10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 1
Average Mileage:
40,962 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 #11

May 032023

CLA250

  • miles
May 3, 2023 - I had pulled back into my driveway approximately at 8:45 AM after leaving a couple of minutes before to run errands. I turned the car off and went inside of my house for less than five minutes. I got back into my car, started the vehicle and the airbag exploded unexpectedly while I was in my driveway. Of course, I was shocked and confused as to what had happened. My husband was inside the house and came out to check on me. I received surface burns on both of my forearms, my left pinky finger was bent in an unnatural position and part of my left pinky fingernail was missing. It was a true blessing that I was in my driveway and not driving on the open road. I went to the doctor a few hours later to get checked out, where it was confirmed by x-rays that I had fractured my left pinky finger, which made it very difficult to do my job. I was traumatized from this incident to say the least. My car sat at the end of my driveway in the same place where the airbag deployed until May 10th. May 9, 2023 - I made my first call to Mercedez Benz USA Care to report what had happened with my Mercedes 2016 CLA250 the previous week and for them to advise me as to what I shoud do. I was advised by MBUSA care representative to have my car towed to an authorized Mercedes Benz Dealership in Kansas City. Because of the late hour of the business day, I decided to have the car towed to the dealership the next day. May 10, 2023 - The vehicle was towed to an authorized Mercedes dealer, Aristocrat Motors in Kansas City. From what I've been told, my vehicle was inspected some time during the last half of June. Because this is considered a legal matter by MBUSA, I have not received any further communication from them. My car has been in "lock down" at the dealership since in was towed there on May 10th. I have reached out to the referral manager at MBUSA on countless occasions via both telephone and email. We have made three car payments and have no car to drive.

- Olathe, KS, USA

problem #10

Jun 262020

CLA250

  • miles
I was involved in an accident and hit on the drivers side front and back door. I thought it was weird the airbags did not deploy. I had over $100k in medical bills and still require another surgery.

- Sherman Oaks , CA, USA

problem #9

Jul 092020

CLA250 6-cyl

  • miles
Still no remedy for passenger airbag for my 2016 Mercedes E400. How long does Mercedes have to fix the problem?

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #8

Aug 092019

CLA250 4-cyl

  • 29,000 miles
Unknown accelerated out of driveway, turning left. Collision with object deemed vehicle total loss. No airbag deployed, front end collision.

- Bloomington, IL, USA

problem #7

Mar 212018

CLA250

  • miles
"takata recall" the driver was killed in a car accident on March 21st 2018 and the car was on a recall. The accident was at ockechobee road, miami, fl with 11th street. The car was in motion. The driver received a letter from Mercedes-Benz in November 2017 stating that the car had an insufficient electrical grounding in the steering column components and that this could lead to an inadvertent deployment of the driver airbag causing a risk of a potential crash, but that unfortunately the remedy was not available yet. Despite of this, the driver took the car to a mercedez-bens dealer in the same month, on November 29th 2017, and nothing was made about the problem. The accident was tragic. It was at 2:40pm and two minutes before 2:38pm the driver spoke to his wife and everything was well. Also the autopsy didn't show anything wrong with his healthy conditions. He was an amazing father, husband and very calm person. A part of the investigations shows that there is no break marks on the floor, which shows that the drive lost the control of the car. His son (16) was in the car with him and had a lot of injuries and still is recovering. Because all of this evidences, I believe that the airbag deployed on his face causing him to loose control of the car.

- Doral, FL, USA

problem #6

May 012018

CLA250

  • 420,000 miles
"takata recall" why do it take so long to fix this problem. Also I see where Mercedes is covering themselves by sending a letter to warn you, so you can't bring up no charges. Why don't you don't offer loner cars until this problem is fix. You shouldn't have anyone driving these cars in this condition. You need to take care of your customers. These cars cost to much money to have these problems and you not take care of your customers. After this I will not being buy another Mercedes and I will let my friends know as well all the problems you have if you buy one.

- Covington, GA, USA

problem #5

Apr 012016

CLA250

  • miles
"takata recall" what purpose does this recall serve if the manufacturer still does not have a "remedy" available" I have 3 Benz's, all affected by this recall and for over 1 year the dealer cannot repair due to "no remedy yet avail". so in the meantime, we should drive and pray that something tragic does not occur"

- Long Beach, CA, USA

problem #4

Oct 262017

CLA250

  • miles
Takata recall. Contacted Mercedes Benz greenway spoke with service department explained that I checked upon mail notification of a recall on my vehicle. Spoke with receptionist who told me that there was no recall (tammy or chrystal). Called back and luis told me that there was a recall but no solution. What do I do" continue driving at risk with my child in the car!!!!??"

- Fresno, TX, USA

problem #3

Oct 222017

CLA250

  • miles
Hello, I am writing to file a complaint that I was not contacted or informed by Mercedes Benz or my dealer in boston (Mercedes Benz of boston, herb chambers) that my vehicle (VIN) was affected by the recent recall regarding the issue with the electrostatic discharge inadvertently setting off the airbag. I had to find this out through the NHTSA website and until now I have been driving around unaware of this serious safety issue and risk. My airbag was not deployed or I did not have this issue affect me yet but now I'm hesitant and afraid to drive without having this issue fixed. It also scares me that I have been driving unaware of this issue because neither Mercedes Benz or the dealer contacted me in a timely manner and it makes me wonder what would have happened if this issue struck me while I was driving the last few weeks.

- Cambridge, MA, USA

problem #2

Mar 072017

CLA250

  • 1,583 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Mercedes-Benz Cla250. While driving at slow speeds, the passenger side air bag deployed without warning or impact. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the driver's side undercarriage was damaged. The vehicle was not repaired. The passenger sustained injuries to the face and right arm, which required medical attention. A police report was filed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 1,583.

- Owings Mills, MD, USA

problem #1

Dec 042016

CLA250

  • miles
The contact rented a 2016 Mercedes-Benz Cla250. While driving 45 mph, the contact's vehicle crashed into the rear of another vehicle. The contact stated that the brake pedal was depressed and failed to operate as intended. The contact also stated that the autonomous braking system failed to operate as intended. The air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. There were no injuries. A police report was filed. The rental Agency was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified. The VIN and failure mileage were unknown.

- Washington, DC, USA