2020 Mercedes-Benz A 220 Owner Complaints

While stopped at a red light, my 2020 Mercedes-Benz A220 unexpectedly shut off and shifted into Neutral without warning. All warning lights illuminated on the dashboard, and a message instructed me to release the brake and restart the engine. The vehicle restarted, but this has now happened twice. The check engine light remains illuminated most of the time. This unexpected engine shutdown creates a safety hazard because the vehicle loses power unexpectedly while in traffic. If this were to occur while crossing an intersection or during other traffic conditions, it could increase the risk of a crash. In March 2023, an independent repair facility diagnosed all four fuel injectors as leaking fuel through the electrical connections, causing circuit problems, and warned there was a fuel leak. All four fuel injectors were replaced. In October 2023, a Mercedes-Benz dealership diagnosed rough idle, misfires, lean mixture fault codes, and excessive leakage in cylinder #4. Mercedes replaced the entire cylinder head under warranty. The vehicle is now experiencing unexpected engine stalls despite these previous repairs. I am submitting this complaint because I believe the repeated engine-related failures and unexpected stalling present a potential safety concern. I am aware of a Mercedes recall involving fuel system components on certain A220 vehicles. My VIN is not included, but I am reporting this because my vehicle has experienced repeated fuel- and engine-related failures and now unexpectedly stalls.

NHTSA ID

11753098

Incident

Jul 26, 2026

The car shakes above 60mph

NHTSA ID

11743938

Incident

Aug 15, 2022

While driving at highway speed, I experienced a sudden loss of engine power with no warning. This created an immediate safety hazard for myself and other drivers. The vehicle was diagnosed by Mercedes-Benz of Georgetown as requiring a full engine replacement (~$19,000). This failure is consistent with a known defect in the 2.0L M260 engine used in the 2020 A220, involving premature wear of exhaust valve seat rings and valve guides, causing leaking valves, loss of compression, and catastrophic engine failure. Mercedes-Benz of Georgetown performed a warranty cylinder head replacement on this same engine just five months prior (12/09/2025). The vehicle has been serviced primarily at the authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer, driven under 10,000 miles/year, and purchased new in January 2020. Mercedes-Benz USA has acknowledged the defect by covering engine parts but is refusing to cover $6,733.38 in labor costs, leaving me with a $5,000 out-of-pocket expense for their manufacturing defect. Case Number: 22307804.”

NHTSA ID

11742453

Incident

May 15, 2026

There was a rear camera recall in 2022 which I had fixed they did a software upgrade. The EXACT same issue has returned . It’s really dangerous when backing out of spaces and I can’t see. I took to dealership and they claim my license plate cover is the issue however even without the cover the exact problem with camera exists it is the same failure

NHTSA ID

11695461

Incident

Oct 21, 2025

My 2020 Mercedes-Benz A220 experienced the same defect described in NHTSA Recall 21V961000 (fuel injector leakage and potential fire hazard). In March 2023, my vehicle was diagnosed with leaking fuel injectors that were causing fuel to leak back through electrical connections, creating circuit issues and a fire risk. I paid $2,902.65 out-of-pocket at a certified service center to have all four OEM fuel injectors replaced (invoice available). Later, I took my car to a Mercedes-Benz dealership, where they performed additional work on the fuel injector system at no cost to me. The service advisor stated that this was covered under a recall/service campaign related to the fuel injector defect. This shows Mercedes-Benz has already acknowledged that my car was affected by the exact same issue covered under Recall 21V961000. However, I was told my VIN [XXX] ) is not officially included in the recall population, and Mercedes-Benz USA has declined to reimburse me for the $2,800+ repair. I believe my vehicle should have been included in the recall population and request that NHTSA review whether the recall scope should be expanded. I also request reimbursement for the repair costs I incurred prior to Mercedes-Benz performing the recall-related fix for free. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11687627

Incident

Mar 14, 2023

August 2024 the dealership had my vehicle for over a month for major engine repairs after the motor mount snapped on the freeway and since then I only drove 3661 miles and I’m now convinced that they miss diagnosed and missed something It never drove the same after so on June 24th I was driving home and the engine seized and almost ejected me from the vehicle and I thank god for seatbelts The car was towed to the dealership and no loaner nor communication for 3 weeks Then tried to charge me $5000 then $3500 to do a teardown after telling me a week ago that I have catastrophic engine failure that is not fixable at all Last Thursday and Friday they did teardown to see what caused this and I am covered under warranty The service manager called me yesterday morning stating it is the 2 rod bearing that caused bright gold metal shavings in my engine oil that caused a catastrophic engine failure I requested that the service manager send me the written report so I can see He said nope it’s internal between him and Mercedes USA 🇺🇸 I explained I am the rightful owner of this vehicle and I have the right to know but more importantly I am scared and feel very unsafe to drive that vehicle again especially after the 2 times in under a year and now what about my transmission and other major components of my car Also I know they will report this car as a salvage or engine replacement under warranty on carfax which hurts the value of my car I did write a demand letter last night to Mercedes Benz consumer affairs and Mercedes USA 🇺🇸 to get me that information to protect my legal rights, warranty and resale value of my car Can you help N before the 2 major and catastrophic engine failure The electrical motor went out 2 x and had to be replaced Air bags The sunroof needed a complete replacement due to electrical Steering issues Suspension Major tire pressure issues

NHTSA ID

11675251

Incident

Jun 24, 2025

My 2020 Mercedes-Benz A-Class has experienced a recurring and extremely dangerous transmission malfunction beginning around 15,000 miles and continuing through 75,000 miles. While driving on both highways and main streets, the car would suddenly stall and shift itself into neutral. A warning message would appear on the dash saying “Cannot reverse – take to dealer.” The gas pedal would become unresponsive, and although I would try to shift back into Drive, the car would not move. The vehicle would slowly lose power and come to a stop in the middle of the road/highway, leaving me completely stranded in traffic with no safe way to move the car. On one occasion, I panicked while stopped in the road and attempted to switch into manual mode with paddle shifters and back to Drive — this briefly worked and allowed me to coast to a safe location. However, on the most recent and most dangerous incident, the car showed cannot reverse take to dealer the switch to “Transmission Malfunction – Stop Vehicle” and no tricks worked. I was stuck in traffic on the highway,for a few minutes unable to drive, until I turned the vehicle off and on multiple times, after which it allowed me to shift back into Drive and exit the roadway. Experiencing the worse anxiety I’ve ever felt in my life as I was just thinking I was going to get hit at full speed and die. This issue has happened multiple times and created life-threatening situations every time and emotional stress. Mercedes-Benz has acknowledged the defect by approving a manufacturer buyback, but the defect has never been fully repaired as of yet. My car is still at dealer. I am filing this complaint to alert NHTSA of this recurring and unsafe issue in the 2020 Mercedes-Benz A-Class. Other drivers may experience the same malfunction, and this could result in serious accidents or fatalities if not addressed through investigation or recall.

NHTSA ID

11674152

Incident

May 12, 2020

August 2024 Engine mount broke and almost crashed my car the dealership did this: Rear engine support replace Remove/install complete wheel Engine compartment paneling, bottom Centre remove/install The torque struts were replaced N torque strut fasteners It had 38,195 miles I had engine trouble while driving on June 24th and towed it to dealership It has 41.856 not even 3661 The brakes locked and almost ejected me from car thank god for seatbelts Towed to dealership and they tell me a week and a couple days later saying it has catastrophic engine failure They have had my car almost 2 weeks no loaner no response until I kept showing up at dealership I want a buyback or a complete replacement due to the car is unsafe to drive and I’m positive it has something to due with previous work they did or didn’t diagnose previous issue properly or used faulty parts

NHTSA ID

11671828

Incident

Jun 24, 2025

The drivetrain/shaft is causing rumbling in the vehicle when accelerating and decelerating, typically around highway speeds. after more investigation the parts used on the a220 were also used on the gle350 that were recalled for having the same issues however the a220 wasn’t recalled for those issues.

NHTSA ID

11670557

Incident

Jul 1, 2025

I used the factory installed remote start via the Mercedes me app, and within a couple of minutes the car was in flames.

NHTSA ID

11644353

Incident

Feb 18, 2025

Vehicle makes popping/clicking noise when turning the steering wheel. Is worse when vehicle is cold. Causes rough driving.

NHTSA ID

11637159

Incident

Jan 5, 2025

I was driving and I got coolant error on my dashboard. It came and then off. I pulled over and nothing seemed wrong with my engine. I restarted and headed home. The error was still on but the car was driving fine. I was trying to make it home. The car suddenly had all sorts of errors. It told me that my car was undrivable. I had no control over my car going 55 mph on a highway. I was luck to steer the car to the side of the road. Even when I was on the side of the road, I could not put it in park. It kept telling me my car was in danger of rolling away. I had my husband come meet me on the side of the road and he parked behind me so that my car did not roll away. I was on a slight incline on 32. We then waited for a tow truck. During that time, I tried to restart my car - only for it to give me undriveable, blind spot assist inoperative, errors. I could remember all of them. The tow truck guy had no idea what was going on either. My car spent 22 days at the dealership. It took them days to figure out what might be going on. Obviously the PMC module was bad. But why? They think condensation or leak from the AC hose had caused this problem. They found corrosion on the wire harness connector to PCM and on the PMC pins. They replaced the PMC and cleaned the pins. They got the car running - however, a week later, the same issue started happening. Now my battery said is was not charging. We figured it was time to change the battery anyway but it still will not turn on. I just had a full 50k service complete at this dealership in May 2024 There may be further damage to the system that the dealer realized. My car still does not run and I don't feel safe driving it when I can power it up.

NHTSA ID

11604898

Incident

Jun 5, 2024

I went to OffLease Only to purchase a vehicle and when I got there it was already a hot day which is expected because it was summer time but I didn't expect to be there for that long. The inventory is 800+ which means you're searching for a while before coming across anything. When we finally got done and went to finance I was just ready to go. I didn't realize how high the interest rate was especially compared to my previous loan. My credit was run an extensive amount of times also. Just found out the accident the vehicle was in is now causing issues to the car and it's value. I would like for OffLease to pay off the remaining balance on the vehicle and also return all the payments made on the vehicle. Also, have the title sent over to me when it's all done.

NHTSA ID

11542951

Incident

Jul 28, 2022

The first incident: upon departing from our location and pulling out onto the highway, the car's check engine light appeared, and immediately went into "limp mode." This occurrence caused the car to not go over 9 miles per hour. After this occurred, we placed the hazard lights on immediately to find a safe place to pull over to. Being that this incident occurred very suddenly, oncoming traffic was forced to go around us, thus placing us unnecessarily in harm's way. After arriving to a safe location, MBUSA Roadside Assistance was notified, and the car was then towed back (over 350 miles) to the certified dealership for repair. After inspection, the cause was determined to be a malfunction in the software of the car. The check engine light was reset, and the car was returned. Three weeks later, the check engine light returned without warning. The car accelerates very roughly and slowly, thus placing us in danger as we do not know if the car is going to go into "limp mode" at any given moment. After being towed to the same certified dealership, we were told it was a "software malfunction" for the fuel pressure system. We were explicitly told that there is NO FIX for the fuel pressure sensor, and that each time this occurs, we are to have it brought into the dealership for the code to be erased and the car to be re-released to us, each time stating the "vehicle is safe to drive," which is incorrect. The car has been inspected 3 times within the past 90 days, 2 of those times resulting in a tow to the dealership. MBUSA is aware of the issue, but states they cannot fix it. This hazardous issue places us at risk due to the fact the sensor can go back out at any time without any warning, resulting in an involuntary loss of control of the vehicle placing our lives and others' lives at stake. MBUSA Headquarters has been notified of the issue twice with the vehicle as we have requested assistance with this, but have received no help, guidance, or resolutions.

NHTSA ID

11541786

Incident

Jun 11, 2023

The contact owns a 2020 Mercedes-Benz A220. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V354000 (Back Over Prevention, Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. 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. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID

11503372

Incident

Jan 24, 2023

The contact owns a 2020 Mercedes-Benz A220. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V354000 (Back Over Prevention, Electrical System), 21V990000 (Suspension, Steering), and 22V232000 (Back Over Prevention) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID

11469357

Incident

May 14, 2021

On 2/27/22 when I pressed the start button the digital panel tripped off. All the warning messages were on and no response. No start. When the dealer of MB of Pembroke Pines made a diagnostics they Said that the transmission software don’t communicate with the CPU of the system. This is serious safety issue because what if is happened while the car is running in a highway? Or in an intersection? I’m scare.

NHTSA ID

11454647

Incident

Feb 27, 2022

Injured due to takers airbags

NHTSA ID

11431403

Incident

Jul 31, 2021

The contact owns a 2020 Mercedes-Benz A220. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 21V354000 (Back Over Prevention, Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact called the local dealer who stated that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID

11428577

Incident

Aug 10, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 MERCEDES-BENZ A220. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 21V058000 (COMMUNICATION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF WESLEY CHAPEL (2383 WILLOW OAK DR, WESLEY CHAPEL, FL 33544, (813)200-7788) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. 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. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11404822

Incident

Mar 22, 2021