Mercedes-Benz CLA Problems — All Years, Common Issues & Reliability
Year-by-year breakdown of safety recalls, NHTSA owner complaints, reported deaths, injuries, crashes, and worst problem areas. Updated daily from federal databases.
Own a Mercedes-Benz CLA? Check your specific VIN for a full history report.
Mercedes-Benz CLA — Year-by-Year Problem Comparison
| Year | Verdict | Recalls | Complaints | Crashes | Injuries | Deaths | Top Issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026Best | Excellent | — | — | — | — | — | — | Full report → |
| 2025 | Excellent | — | — | — | — | — | — | Full report → |
| 2024 | Excellent | — | — | — | — | — | — | Full report → |
| 2023 | Excellent | — | 2 | — | — | — | Unknown Or Other | Full report → |
| 2022 | Excellent | — | — | — | — | — | — | Full report → |
| 2021 | Good | 4 | 7 | — | 1 | — | Vehicle Speed Control | Full report → |
| 2020 | Good | 8 | 18 | 1 | 4 | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
| 2019 | Good | 5 | 10 | — | — | — | Engine | Full report → |
| 2018 | Good | 8 | 29 | 1 | 1 | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
| 2017 | Good | 10 | 17 | 1 | 1 | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
| 2016 | Caution | 6 | 44 | 3 | 1 | — | Engine | Full report → |
| 2015 | Caution | 7 | 40 | 9 | 4 | — | Engine | Full report → |
| 2014Worst | Avoid | 6 | 149 | 4 | 3 | — | Engine | Full report → |
13 model years shown. Crashes, injuries, and deaths from NHTSA complaint filings. Click any year for full details.
Most Common Mercedes-Benz CLA Problems
Based on 316 owner complaints filed with NHTSA across all model years.
Recent Owner Complaints
Direct reports filed with NHTSA by Mercedes-Benz CLA owners — 2022–2026 model years.
The vehicle camera is not working it’s blacking out I can’t see when I’m attempting to park
1 total complaints retrieved from NHTSA for 2022–2026. For older model years, see individual year pages.
CLA Years to Avoid
Best CLA Years to Buy
Mercedes-Benz CLA Problems by Year
Frequently Asked Questions — Mercedes-Benz CLA Reliability
What year CLA has the most problems?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA had the highest combined complaint and recall count — 149 complaints and 6 safety recalls. See the full 2014 report for specific defects.
Is the Mercedes-Benz CLA reliable?
The Mercedes-Benz CLA has accumulated 316 owner-filed complaints and 54 safety recalls across all model years in NHTSA's database. The 2026 model year shows the fewest reported issues. Always run a VIN check before purchasing any used CLA.
What are the most common CLA problems?
The most frequently cited problem areas are: Engine (56 reports), Electrical System (45 reports), Unknown Or Other (33 reports), Vehicle Speed Control (27 reports). Based on NHTSA complaints across all model years.
How do I check if my CLA has an open recall?
Use the vehicle's 17-character VIN at VinCheckEngine.com. Our free VIN report pulls the latest NHTSA recall data along with auction history, odometer records, and 30+ intelligence signals.
Check a Specific Mercedes-Benz CLA VIN
Model-level data shows what can go wrong. A VIN-specific report shows what has gone wrong with a particular vehicle — including auction history, odometer discrepancies, open recalls, accident records, and 30+ intelligence signals.
Run a Free Mercedes-Benz CLA VIN Report →No account required · Instant results · Updated daily