Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
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.
6
Latest Dec 30, 2025
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
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.
2
2 injuries, 0 deaths reported
Overview
Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2023 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250, most frequently naming the airbags, electrical and engine categories. 166 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
Monthly complaints peaked at 2 in Dec 2025. Most recent month: 2.View as table
Monthly owner complaints for the 2023 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250
Month
Complaints filed
Cumulative
Mar 2024
1
1
Apr 2024
1
2
Jun 2025
1
3
Oct 2025
1
4
Dec 2025
2
6
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Airbags125.0%
Electrical125.0%
Engine125.0%
Steering125.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
Airbags
Filed Dec 30, 2025
Crash reported2 injuries reported
I slid on snow during a storm and hit head on to an oncoming car and my car has been deemed a total loss. During the crash not a single airbag at all deployed. I hit the windshield and the dash, at least one should have gone off, but none of them deployed in the car
NHTSA ID
11707802
Incident
Dec 14, 2025
Steering
Filed Dec 23, 2025
Crash reported
While executing a right turn, the steering wheel became locked. The driver attempted to apply the brakes, but they were unresponsive. Consequently, the vehicle collided with the divider.
NHTSA ID
11706783
Incident
Dec 17, 2025
ElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 3, 2025
During regular use my 2023, Mercedes Cla 250, had a fault in the instrument display in which the display shut off completely. Only the media display remained on, however the media display is completely useless in this scenario, only the instrument display can show the speed in which the vehicle is traveling and the Rpm range in which the vehicle is being accelerated at. I was left stranded, hopeless, and endangered as a result of this catastrophic vehicle failure.
NHTSA ID
11691317
Incident
Oct 3, 2025
Filed Jun 10, 2025
I own a 2023 Mercedes CLA250 VIN: [XXX]. This morning I was driving 50 mph on a road with no traffic, no car in front or behind me, no trees or overhead wires and my sunroof imploded. I have the privacy screen closed which saved me from the shards of glass raining on me. I have included pictures of the roof as well of the poor quality of the glass that is used for the sunroof. I am shocked there is no safety film in that glass to prevent it from shattering. This was a terrible experience- I expected more from a Mercedes. I’m horrified this can happen. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA ID
11666113
Incident
Jun 10, 2025
Filed Apr 29, 2024
I was driving on hwy 301 in Maryland at 5am. My sunroof exploded. It was like a bomb went off hatterung glass all over my face and body
NHTSA ID
11585897
Incident
Apr 29, 2024
Filed Mar 14, 2024
Exploding sunroof. Dealership will not accept responsibility even though this is a known issue with their cars. This exploded on the highway and could have caused major issues for other drivers and myself with flying glass. There was not any external impact that caused the explosion. Mercedes needs to recall and fix this issue to prevent other accidents.
NHTSA ID
11577449
Incident
Mar 14, 2024
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
EW - DMTL
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
This NCU replaces the prior NCU issued on May 15, 2025, and contains additional MY 2023 and MY 2024 vehicles which are highlighted below. In our continuing efforts to ensure the proper performance of Mercedes-Benz products and to enhance the satisfaction of our customers, Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (“MBUSA”) is extending the warranty coverage on the Diagnostic Module for Tank Leakage detection (DMTL) in certain Model Year (“MY”) vehicles listed below from the original New Vehicle Limited Warranty of 4 years/50,000 miles to 10 years/120,000 miles (vehicles certified as LEV II) and 15 years/150,000 miles (vehicles certified as LEV III), whichever occurs first, for the following condition: •Under certain circumstances, the DMTL may trigger erroneous Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) entries that may result in the illumination of the Check Engine Malfunction Indicator Lamp (‘MIL’).
LI54.21-P-080326
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Complaint CEL light on with no drivability concerns. Cause Signal timing error. Remedy 167, 465: SW has been released. Update the FSAM to the latest SW version. 290, 118, 243, 247: Software is still in development. This fault code does not cause a drivability concern and will clear itself within 2-3 key cycles. The vehicle can be released back to the customer.
LI35.30-P-058566
POWER TRAIN
Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). The noise is heard once in each instance when changing direction of travel. Note: Sound file in attachment Cause If the complaint is eliminated by experimentally loosening the outboard collar nut (by 1 turn), the problem is due to cracking of the microweld between the wheel bearing inner race and the joint housing of the side shaft. Note: The collar nut must always be replaced after being loosened. See also LI33.20-P-078406 Remedy Coat contact surface of side shaft with wheel bearing with Molykote paint. To do this, proceed as follows: 1. Remove side shafts 2. Clean contact surface A (see image file in attachment "Outer joint housing before") before coating with Molykote, using "spirit" (free of dust and grease) 3. Coat contact surface A (see image file in attachment "Outer joint housing after") with Molykote and leave to dry for "one hour" in removed condition 4. Reinstall side shafts Note: Before using the antifriction coating (Molykote), stir it or shake it thoroughly for (at least 1 minute).
LI82.60-P-080383
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Complaint Radio station cover art does not refresh when switching stations. The UI continues to show the old station’s artwork instead of updating to the new one. Cause When a new station change request is triggered, a temporary glitch is causing the Head Unit application to fail to overwrite the previous request. This glitch is causing the cover art mismatch in the Radio application. Remedy Please do not replace any parts. The E505.9 software is released and available in XENTRY Q3 2026.
LI54.21-P-080326
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ENGINE
Complaint CEL light on with no drivability concerns. Cause Signal timing error. Remedy 167: SW has been released. Update the FSAM to the latest SW version. 465, 290, 118, 243, 247: Software is still in development. This fault code does not cause a drivability concern and will clear itself within 2-3 key cycles. The vehicle can be released back to the customer.
LI00.20-P-080703
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Complaint Service code B1 displayed in the customer menu does not match the workshop code displayed in the workshop menu, e.g., 505 or 550A, which includes a service A. Cause The root cause is currently being investigated. Remedy To determine the cause, the instrument cluster control unit (N133/1) and powertrain control unit (N127) logs are required before confirming the service or correction using XENTRY Diagnosis. Please open a TIPS case to BCE inbox with the requested information in the attachments.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.