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2018 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
39
Latest Aug 8, 2026
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
12
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
3

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2018 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Electrical1023.3%
  • Airbags818.6%
  • Body & structure614.0%
  • Engine614.0%
  • Fuel system37.0%
  • Interior & seats24.7%
  • Powertrain (other)24.7%
  • Steering24.7%
  • Suspension12.3%
  • Visibility12.3%
  • Driver assistance12.3%
  • Other / unspecified12.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

10
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The instrument cluster gauges start giving in accurate information and the whole dash start turning on and off. I found hundreds of people posting complaints about this issue with the 2018 mercedes cla 250 but mercedes refuses to acknowledge this issue and put out a recall probably out of greed and to not loose money. This is a dangerous issue. Mercedes wants to charge people appropriately $3,000 for parts and labor to fix this issue which is ridiculous. Please look into this. There needs to be a recall. This is dangerous especially for the people that cant afford this repair.

NHTSA ID 11738287 · filed May 16, 2026

I have sent the below email over 100 times to Mercedes To whom it may concern, I am writing regarding the purchase of a CLA250 4matic in December. I had a 120 point inspection done that did not show any issues with this car. As I was driving down a dark road around 1 am, my life was thrown in danger as the command shaft shut off and I could not see the dashboard or any lights in the vehicle. I was alone and on a dark road. After sitting for 15 minutes, I was able to get a light to come on and drove to my destination. On my way home, the lights were acting erratic and the brake lights, bright lights, engine lights, gas gauge, rpm gauge and caution lights were flickering the entire time. The car had no problems starting, however this continued to happen. I parked the car for several days and after starting it again, the dashboard was black, I could not see to put it in park. I tried several days later and got the lights to come on and after driving through the light, the parking brake was thrown in place as I was driving, almost ejecting me from this vehicle. I immediately turned around and parked the car for over a week until bringing it to your service location at Atlanta South. The car put my life in danger, almost ejecting me out of the car. Thankfully I was not on the highway driving higher speeds or I would have been killed.. I am asking for Mercedes Benz to cover the entire amount for the command which I was told during service check was defective and wiring issues within the command. The cost is over $2,900. I believe this is a manufacturing defect whether you have any recalls on it or not. I will file a safety recall complaint with the NHTSA Nation vehicle recall for these vehicles of this make and model advising that you could be killed while driving this car without further recall. I have had other Mercedes benz vehicles and never had this problem. This is a matter of life or death. The car is currently parked at the dealer after inspection.

NHTSA ID 11699248 · filed Nov 13, 2025
All 10 reports naming electrical

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

8
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

After a hard impact car continued to go then when came to a stop the air bags deployed which resulted in injuring my left arm

NHTSA ID 11755695 · filed Aug 8, 2026

The contact owns a 2018 Mercedes-Benz CLA250. The contact stated that while driving and turning the steering wheel to the left, there was an abnormal clicking sound coming from the vehicle. Additionally, the electrical features on the steering wheel failed to operate as needed. The contact stated that several days later, the same failure returned with air bag and a "Front Left Malfunction - Service Required" message displayed on the instrument panel. The contact spoke to her mechanically inclined brother and was informed that the failure was likely related to a defective clock spring. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V627000 (Air Bags) ,which the contact linked to the failure. The contact went to the local dealer's website and communicated with an agent through the Live Chat feature. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID 11697599 · filed Nov 5, 2025
All 8 reports naming airbags

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

6
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

Water coming into the car through the floor

NHTSA ID 11738289 · filed May 16, 2026

Within 2 weeks after purchasing this vehicle the front stationary roof panel flew off the car. I noticed it when I parked at work in the parking lot. I do not know where the panel is. I retraced my route and did not see it anywhere. I work less than 2 miles from work with no turns. I am very concerned that the panel may cause water damage/leaking and even be a danger / damage to another drivers safety. I went to MB they said that there was no recall. They said that I should file claim to repair it. Claim and repair done be MB. NOW the same thing happened again. The panel has flown off again while I was driving on the highway around 3:00pm the panel nowhere to be found. MB said file a claim. 2 repair companies said the glue /sealant could be the issue. There were no notifications that this would happen. Pictures have been taken for both incidents. Upon referencing Vehicle Compliance & Analysis there is a recall Campaign Description: 23P2197658 NHTSA ID 23V854 I am having a difficult time getting my vehicle repaired without having to file another claim or paying for it myself.

NHTSA ID 11639023 · filed Jan 28, 2025

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

6
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

Corrosion of the fuel system (on a Flex Fuel rated vehicle that had used E85 blend regularly) causing sudden loss of power, misfires, lack of acceleration The vehicle experience sudden loss of power, multiple misfires, and potential damage to the engine. Had the vehicle been on the highway or attempting to merge with traffic this could have resulted in an accident See attached dealer diagnosis and replacement of multiple fuel injectors, fuel pump, and fuel rail. The dealer service manager stated (but did not document) that this was probably caused by using E85, despite the fact that the vehicle is rated for E85/flex fuel There were no warnings or indications prior to the incident

NHTSA ID 11722825 · filed Mar 8, 2026

P052E Check Engine light on. Same part is defective on other models that use the same parts. My car is not included in the recall.

NHTSA ID 11681776 · filed Aug 20, 2025

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

Crank venting system. Wheel looses power. Oil us getting into sensors.

NHTSA ID 11654157 · filed Apr 11, 2025

The contact owns a 2018 Mercedes-Benz CLA250. The contact stated while driving an undisclosed speed, an abnormally strong fuel odor was detected. Additionally, the fuel odor was also detected when the defroster and heat were activated. 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: 21V961000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.

NHTSA ID 11553361 · filed Nov 3, 2023

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Interior & seats

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

Water comes in the car and fills the back seat floors with water. I think its comming in from the frame.

NHTSA ID 11630127 · filed Dec 11, 2024

NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V130 REPEATED WARNING MESSAGES THAT PASSENGERS SIDE SEAT IS NOT LOCKED IN PLACE IN ADDITION TO BACK REAR SEATS MOST RECENTLY AUGUST 17, 2020. SEATS FAILS TO LOCK AFTER BEGIN USED (MOVED FORWARD TO ACCESS BACK SEAT) AND MUST BE REPEATEDLY SLAMMED INTO PLACE BEFORE THE WARNING MESSAGE DISAPPEARS. HAS CONTINUALLY HAPPENED SINCE WE LEASED THE CAR IN AUGUST OF 2018 AND HAS BEEN "CHECKED" BY MERCEDES ON 4 OCCASIONS WHERE THEY FAIL TO RECREATE THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN IN ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS (1/28/19, 1/22/19, 4/29/19, 11/7/19) STATING THE ISSUE AND MERCEDES SERVICE DENIES THERE IS AN ISSUE. THEN IN APRIL OF 2018 SEVERAL 2018 E 400 VEHICLES WERE RECALLED FOR THE SAME SEAT LOCKING WARNING. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO MERCEDES AND THEY SAID THEY WERE UNAWARE OF ANY RECALL. WE HAVE TAKEN PHOTOS OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ON MANY OCCASIONS YET MERCEDES FAILS TO ADDRESS THE SAFETY ISSUE. CONSUMER REPORTS MARCH 2019 MERCEDES-BENZ RECALLS CARS BECAUSE SEATS DON'T LOCK INTO PLACE THE AUTOMAKER SAYS THE SEATS COULD FOLD OVER IN A CRASH, RAISING THE RISK OF INJURIES

NHTSA ID 11349953 · filed Aug 17, 2020

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Powertrain (other)

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

My 2018 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 4MATIC is experiencing a knocking noise from the rear differential at low speeds. The issue poses potential driving hazards, including possible loss of control and increased wear on drivetrain components. The noise may indicate a failing differential, which could suddenly fail while driving. I have contacted the dealer, but no specific recalls or factory service announcements have been identified for this problem. This appears to be a common issue reported by other owners. At the recommendation of the service technician, I replaced the rear solenoid, at the cost of $400, but no improvement. A rebuild of the rear differential was the recommendation.

NHTSA ID 11612753 · filed Sep 5, 2024

2018 CLA250 30k miles, leaving the airport the car suddenly felt as if it lost power and slowed un-commanded. It then began to operate normally for the 50+ mph drive home. Upon reaching my neighborhood, the car began to make a clunking, popping sound when under load less than 30 mph. The days after the vehicle continued to experience the same issues every time it was driven. I took the car to a local trusted mechanic and he said it’s the rear differential and most likely failed pre-maturely and it’s not work he can do. He said a rear differential failing with 30k miles would be extremely rare and recommend I reach out to the manufacturer to have it replaced and to keep him updated as to how Mercedes handles this. After taking it to Mercedes of Bellevue the service adviser said this is common on CLAs and GLAs since 2014. Even to the point saying he has a GLA and hasn’t had the issue yet luckily. After speaking to the service manager at Mercedes of Bellevue and asking him directly if he has ever heard of a rear differential failing with less than 30,000 miles on the car he said “no”. After bringing my car in the service advisor said “yes, he has have seen a lot fail to the point i worry about it” as he has the same rear differential in his car. My car is 10 months out of time warranty but 20,000 miles under the mileage warranty. Looking online on the CLA250 owners forum this does seem to be a common issue on CLAs, GLAs and other models that use this rear differential.

NHTSA ID 11525538 · filed Jun 5, 2023

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

My car clock spring has went out, and it affects my car airbag deploy. I see it’s a problem with the Mercedes Cla250. It’s very dangerous it causes your horn not to work as well!

NHTSA ID 11641460 · filed Feb 8, 2025

The contact owns a 2018 Mercedes-Benz CLA250. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, there was a ticking sound coming from the steering wheel. Additionally, there was a knocking sound coming from the front end of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the control arms were faulty and needed to be replaced. The control arms were replaced but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 27,000.

NHTSA ID 11431596 · filed Sep 3, 2021

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Suspension

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

The contact owns a 2018 Mercedes-Benz CLA250. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, there was a ticking sound coming from the steering wheel. Additionally, there was a knocking sound coming from the front end of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the control arms were faulty and needed to be replaced. The control arms were replaced but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 27,000.

NHTSA ID 11431596 · filed Sep 3, 2021

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

The contact owns a 2018 Mercedes-Benz CLA250. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the sunroof switch was enabled to open the sunroof; however, the sunroof failed to open as intended. The contact stated that the left side of the sunroof did not open as intended. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with sunroof assembly failure. The contact was informed that the sunroof assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was unavailable.

NHTSA ID 11639713 · filed Jan 30, 2025

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

Vehicle cluster lights go black while driving...dangerous due to no fuel gauge..no speed gauge... no speedometor..no seat belt warning and no blinkers to exit highway safely....there is a danger of crashing as vehicles goes hesitant during black periods...this is an ongoing problem with Mercedes as documented for numerous years with numerous vehicle's and different models. The safety of my driving this vehicle has come down to your ethics.. Does Mercedes value their customer [I think not] or does the safety of Highway Patrol ignore this dangerous and catastrophe accident waiting to happen.? I really hope someone will be helpful and I do really appreciate your time to this issue...

NHTSA ID 11573041 · filed Feb 20, 2024

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Other / unspecified

Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 MERCEDES-BENZ CLA250. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE TIRES SLOWLY STARTED TO LOSE AIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RIMS WERE CRACKED. THE CONTACT STATED THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF GREENWICH (261 WEST PUTNAM AVENUE, GREENWICH, CT 06830) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE RIMS AND TIRES NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE RIMS AND TIRES HOWEVER, THE FAILURE STILL RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000.

NHTSA ID 11403589 · filed Mar 17, 2021

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .