Mercedes-Benz CLA250 Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Mercedes-Benz CLA250 model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 2012 drew the fewest (7) and the 2014 the most (179).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 | 0 | Structure | — | 29 |
| 2025 Still collecting reports |
1 | 0 | Back over prevention | — | 30 |
| 2024 Still collecting reports |
2 | 0 | Unknown or other | — | 30 |
| 2023 | 6 | 0 | Unknown or other | — | 29 |
| 2012 Among the fewest complaints |
7 | 0 | Air bags | — | — |
| 2021 Among the fewest complaints |
7 | 5 | Fuel/propulsion system | — | 29 |
| 2013 Among the fewest complaints |
9 | 0 | Air bags | — | — |
| 2020 | 20 | 11 | Electrical system | — | 28 |
| 2019 | 22 | 6 | Engine | — | 29 |
| 2017 | 27 | 10 | Electrical system | — | 29 |
| 2018 | 40 | 9 | Electrical system | — | 29 |
| 2015 Among the most complaints |
61 | 7 | Unknown or other | — | 30 |
| 2016 Among the most complaints |
66 | 8 | Unknown or other | — | 30 |
| 2014 Among the most complaints |
179 | 6 | Engine | — | 30 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Mercedes-Benz CLA250 years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA250: 179 complaints
Most-reported: Engine 66 (37%); Electrical system 44 (25%); Vehicle speed control 36 (20%).
Reports mention 5 crashes, 3 fires, 6 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 17,515 miles. 6 recall campaigns listed.
2016 Mercedes-Benz CLA250: 66 complaints
Most-reported: Engine 15 (23%); Air bags 13 (20%); Electrical system 8 (12%).
Reports mention 5 crashes, 1 fire, 4 injuries, 1 death. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 37,000 miles. 8 recall campaigns listed.
2015 Mercedes-Benz CLA250: 61 complaints
Most-reported: Engine 14 (23%); Air bags 8 (13%); Structure 7 (11%).
Reports mention 5 crashes, 4 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 37,800 miles. 7 recall campaigns listed.
The Mercedes-Benz CLA250 years with the fewest complaints
2012 Mercedes-Benz CLA250: 7 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 3 (43%); Engine 3 (43%); Electrical system 2 (29%).
Reports mention 1 crash, 1 injury. 0 recall campaigns listed.
2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA250: 7 complaints
Most-reported: Fuel/propulsion system 2 (29%); Vehicle speed control 2 (29%); Engine 1 (14%).
Reports mention 1 crash, 1 injury. 5 recall campaigns listed.
2013 Mercedes-Benz CLA250: 9 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 5 (56%); Electrical system 1 (11%); Electronic stability control 1 (11%).
0 recall campaigns listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Mercedes-Benz CLA250 owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2024 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2023 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2022 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2021 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2020 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2019 | 22 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2018 | 40 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2017 | 27 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 39,381 |
| 2016 | 66 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 37,000 |
| 2015 | 61 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 37,800 |
| 2014 | 179 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 17,515 |
| 2013 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2012 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Mercedes-Benz CLA250 recalls
- Inaccurate Vehicle Location for Emergency Services (2016–2021 model years; 1,292,258 vehicles across all models; filed Feb 2021; 21V058000)
- Inadvertent Driver Air Bag Deployment (2014–2018 model years; 495,290 vehicles across all models; filed Oct 2017; 17V627000)
- Rearview Camera Image May Not Display/FMVSS 111 (2020–2021 model years; 343,191 vehicles across all models; filed May 2021; 21V354000)
- Rollaway Risk from Door Switch Failure (2020–2021 model years; 310,667 vehicles across all models; filed Jul 2026; 26V481000)
- Starting Current Limiter may Overheat (2015–2017 model years; 307,629 vehicles across all models; filed Feb 2017; 17V114000)
All 27 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 recall campaigns · Mercedes-Benz CLA250 problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Mercedes-Benz CLA250 years FAQ
Which Mercedes-Benz CLA250 year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 2012 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (7). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Mercedes-Benz CLA250 years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 2014, 2016 and 2015 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the engine. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Mercedes-Benz CLA250 problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the engine (120 of 448 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Mercedes-Benz CLA250 have?
NHTSA lists 27 recall campaigns covering the Mercedes-Benz CLA250. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Mercedes-Benz CLA250 recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.