2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 Powertrain (other) Problems

Please let me preface this by saying that I am a certified aircraft mechanic and have a good working knowledge of cars. My vehicle had NO prior indications, symptoms or abnormalities! This was completely out of the blue. Absolutely no warning that this was going to happen. The transmission of my 2014 CLA 250 Base model, while operating at 65mph on the interstate, all on its own, went into neutral and now will not engage into Drive. Initially following this incident, as I dogged the other vehicles on the interstate and coasted to the emergency lane, there were the following warning lights: ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, PARKING BRAKE accompanied with the alerts….PRE-SAFE Functions Limited, ABS/TRACTION CONTROL Currently Unavailable See O.M., Parking Brake See O.M. I then took it to the MB dealership and after they attempted transmission adaptation (which was not successful) they showed me the following fault codes: 079200-RPM sensor 1 has a malfunction, 287C00-Adaptation was not completed successfully. The alerts now state….Service Required: Do Not Shift Gears, visit dealer. The dealer wanted to change the transmission. I refused. I have had zero noticeable issues with the transmission with 72,000 miles. I had the transmission fluid replaced at 65,000 miles. I baby the car. I shouldn’t need to explain the dangers of a vehicle, while driving, randomly shifting into neutral, and not being able to be shifted back into Drive. I attempted all possible means of shifting the automatic transmission into drive, including the use of manual gear selection, and none of them worked, even after shutting the vehicle off and restarting multiple times. This is an extremely DANGEROUS malfunction!!

NHTSA ID

11549049

Incident

Sep 4, 2023

While driving the transmission slips into neutral. Must come to a complete stop and turn off the car then turn it on again to shift into gear.

NHTSA ID

11484977

Incident

Jan 19, 2022

I just got the vehicle it’s losing power already, I was driving up a hill as a school bus was behind me, and my car started losing power and rolling back. I have a transmission issue they sold it this way also electrical.

NHTSA ID

11469754

Incident

Jun 2, 2022

WHILE SITTING AT A RED LIGHT, THE VEHICLE WILL PUT ITSELF INTO NEUTRAL. IT'S HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES AND WE'VE BROUGHT THE CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP EACH TIME IT'S HAPPENED YET IT STILL HASN'T BEEN FIXED. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AND MERCEDES NEEDS TO LOOK INTO A FIX ASAP BEFORE THEY HAVE A LAWSUIT ON THEIR HANDS. IN ADDITION, THE ENTIRE ENGINE HAS ALREADY HAD TO BE REPLACED! SO FAR, TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE ABOUT THE VEHICLE PUTTING ITSELF INTO NEUTRAL THE DEALERSHIP DID A TRANSMISSION CONTROL UPDATE AND REPLACED THE VALVE BODY. IT'S NOW BACK FOR A THIRD TIME AT THE DEALERSHIP AND WE'VE TOLD THEM THAT WE AREN'T PICKING IT BACK UP UNTIL THEY CAN GUARANTEE TEE THE ISSUE HAS BEEN FIXED. WHEN THE VEHICLE PUTS ITSELF IN NUETRAL THE 'PRE-SAFE FUNCTION LIMITED' APPEARS ON THE DASH. ALSO, IT'S HARD TO RECREATE THE ISSUE AS IT ONLY APPEARS RANDOMLY.

NHTSA ID

11353256

Incident

Aug 19, 2020

Mileage

84,000 mi

ON THIS DAY, I WAS NEARLY KILLED IN MY 2014 MERCEDES CLA250 4MATIC THAT STALLED ON A HIGHWAY IN NEW YORK CITY. THE CAR HAS ROUGHLY 40,300 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. I WAS DRIVING ON THE BROOKLYN QUEENS EXPRESSWAY AT 4:00AM. THE CAR'S MOTOR STALLED AND THE CAR CAME TO A STOP IN THE LEFT LANE. THERE WERE NO SHOULDERS. I ATTEMPTED TO GET THE CAR RESTARTED BUT ALL I GOT WERE FLASHING DASHBOARD LIGHTS. I ATTEMPTED TO PUT UP A WARNING TRIANGLE TO THE REAR OF THE CAR, BUT THE TRAFFIC WAS MOVING TOO QUICKLY FOR ME TO SAFELY DO THAT. I SAT IN MY CAR AND BUCKLED MY SEAT BELT. I CALLED 911 TO ANNOUNCE MY EMERGENCY AND I CONTACTED MY CAR'S INSURER FOR A TOW TRUCK (THEY PROVIDE SUCH A SERVICE). WITHIN MOMENTS, A TOYOTA WITH TLC PLATES SMASHED INTO MY CAR SENDING ME INTO THE BARRIER. THE REAR OF THE CAR WAS BROKEN AND DEFORMED. THE FRONT OF THE CAR IS OKAY, BUT THE APPEARANCE OF THE REAR IS SUCH THAT I BELIEVE I LOST MY CAR. I READ ONLINE THAT THIS MODEL HAS A STALLING PROBLEM AND THAT OTHERS HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS. I WAS ONE OF THE UNLUCKY OWNERS AND I WILL BE SUING. THIS CAR'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND I AM INJURED AND BEING TREATED IN A HOSPITAL.

NHTSA ID

11340450

Incident

Jul 20, 2020

Mileage

40,300 mi

WHILE TRAVELING WITH MY WIFE AND NEWBORN ON HIGHWAY 64 MY 2014 CLA MB CUT OFF( WHILE IN MOTION ) AND GAVE A CODE 'DO NOT SHIFT GEARS 'VISIT DEALER. SOMEHOW THE CAR SWITCH TO NETURAL WHILE I COAST THE CAR TO A SAFE EDGE OF THE ROAD. WE WERE TERRIFIED!! NEXT IT GAVE A TRANSMISSION CODE IN RED TO DO NOT SHIFT VISIT DEALER. I'M NOT SURE IF ANY RECALLS BUT THIS IS A SAFETY THAT NEEDS ATTENTION!!

NHTSA ID

11340128

Incident

Jul 18, 2020

Mileage

58,020 mi

THERE IS A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. MULTIPLE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOPS HAVE REPORTED THIS. MERCEDES BENZ HAS AN INTERNAL "SERVICE TECHNICAL BULLETINS" TO THEIR DEALERS ON THIS.ISSUES. THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS ON THIS ON DIFFERENT FORUMS ON MERCEDES CARS.

NHTSA ID

11132180

Incident

Jun 15, 2018

Mileage

53,000 mi

OVER A YEAR I AM COMPLAINING THAT I AM GETTING UNUSUAL NOISE FROM MY CAR. MERCEDES BENZ SILVER SPRING TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE IT HAS LOW PROFILE TIRE AND RIMS GET BEND FROM INSIDE CAUSING THE NOISE. I TOOK THEIR WORD BUT ISSUE REMAIN THERE. I JUST TOOK THE CAR FOR OTHER ISSUE AND TOLD THE SERVICE MANAGER LOOK INTO THE ISSUE AND THEY CAME BACK WITH ISSUE 'SPLIT DIFFERENTIAL ISSUE' IN THE CAR WHICH WILL COST AROUND $4100.00. I DID INTERNET SEARCH AND FIND OUT THAT THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE WHO CLA 250 IN 2014 GOT THE EXACT ISSUE. I OWN CARS FOR SO MANY YEARS BUT NEVER HEARD ANYBODY HAVE SIMILAR ISSUE. MERCEDES IS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ID

11098772

Incident

May 22, 2018

WHEN L DRIVE, SUDENTLY THE PRE SAFE MALFUNCTION ESP COME UP IN MY DASH, AND L LOST MY ACCELERATION IMMEDIATLY L PULL MY CAR OVER THE SIDEWALK.UNTIL NOW L STILL GET THE SAME PROBLEM. I WENT TO 3 MECANIC SHOP, THEY CAN NOT DO NOTHING. ITS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE A CAR LIKE THAT.

NHTSA ID

11072817

Incident

Oct 5, 2017

I WAS GETTING OFF WORK AND I WAS ABOUT TO GET OUT OF THE GARAGE AND I DROVE FOR ABOUT 100 YARDS AND I GET THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, POWER TERAIN LIGHT ON SAYING DISABLED AND ON THE DASHBOARD IT SAID INOPERATIVE SEE OPERATORS MANUAL AND ALSO PRE_SAFE FUNCTIONS LIMITED. IT WAS GOING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THESE TWO. WHEN I WAS DRIVING GOING ABOUT 5MPH, THE CAR WOULD SPEED UP BY ITSELF WITHOUT ME TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL, THEN IT WOULD SLOW DOWN AND SPEED UP AGAIN. IT WAS LIKE I WAS LEARNING TO DRIVING STICK SHIFT, STOP AND GO, EXCEPT THE CAR WAS DOING IT BY ITSELF. THEN I PARKED THE CAR, AND THE ARROW IN TACHOMETER WAS GOING UP AND DOWN. IT WOULD GO TO 1.5 AND THEN DROP TO .5 EVERY SECOND OR SO. THEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS AND FLOORED IT WHILE I HAD IT ON PARK AND IT DID NOTHING. I SHUT IT OFF AND STARTED IT AGAIN TO SEE MAYBE IT WOULD GET FIXED BUT IT DIDN'T. I LEFT THE CAR THERE OVERNIGHT AND THE NEXT MORNING WHEN THE TOW TRUCK CAME I STARTED IT, AND ONLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON, EVERYTHING ELSE WAS GONE. I DROVE IT FOR ABOUT 500 YARD TO GET IT OUT OF THE GARAGE TO MAKE IT EASIER TO TOW. I HAVE HEARD MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAD SOME ISSUES WITH 2014 CLA 250

NHTSA ID

10950449

Incident

Feb 8, 2017

Mileage

1 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 MERCEDES-BENZ CLA250. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE BRAKE, ESC, AND MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE ABOUT WHAT PART WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ID

10884868

Incident

Apr 1, 2016

Mileage

40,000 mi

BOUGHT THE CLA 250 BRAND NEW IN 2014, VEHICLE HAS NOW TWICE GONE IN TO PRE-SAFE MODE AND INOPERATIVE MODE WHILE DRIVING. THE CAR SWITCHES TO NEUTRAL AS I AM DRIVING AND THEN REFUSES TO SHIFT IN TO DRIVE OR REVERSE LEAVING ME STRANDED IN THE STREETS ON TWO OCCASION WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED TWO VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. THE CAR ON THE SECOND TIME HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHO COULD'NT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. THERE SOLUTION WAS MORE OF A GUESS ABOUT A CPU NEEDING TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

10795198

Incident

Nov 18, 2015

Mileage

17,796 mi

THE PRE SAFE MODE HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES ON MY CLA 250 SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR LAST JANUARY. I THINK THE PRE SAFE MODE IS NOT SAFE AT ALL. ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE CAR JUST LOST POWER, NO ANY FEEDBACK WHEN I STEPPED THE GAS PEDAL, THE BEST THING IS THE BRAKE STILL WORKED. AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR, THE CAR WENT WELL BUT THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. HOWEVER, AFTER TWO DAYS, THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS OFF SO I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A CHANCE TO SHOW TO THE DEALER. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THIS CAR ON HIGH WAY, ESPECIALLY IN TRAFFIC JAM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10671213

Incident

Jan 6, 2015

VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION & THROTTLE RESPONSE IS JERKY & UNPREDICTABLE. ROTORS WENT BAD AT 5,000 MILES, BEGINNING TO GO BAD AGAIN AT 12,000. NUMEROUS UNKNOWN INTERIOR RATTLES.WINDSHIELD WIPER COMPLETELY FLEW OFF VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN - VISIBILITY INSTANTLY REDUCED TO NEAR-ZERO. ON TWO OCCASIONS, THE CAR DISPLAYED "PRE-SAFE FUNCTIONS LIMITED/ESP INOP" MESSAGE FOLLOWED BY ENGINE IMMEDIATELY LOSING POWER ON FREEWAY, WHICH COULD HAVE ENDED VERY BADLY. NOT ONLY IS THIS VEHICLE OF POOR QUALITY, IT IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING PURSUING STATE LEMON LAW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10669906

Incident

Dec 31, 2014

Mileage

13,000 mi

PULLING OUT INTO A BUSY TWO LANE HIGHWAY THE3 CAR WENT INTO "PRE-SAFE MODE." THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING LEAVING ME STRANDED IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE DRIVE OF THE OTHER CAR THANKFULLY WAS PAYING ATTENTION AND HIT HIS BRAKES. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY PAINFUL INCIDENT. TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT MERCEDES HAS NO ANSWER TO WHY IT IS HAPPENING. ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL A CLA 250 OWNER GETS KILLED. NO LONGER WILL LET MY WIFE DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND HAVE DEMANDED THAT MERCEDES TAKE IT BACK. VERY DISAPOINTED WITH MERCEDES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10663771

Incident

Nov 27, 2014

Mileage

13,322 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 MERCEDES CLA250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000.

NHTSA ID

10661816

Incident

Nov 26, 2014

Mileage

11,000 mi

ON OCTOBER 17, 2014, VEHICLE 'PRE SAFE FUNCTIONS LIMITED, INOPERATIVE' LIGHT CAME ON THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AT APPROXIMATELY 50-60 MPH. VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE SO COASTED TO SIDE OF INTERSTATE AND CAME TO A STOP. TRIED TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, CAR WOULD ONLY MOVE AT A FEW MPH AND THE TRANSMISSION FELT LIKE IT WAS STUCK IN THE HIGHEST GEAR. TURNED CAR OFF AND BACK ON. PROBLEM SEEMED TO RESET AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. DID NOT TAKE TO DEALERSHIP FOR THIS INCIDENT DUE TO READING ABOUT OTHERS' EXPERIENCE AND THAT DEALERSHIPS ARE UNABLE TO REPLICATE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10648491

Incident

Oct 17, 2014

Mileage

15,200 mi

I WAS DRIVING ON A MAIN ROAD WHEN SUDDENLY THE CAR SHUTS OFF COMPLETELY. I COULD NOT GET IT TO START, NOR PUT IT ON NEUTRAL GEAR, TO AT LEAST PUSH IT AWAY. A MESSAGE IN RED POPS UP ON THE SCREEN THAT SAYS "SERVICE REQUIRED, DO NOT SHIFT GEARS, VISIT DEALER". I COULD NOT PUSH THE CAR AT ALL, BECAUSE THE GEAR SHIFTED AUTOMATICALLY TO PARKING AND IT WON'T MOVE TO NEUTRAL. I WAS STUCK ON THE MAIN ROAD FOR 15 MINUTES. I WAS LUCKY NOT TO GET HIT OR RUN OVER BY THE INCOMING TRAFFIC. I CAUSED A PANIC ON THE STREET BECAUSE I WAS BLOCKING IT. FORTUNATELY, A POLICE CAR SHOWED UP, AND THE OFFICER HELPED ME BY DIVERTING THE TRAFFIC AWAY FROM ME. I HAD THE CAR CHECKED TWO MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT AT THE DEALER, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR, AND THAT THEY HAVE UPDATED ITS SOFTWARE TO THE LATEST VERSION. I HAD THE CAR TOWED BACK TO MERCEDES-BENZ NOW, AND WILL WAIT THE RESULTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10628620

Incident

Aug 26, 2014

Mileage

5,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER AND BARELY HAS ANY ACCELERATIONS. THE WARNING SIGN SAID INOP SEE OWNERS MANUAL. I HAD TO PULL OVER, RESTART CAR THEN IT WAS BACK TO NORMAL. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE AT THE EXACT SAME ROAD. I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT, MADE A LEFT TURN, DROVE ABOUT HALF A MILE THEN THIS STARTED. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS! *TR

NHTSA ID

10610627

Incident

Jul 5, 2014

Mileage

7,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 MERCEDES BENZ CLA250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS A REDUCTION IN ACCELERATION POWER AS THE 'PRE-SAFE FUNCTIONS NOT OPERABLE' WARNING MESSAGE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE REGAINED NORMAL OPERATION ONCE IT WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED. THIS FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES OVER A TWO MONTH PERIOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO RESET THE SOFTWARE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,500.

NHTSA ID

10575226

Incident

Feb 3, 2014

Mileage

3,500 mi