RoadVitals

2023 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250

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.
8
Latest Aug 18, 2026
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.
1
Latest Jul 24, 2026
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.
1
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 8 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250, most frequently naming the engine, seat belts and fuel system categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 181 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.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine323.1%
  • Seat belts215.4%
  • Fuel system215.4%
  • Electrical17.7%
  • Powertrain (other)17.7%
  • Airbags17.7%
  • Suspension17.7%
  • Brakes17.7%

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

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LOCK

Jul 24, 2026
310,667 units potentially affected
The defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2020-2021 CLA, 2019-2022 A-Class, 2022-2023 C-Class, 2024 CLE, 2020-2026 GLA/GLB, and 2023-2024 GLC vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific model information. The micro-switch in the driver's door lock may corrode and fail to detect an open door, preventing the electronic parking brake or "Auto-Park" feature from engaging automatically. This may result in a vehicle rollaway.
The risk: A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash or injury.
The remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's door lock, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 18, 2026. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning July 31, 2026.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLCView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Filed Aug 18, 2026

I request that NHTSA investigate whether 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 vehicles and other H247 vehicles are susceptible to foreign-material intrusion into the HVAC blower system and whether the existing intake grille/sealing design adequately prevents debris from reaching and damaging the blower motor. I further request that NHTSA determine whether Mercedes-Benz has received additional warranty claims, dealer repair records, blower-motor replacements, customer complaints, or other reports involving foreign material entering the blower assembly, abnormal blower noise, blower imbalance, or blower-motor failure.

NHTSA ID
11757781
Incident
Aug 14, 2026
EngineFuel system
Filed Jul 15, 2026

I am reporting a severe drivability and engine failure issue with my vehicle. The vehicle has been exclusively maintained by authorized Mercedes-Benz service centers. Immediately following a scheduled 60,000-mile (Schedule B/C) maintenance, the Check Engine Light began cycling on and off. The vehicle simultaneously developed severe drivability symptoms: the engine ran extremely rough, and acceleration became erratic and "jumpy." This unpredictable power delivery and hesitation poses a significant safety hazard when accelerating or merging in traffic. I immediately returned the vehicle to the service center to report the issue. The dealership has now retained my vehicle for over 20 days and diagnosed that the cylinder head requires complete replacement. Despite this catastrophic failure occurring immediately after their maintenance procedures, the dealership is holding me financially responsible for the repair costs because the vehicle is past the 4-year/50,000-mile warranty. My vehicle remains immobilized at the dealership."

NHTSA ID
11750504
Incident
Jun 29, 2026
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Jun 24, 2026

On 2 separate occasions (August 2025 & February 2026), the car has had a "transmission malfunction" light come on while driving on the highway around 65-70 mph. The light comes on and immediately loses ability to accelerate. Both times the car was towed to Greensboro Mercedes. The first time they did not do anything because they didn't know what to do and it had "reset" itself. The second time they discovered that it needed a software update. Mercedes does NOT have the update that is needed. We tried going through the lemon law process but Mercedes Corporate came back with an answer of it hasn't happened enough times and a remedy has not been attempted enough times. They have NOT attempted to fix it because they DO NOT have a fix. This IS NOT SAFE for my daughter to drive. This is her car and it has been in the shop since February 2026. We purchased the car from Bob King Mercedes in Wilmington, NC as a certified pre-owned in 2024. Both dealerships have been great to work with and stand by me that it is not safe for her to drive, while corporate has dismissed it and said it is safe to drive and threatened that we'll have to pay lot rental if we don't pick it up. The dealership assured me that they would not charge lot rental as they side with me on not driving it until fixed. I do not want my [XXX] daughter to drive a car that will randomly stop working on the highway! We bought the car so I'd have peace of mind about her safety and we have now been without the car for 4 months due to this safety issue. Please give me guidance on what to do. She paid around $45,000 for a car that she can't even drive now. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
11746252
Incident
Feb 15, 2026
Powertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Feb 16, 2026

unkown available for inspection cylinder misfiring ,stalling loss of power while driving, jerking during accelerations rough unstable idle intense vehicle vibrations yes took in for service A and D no other lights appeared beside service A and D

NHTSA ID
11718290
Incident
Dec 25, 2025
Engine
Filed Jan 12, 2026

In reference to Safety Recall N252494000 L87 Engine Loss of Propulsion... vehicle passed the recall test. But 2500 miles after the test the engine failed. Per dealership, awaiting new engine.

NHTSA ID
11710522
Incident
Jan 5, 2026
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Dec 7, 2025

[XXX] we were driving to San Francisco. Traffic was very light because of the upcoming Thanksgiving Holiday. We were about 1000 feet from the toll plaza, driving at 50-55 MPH. There was a car behind us about six car lengths back. There were no cars in front of us between us and the Toll Plaza. Nothing at all. There were no cars in lanes to our left nor right in our vicinity. Suddenly our car made a loud GROWLING noise and the car jammed on the brakes! My wife screamed but we did not come to a complete stop. A bright Red Triangle appeared in the center of the instrument panel. Then it stopped and we drove on because there was the car behind us approaching quickly. I believe he swerved and went around us but I cannot be sure what he did. I just know he did not hit us, thank God! Prior to going to the Dealer, I notified the Dealer and MBUSA Customer Service on a 12 minute call of the problem. MBUSA said they would notify the Dealer and get back to me to investigate. When I arrived at the dealer the NEW service person and I gave him my outline in writing of the event. I had emailed it to them the day before. He said that I would be charged $255.00 to diagnose MY problem even though my car is under Warranty and purchased from THIS Dealer. They had not been notified as MBUSA said they would do. I asked to speak to the Service Manager, Oscar who I have known for 20+ years, and he apologized for their error. I received an email from MBUSA about a week later asking me if I needed anything from them. MBUSA seems very unconcerned about this EXTREMELY DANGEROUS INCIDENT and that is why I decided to file this Report. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
11703541
Incident
Nov 25, 2025
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Sep 6, 2024
Crash reported1 injury reported

Incident on [XXX] 1450 GLA 250 approx 6 months old ? Est car was doing 40 mph impacted back of car my GLA 250 (other car was 1955 chevy - driver stated to police and on report he had a brake failure - no brakes ) as she was at the stop light it pushed her car about 4-5 feet almost hitting car in front of her which was also stopped at light - Police and ambulance was on site since it was 3 min from my house and car still on which dashboard was lighted with the airbag failures •The GLA 250 car was stopped at stop light and not moving when it was impacted from rear •The GLA 250 car airbags did not deploy it also showed error messages for right/left rear and front left airbag to call service (so car knew it had impact and failed to deploy airbags) •The Car SOS and my wife phone both engaged calling 911 so car knew it had a impact •Seat belt did not restrain here as it webbing only bunched up as she hit steering wheel •The car computer dash was still on when I arrived and police- it was flashing error on left front/right & left rear airbag failure to call service •I am shocked at the severity of impact that airbag did not deploy as wife definitely blacked out and she did hit her face on steering wheel on right hand side •I have pictures of airbag failures messages to call service, pictures of airbags not deployed and seatbelt - this car was bought for its mentioned safety record and sold to me which I only purchases this due to its reported safety record This is a complete failure of the vehicles safety devices of this car, risking my wife life - currently it is being help as of today at repair shop per DEVON cooperate has to investigate safety issue Cavallo Newton, 18S Newtown Street Rd, Newtown Square PA 19073 #610-353-330 •Devon Euro Motor of Devon PA stated i these cases he cannot take accident report - I have called HQ Mercedes and have case number [XXX] - I stated this is a total failure of all safety devices and wife could have been killed INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION A

NHTSA ID
11612953
Incident
Sep 5, 2024
Seat belts
Filed Aug 30, 2023

The rear drivers side seat belt receiver would not allow the belt buckle to insert leaving the rear passenger without seatbelt protection. During the inspection process at the dealers the technician fount a small (1cm) item lodged in the receiver area. My concern is that an item of that size would be able to render the seatbelt assembly inoperable. Based on the many test criteria for these items I believe that the receiver should have been designed to prevent small items from becoming lodged into the receiver and preventing use of the seatbelt. The item required the dealership to completely remove the seat and the receiver assembly from the car to determine the failure mode.

NHTSA ID
11541607
Incident
Aug 23, 2023

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

LI27.19-P-080869

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Complaint Temporary no start condition with check engine light and multiple warning messages. When performing a quick test, the following fault code is stored in Y3/14 ‑ Transmission control for 8‑speed dual‑clutch transmission (DKG): P24F100 The wake‑up line of the control unit has a short circuit to positive. Cause Possible signal timing between EZS control unit and Transmission Control Unit (DKG) Remedy As of 7/15/2026, new SCN coding is available for the EZS control unit. IPR will advise to open a TIPS case for EZS (N73), this is due to GLA models requiring support for SCN coding procedure. GLB (X247) and CLA (118) No TIPS case necessary. 1. SCN coding of EZS Control Unit 2. Clear all faults and perform extended road test with multiple drive cycles GLA (H247) Special function password required. 1. Verify if special procedure Central Locking ‑ Development Data is present in EZS (figure 1) 2. Submit a TIPS case to the Powertrain Inbox with the following information: ‑ Initial Quick Test w/ freeze frame data ‑ IPR Result ‑ DKG Control Unit Log ‑ EZS Control Unit Log ‑ Initial EEPROM data ‑ EZS special procedure menu If the vehicle has had this LI performed and P24F100 has returned, please submit a TIPS case to the Powertrain Inbox.

LI 27.10-P-080851

POWER TRAIN

Complaint Intermittent shift feel or thud/clunk noise perceived, such as a brief jerk or transmission reaction during certain driving situations. May be most noticeable when transitioning from a coasting condition to accelerator pedal application. May occur in all drive modes. Cause Dual‑clutch transmissions (DCT) inherently exhibit more dynamic shifting behavior compared to other types of transmissions. This is due to the use of physical clutches for starting and gear changes. In certain situations, dynamic driving behavior can lead to a slight jerk sensation which is a normal technical characteristic of the transmission. A typical example is a "Change of Mind" situation: • The customer is coasting towards a red traffic light. • The traffic light turns green while the vehicle is still coasting. • The customer then presses the accelerator pedal. In these situations, a slight jerk may occur briefly because the transmission must quickly engage the appropriate gear and control the clutches accordingly. Since shift forks are responsible for engaging the gears during shifting, a slight shifting noise may also be noticeable. Please note driving programs S, S+, and M are designed to provide sportier vehicle behavior and are not optimized primarily for maximum comfort, so this operation may be more audible. Remedy Verify the customer's concern and confirm proper transmission operation. If no faults or abnormal operating conditions are identified by IPR (Intelligent Predictive Repair), no hardware replacement is necessary. Inform the customer that the transmission has been designed to provide direct gear engagement and responsive vehicle performance. Under certain operating conditions, brief shift sensations may be perceptible and are consistent with the operating characteristics of the dual‑clutch transmission

LI27.19-P-080823

POWER TRAIN

Complaint Customers may report one or more of the following: • Transmission malfunction message • Check engine light illuminated • Shifts into N • Concern disappears after ignition cycle When performing a quick test, the following fault code is stored in Y3/14 ‑ Transmission control for 8‑speed dual‑clutch transmission (DKG): P056300 The on‑board power supply voltage is too high. Cause An overvoltage condition is detected exclusively within the transmission control unit, storing fault P056300 once the measured voltage exceeds 16V. Remedy This LI applies if the freeze frame data for P056300 show a supply voltage between 15.75 to 16.50 volts, and no other control units report overvoltage. (figure 1) Long Term Resolution: Software resolutions have been released. Check validity and ensure your Xentry is updated with latest Addons before continuing: 1. Perform software update for Y3/14 ‑ Transmission control for 8‑speed dualclutch transmission (DKG) available software listed in Parts 2. Clear fault memory and perform final test drive If the customer complaint matches this LI and the software currently installed on the vehicle is not listed, please submit a TIPS case to the Powertrain inbox with the following information: ‑ Initial Quick Test w/ Freeze Frame Data ‑ DKG Control Unit Log ‑ Latest EEPROM data ‑ Screenshot of software availability

LI72.20-P-075746

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; STRUCTURE:BODY

Complaint Tailgate opens unintentionally. Cause Accidental or unnoticed activation of the button to open the tailgate on the vehicle key. EXAMPLE: when stored in trouser pocket, handbag etc. Remedy As of the 6th generation, the vehicle key can be recoded so that the tailgate no longer opens as a result of a long press on the button, but by double‑clicking on the button instead. This reduces the likelihood of the button being activated accidentally or unintentionally. The recoding can be carried out as follows: 1. Add SA Code O19 into VeDoc (O for Oscar, not "zero") • an XSS ticket may be necessary to add the SA code 2. Perform SCN coding of EIS N73 control unit 3. Deactivate the vehicle key (a successful deactivation is indicated by the LED lighting up 2x briefly and then 1x for a long period). 4. Place the vehicle key in the storage compartment on the key symbol and turn on the ignition. IMPORTANT: all other vehicle keys must be outside the recognition range of the vehicle when doing this! Perform steps 3 and 4 successively for all vehicle keys. Notes: 6th, 7th and 8th generation keys can be deactivated as follows: Up to modification year 22/1 by double clicking the "Lock button" As of modification year 22/1, by press and holding the “Lock button", then double‑click the “Unlock button" at the same time. On model series 167, the storage compartment with the key symbol is located in the armrest. The SCN coding from the EZS is only transferred correctly to the vehicle key under the following conditions: Only one vehicle key is located in the vehicle, this key has been deactivated and it is positioned on the marking in the storage compartment for the data transfer. The costs for this adaptation are to be borne by the customer. For the newer BR 174, 178, 244, 248, 520, and 540, a software update must be initiated, as there is no way to perform SCN coding.

PSL-NCU Return Parts 8/21

POWER TRAIN

Dear Mercedes-Benz USA Dealers, The part numbers listed in the chart below should no longer be installed, and any existing stock must be returned to your facing PDC. The deadline for all dealer returns is no later than Thursday, September 10th, 2026. After September 10th, returns of these parts will no longer be accepted. These parts should be returned via ZSR Special Return, using item category SCM Authorized Part Return. Please include a copy of this NCU as your authorization to return these parts. This procedure will not affect your return allowance. All returned parts will be replaced in accordance with the chart provided below.

CL - Tank Leak Detection

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Dear Mercedes-Benz Owner: In our continuing efforts to ensure the proper performance of Mercedes-Benz products and to enhance the satisfaction of our customers, Mercedes-Benz USA is extending the warranty coverage for the Diagnostic Module for Tank Leakage Detection ("DMTL") on your vehicle from the original New Vehicle Limited Warranty of 4 years / 50,000 miles to 15 years/150,000 miles (whichever occurs first). This applies to the vehicle regardless of ownership. Why the Warranty extension? On certain Model Year 2018 - 2024 A / C / CLA / CLS / E / G / GLA / GLB / GLC / GLE / GLS / GT / S / SL Mercedes-Benz vehicles, 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"). Any repairs under this warranty extension must be performed by an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealership. • If your preferred authorized Mercedes-Benz dealership performs a diagnosis and confirms that your vehicle has the issue, the repair will be covered under this extended warranty and performed at no cost to you. • This extended warranty does not apply to any other components or conditions beyond the ones mentioned above, and standard warranty terms apply, including the exclusions with respect to extra expenses, as identified in the Service and Warranty Information booklet.

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

Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026210—
2025310—
2024220—
2023Viewing810—
2022420—
2021189060.0
2020951—
20192911166.7
20184912264.9
2017299255.2
2016494258.1
2015945260.2
2014100—

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.