10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
31,972 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #19

Jan 142024

CLA250

  • miles
As I was driving yesterday afternoon, I heard a noise and normally we don't hear any type of noise or air coming into the car. I decided to open the sunroof to see if there was something wrong with it like if it was stuck open or if something was stuck in it, and the whole sunroof almost flew off the car. I had to pull over as fast as I could into the break down lane and it took me a while to close it and it still seems to be open, I didn't see anything stuck in the guide rails or in the area when closing it. I was very scared for the safety of my children and myself and for the other drivers on the highway. I have made an appointment so the shop and check the car out and run some diagnostics. There are no warning lights or messages prior to the sunroof almost flying off the car.

- Winsted, CT, USA

problem #18

May 112023

CLA250

  • miles
As I was driving, the car is on D but it slips into N and I cannot shift to any other gear accept P. This happens randomly and happened three times. I noticed the GLA250 also had this issue. I have to turn off my engine and restart my car to get it running again normally.

- Cerritos, CA, USA

problem #17

Feb 012023

CLA250

  • miles
When accelerating, the car loses power. My teenager was almost hit by another car as she was trying to enter the highway via an off-ramp. It happens very often. This started occurring at 60k! When stopped with your foot on the brake or even in park, the car goes slams backward and cuts the engine back to a rev. This has been occurring since 37k. Additionally, there is a loud clunking noise when you turn the wheel. This has been occurring since 50k. Power seat on driver-??s side loses all power and locks. This has been replaced/repaired three times! Glove box locked and will not unlock even with key. All of these issues are frequently reported via complaint sites, yet no recalls on this very expensive car. It is truly a hazard!! https://www.mercedescla.org/threads/loss-of-power.40274/

- Martinsburg, WV, USA

problem #16

Jul 312022

CLA250

  • miles
The sunroof no longer works. Found pieces of plastic in the guide rails as the shoe horn pieces seems to be broken apart and had to force my sunroof to close and now it whistles as I am on the highway. I have seen hundreds of complains about this on the Mercedes Benz message boards

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #15

Jul 122022

CLA250

  • miles
my son was driving it on highway and noticed smoke and fire from rear driver side. Thankfully he was able to get car on shoulder and the whole car lit up in flame. Firefighters and Police rescued them and there was no indication on what started this fire. Police has filed report as misc that it could be from car fuel line or such, there was no other problems with car and it has been services by Mercedes dealer all along.

- Coppell, TX, USA

problem #14

Apr 302021

CLA250

  • 87,000 miles
While driving the other day I opened the sunroof when it suddenly made a strange sound and stopped. When I tried to close it I noticed that the left side was raised but the right side was down. It made a whirring sound and moved a little but refused to close. When I got home and looked at it it looks like the windscreen has come loose and looks like it was pushed forward and broken by the linkage that makes the roof go up. It looks like the linkage is bending forward when I suspect it should bend backwards. This has been happening since I bought the car in 2016. Sometimes it opened and while driving I'm afraid it might blow out into the high way. Causing an accident

- Chula Vista, CA, USA

problem #13

Nov 132020

CLA250

  • 94,000 miles
My class C 250 2014 vehicle. Diving long distances on the interstate started hearing loud static over the speaker system. The radio was not on. The noise turned into a loud screeching/ static noise from speakers with an electrical burning smell filling the car's cabin. I pulled off-highway, turned the car off, the noise/ burning smell did not stop. I let the car sit for about 1 hour. After the car was turned off for 1 hour, the noise /burning smell stopped. This has become an ongoing issue; I have taken my car to the Mercedes dealership. They have stated it could be the "star service" electrical problem, but no guarantees; in my complaint, there were no rectifying of on issue. My fear is electrical fire, while traveling. I commute by interstate daily.

- Richmond Hill, GA, USA

problem #12

Sep 112020

CLA250

  • 94,000 miles
When the car is in idle and in motion, the cabin of the vehicle fills with a smell of fuel, and it was also discovered that the car also has began leaking from the fuel tank located underneath the rear seats.

- Fort Bragg, NC, USA

problem #11

Jul 182020

CLA250 4-cyl

  • 58,020 miles
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!!

- Hampton, VA, USA

problem #10

Mar 062019

CLA250

  • 60,000 miles
Takata recall the car won't start and this message appears

- Pompano Beach, FL, USA

problem #9

Sep 242018

CLA250

  • 60,000 miles
Driving home from work yesterday on the highway and the panoramic sunroof spontaneously shattered, causing me to swerve and almost run off the side of a cliff. Upon doing research I've learned that this has been an issue with Mercedes and there has already been many class action lawsuits filed.

- Temecula, CA, USA

problem #8

Feb 032018

CLA250

  • 29,000 miles
Early afternoon while just driving off an exit in tn. My sunroof exploded causing shards of glass to fly into my car. I had minor cuts on my lower back and arm from the glass covering me while driving. I was able to safely pull over to assess what happen because my initial thought was that someone was shooting at me. The dealership is not claiming any responsibility for this defect. There were no other cars around so the damaged could not have been caused by a rock or falling object.

- Horn Lake, MS, USA

problem #7

Dec 052016

CLA250

  • 24,000 miles
On several occasions, in the rain under acceleration;the car goes into limp mode-check engine light comes on and you have no power to get out of traffics way. All but one case, the car returned to normal after a shut down and restart. In one instance, the check engine stayed on. When a dealer inspected the car they found no cause -(code said engine misfire )-the light was reset-since that Dec.2016 dealer visit the problem has happened twice leaving the car to lose power while in highway traffic. A recent dealer visit (no engine light on ) resulted in their finding no issue. This is very dangerous, and not without many other similar complaint. Lives are in the balance here-we need government oversite-please!

- Lecanto, FL, USA

problem #6

Jan 042016

CLA250

  • 9,000 miles
I have had the same issue of the car, being in park for over 5-10 minutes, suddenly lunging forward. It is quiet startling to have it happen. I worry that when I exit the car with the engine running ( due to passengers still in the car) something will happen. This has happen several times with me.

- Palm Beach, FL, USA

problem #5

Apr 122016

CLA250

  • 21,600 miles
The vehicle will stop acceleration while driving. The message states "pre-safe functions limited". when the car shuts off for no apparent reason when driving at 70 mph on a highway is really unsafe. I have to coast to the side of the road to safety. I have turn the vehicle off and then I will be able to restart the engine. I have not taken this into my Mercedes dealership yet.

- Shreveport, LA, USA

problem #4

Mar 192016

CLA250

  • 49,200 miles
Multiple episodes of "pre-safe functions limited" occurring. When this message appears the car suddenly loses acceleration and you are not able to go above 30 mph despite pressing on the gas pedal. This has occurred on normal 35-45 mph streets but has happened multiple times on the highway when the car is going 65 mph. Luckily, no motor vehicle accidents have occurred because of this issue. The car is able to accelerate and function normally after turning the engine off and on again. Have gone to Mercedes dealer multiple times to fix issue. The first time it occurred, Mercedes updated system software. Next they replaced vehicle sensors. Most recently they claimed the issue was due to oil pump failure. They replaced an oil control valve and oil pan. Four days after the repair I received the same "pre-safe functions limited message, my car stalled while I was going 40 mph. I have returned the car to the dealer once again to run diagnostics. This has occurred many times in the two and a half years that I've owned the vehicle. It is currently at 49,200 miles and has been properly serviced. Each time I bring the car in for this error message Mercedes replaces a new part but it does not solve the problem.

- Romeoville, IL, USA

problem #3

Oct 162015

CLA250

  • 14,000 miles
Making noises like rattling or vibration during driving.

- Albany, GA, USA

problem #2

Aug 042015

CLA250

  • 7,500 miles
While driving on the highway, I heard a sudden loud explosion, the panorama sunroof shattered and glass rained down on me and everywhere within the car. There was no evidence of anything hitting the car or the sunroof, it just spontaneously exploded.

- North Bethesda, MD, USA

problem #1

Feb 272015

CLA250

  • 150 miles
Car has been lunging forward when in parked for more than 5 to 10 min since I have owned the car. This car was bought on February 20, 2015. Since then, I have brought it back to the dealership 3 times for the same problem. The third time that I brought it to them, they followed up with saying that it is the make of the car and every cla does that. This is a huge safety problem and it needs to be fixed.

- Middleton, MA, USA