact owns a 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLA250. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal fuel odor entering the cabin of the vehicle. The contact stated that while the vehicle was started, the abnormal fuel odor was also on the outside of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed; however, the mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to several other independent mechanics; however, the failure could not be replicated. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. In addition, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign: 21V961000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
My turn signals are not working and warnings are showing up on my dashboard. My pillars are both wet on the drivers side and passenger side. My speed odometer and tachodometer are not working. The dash board iis showing the brake and high beams are on but they aren't on. I have fog on the front window when I get in the car. This situation is of major concern for my safety. I am not certain that the air bags would work? I refuse to drive this vehicle. I called Mercedes Benz in Wilmington, NC and I can't get an appointment until October 13th. I see in the Mercedes Benz recall that the sun roof and electrical problem were recalled.in 2019. I have a Mercedes Benz GLA 250 2019 and that was in the article. Mercedes told me my vin number was not included in the recall. I have the exact same problems as the other vehicles that were recalled. I appreciate your help in this matter to be put on the recall list. This is a major recall issue. I am in fear for my safety to drive with all the electric issues that exist as a part of this recall. Please notify me once this is approved so that I can call my dealership and have this issue resolved. I appreciate your immediate attention to this matter as this is my only transportation. Thank you for your attention in this matter [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Read 14 more owner reports
Structure body: roof and pillars affected Recall ID: 450977 year 2014- 2020 NHTSA campaign # 23v854000 Vehicle affected 2,976 A detached roof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash. The vehicle is making a loud noise from the panoramic soon roof.
The ABS Sensor light, engine light, anti skid light and 4 matic malfunction, transmission malfunction all lit up on my dashboard on Tuesday July 22, 2025. The stearing would lock up and the brakes would not break it also shifted gears into neutral. The dashboard finally told me in bold red letters (transmission malfunction STOP). It would do this then all the lights would go away. I thought it may have just been the battery since I hardly drive the car. The shop cleared out all the malfunctions and re drove it and they said it appeared fine but the next day (Wednesday) it acted up again and that is when I got the transmission malfunction STOP warning on the dashboard. I pulled over and called the shop to come tow my car. By Thursday they said they couldn't diagnose or fix the problem but stated it had to do with the Transmission and to have it towed to the Mercedes Benz dealership. I had it towed to the Morristown, NJ Mercedes Benz service dept and they stated that it appears that it is the Transmission Valve Body. I spoke with Mercedes this morning (July 28, 2025) and that is when I learned it was the Transmission Valve Body and that it is going to cost me $4,000.00 plus labor. This makes no sense as the car has less than 26,000 miles on it. I researched a bit on this and found that there may have been a recall for this car but I was never notified of the recall. When the service rep told me that he was waiting to hear from corporate on this before he could give me an exact cost (this was after the technician stated what the issue was). I got suspicious as why would they need to contact corporate to figure out the cost of the repair. I could have gotten into a really bad accident if I was on a major road going 65mph.
The contact owns a 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLA250. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds and while parked, the contact observed a gasoline odor in the cabin of the vehicle and outside the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the fuel injector and fuel rails needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 58,000.
Clock spring broke
The contact owns a 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLA250. While the contact's wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with crankcase vent valve failure and a block actuator. The contact was informed that the crankcase sensor valve needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 43,264.
In December 2023, the check engine light came on. The dealership said it was the rear differential. The dealership fixed the problem under warranty. In July 2024, the problem returned. The dealership said it could repeat the procedure from December, but that eventually the rear differential will need to be replaced. The dealership said that only replacing the rear differential will fix the problem for good. Obviously, MB recognized the problem and upgraded the software and whatever else was wrong with the current rear differential. The car is now out of warranty. Clearly, MB knew of the problem and chose to direct it's dealerships to use stop-gap measures that do not fix the problem, until the rear differential must be replaced, at the owner's expense, with an upgraded rear differential. It is dangerous to drive the vehicle with a faulty rear differential.
Noise in rear differential, had dealership where I purchased vehicle flush & change the fluid in rear differential. Tech stated it will need to be replaced. Vehicle has 75,000. Research has numerous problems with this issue.
The contact owns a 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLA250. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at the dealer for a routine oil change, the contact was informed that the differential was fractured. The dealer provided a cost for the repair however, the vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to a used car dealer and to an independent mechanic, where the same assessment was made. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was referred to the manufacturer for assistance in repairing the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.
The contact owns a 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLA250. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission inadvertently shifted into neutral(N). No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V033000 (Power Train) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.
The contact owns a 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLA250. The contact stated that there was water leaking from all four grab handles above the front and rear driver's and passenger's side seats. Upon inspection, the contact noticed water stains around the sunroof and headliner. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V912000 (Visibility, Air Bags); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
The contact owns a 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLA250. The contact stated that while the vehicle was idling, there was an abnormally strong fuel odor inside and outside of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that fuel was leaking from the fuel rails at the fuel injectors. The mechanic related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V961000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 61,000.
The contact owns a 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLA250. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality and the vehicle independently turned off. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and restarted the vehicle. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic. The contact was informed that the front driverβs side wheel speed sensor needed to be replaced. The wheel speed sensor was replaced; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and determined that the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 29,000.
The contact owns a 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLA250. The contact stated that while his wife was driving 25 MPH, the transmission inadvertently shifted into neutral(N). The Reverse Inoperative message was displayed. The contact's wife turned off and restarted the vehicle before driving to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V033000 (Power Train) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was unknown.
The contact owns a 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLA250. The contact stated that while his son was driving approximately 55 MPH, the transmission erroneously shifted to neutral causing the vehicle to lose motive power and stall. Moments later the vehicle was restarted, and the vehicle operated normally. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V033000 (Power Train). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 50,000. The contact stated that the vehicle shifts into neutral at highway speeds and it shows a transmission error.
Showing 20 of 152 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Mercedes BENZ GLA Class
These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations β hereβs what each number actually tells you about a used Mercedes BENZ GLA Class, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is β but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Mercedes BENZ GLA Class has 152 complaints on record across 10 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Mercedes BENZ GLA Class has 0 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 7 of the Mercedes BENZ GLA Class's 152 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions β a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable β simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Mercedes BENZ GLA Class vehicles on the road β not any specific car. Two Mercedes BENZ GLA Class vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage β NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Mercedes BENZ GLA Class has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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Mercedes BENZ GLA Class reliability β frequently asked questions
Is the Mercedes BENZ GLA Class reliable?
Poor. The Mercedes BENZ GLA Class has 152 NHTSA owner complaints and 0 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is ENGINE. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Mercedes BENZ GLA Class years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2018 (49 complaints), 2017 (33 complaints), 2019 (29 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common Mercedes BENZ GLA Class problems?
Top reported issues: ENGINE (35 complaints); UNKNOWN OR OTHER (31 complaints); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (29 complaints).
Does the Mercedes BENZ GLA Class have recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns are currently on record for the Mercedes BENZ GLA Class. Always verify with a VIN check as recalls can be added at any time.