2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA250: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
177 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
16,769 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2014 model year. Data snapshot: . 136 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 66 of 177 complaints (37.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 23 | 13.0% |
| Braking behavior | 20 | 11.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 13 | 7.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 5.1% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 4.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 1.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 66 |
| Electrical System | 43 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 36 |
| Unknown Or Other | 21 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 20 |
| Power Train | 19 |
| Air Bags | 10 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 10 |
Engine: 66; Electrical System: 43; Vehicle Speed Control: 36; Unknown Or Other: 21; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 20; Power Train: 19; Air Bags: 10; Fuel/Propulsion System: 10
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 92 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 16 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 15 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 10 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 92; 25,000 to 49,999: 16; 50,000 to 74,999: 15; 75,000 to 99,999: 10; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 2
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (92). 41 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 31 |
| 2015 | 44 |
| 2016 | 13 |
| 2017 | 12 |
| 2018 | 13 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 22 |
| 2021 | 10 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2025 | 5 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2013: 1; 2014: 31; 2015: 44; 2016: 13; 2017: 12; 2018: 13; 2019: 5; 2020: 22; 2021: 10; 2022: 5; 2023: 6; 2024: 7; 2025: 5; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 23 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 20 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 13 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10550890 · 2013-11-04 (November 4, 2013)
ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, AND TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2013, MY VEHICLE LISTED ABOVE HAD WARNING LIGHTS COME ON THAT STATED, "PRE SAFE, FUNCTIONS LIMITED, INOPERATIVE." IN ADDITION TO THE WORDS, THE ESP AND ABS LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO PENSKE MBZ IN WEST COVINA, CA, ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30. THEY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE BY DOING A SOFTWARE UPDATE. ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2013, THE CODES RETURNED AND I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO WHERE I BOUGHT IT, ENCINO, CA, MBZ. I WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE CODES AND THEY FOUND NO PROBLEM…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10550890 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10558798 · 2014-01-07 (January 7, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 MERCEDES-BENZ CLA250. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH AN EIGHT FOOT PIECE OF MOLDING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE CAME APART. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND REMOVED THE MOLDING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE MANUFACTURER REGADING THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 630.
Owner-reported narrative. 630 miles reported. Look up ODI 10558798 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10560691 · 2014-01-20 (January 20, 2014)
TODAY I WAS DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT AND APPROACHED THE LIGHT TO EXIT AND MY DASHBOARD LIT UP WITH A PRESAFE SYSTEM FAILURE, SYSTEM IS INOPERATIVE AND MY CAR SLOWED DOWN CONSIDERABLY WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN AND THE ERROR CLEARED. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IF IT HAPPENS ON A HIGHWAY OR WHILE DRIVING ON A CROWDED STREET. I CALLED THE DEALER TODAY AND WAS TOLD IF THE ERROR WAS NOT CURRENTLY ON THE DASH THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING. I EXPLAINED THAT THIS WAS UNACCEPTABLE AND THEY NEEDED TO LO…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,135 miles reported. Look up ODI 10560691 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10573053 · 2014-03-18 (March 18, 2014)
1ST- ON FEB 11TH & 12TH MY 2014 CLA WHICH WAS PURCHASED AT THE MB OF PEMBROKE PINES HAD BEEN TOWED TO THE MB OF POMPANO, FL DEALERSHIP BECAUSE OF THE EPS LIGHTS, "INOPERATIVE" WARNING MESSAGES THAT WERE COMING UP AS WELL AS THE STALLING AND DELAYED ACCELERATION, WHICH I TOOK PHOTOS OF. IT WAS TOWED TO POMPANO FORM MY JOB, MY CAR WAS KEPT AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR 4 DAYS (AS OPPOSED TO THE FEW HRS I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD TAKE TO FIX THE COMPUTER ISSUES). NOT ONLY WAS MY CAR IN THE SHOP FOR 3 DAYS, BUT A PART THAT HAD BEEN ORDERED,WHICH MEANS SOMETH…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,354 miles reported. Look up ODI 10573053 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10574797 · 2014-03-25 (March 25, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 MERCEDES-BENZ CLA250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PRE-SAFE FUNCTIONS LIMITED INOPERATIVE, THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM, AND THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY PROGRAM WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,500. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10574797 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10575226 · 2014-03-27 (March 27, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 MERCEDES BENZ CLA250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS A REDUCTION IN ACCELERATION POWER AS THE 'PRE-SAFE FUNCTIONS NOT OPERABLE' WARNING MESSAGE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE REGAINED NORMAL OPERATION ONCE IT WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED. THIS FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES OVER A TWO MONTH PERIOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO RESET THE SOFTWARE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,500.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10575226 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10575891 · 2014-03-31 (March 31, 2014)
I PURCHASED A NEW NEW NEW MERCEDES CLA-250C AUTOMOBILE LATE SEPTEMBER 2013. IN MID-OCTOBER I EXPERIENCED UN-COMMANDED ACCELERATION TO ABOVE 5500 RPM. THIS CEASED JUST AS I WAS ABOUT TO APPLY BRAKING. THE CAR THEN BEHAVED NORMALLY. *TR ON CHRISTMAS NIGHT I EXPERIENCED UN-COMMANDED BRAKING WHENEVER I BACKED OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE FORCE OF BRAKING BEING PROPORTIONAL TO THE DEGREE OF LIFT-OFF FROM THE ACCELERATOR. I WAS ABLE TO BRING THE CAR TO A COMPLETE STOP WITHOUT TOUCHING THE BRAKE PEDAL. AT THAT POINT I GROUNDED THE CAR. ON JANUAR…
Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10575891 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10578246 · 2014-04-08 (April 8, 2014)
I HAVE PARTIAL VIDEO IF THIS INCIDENT. INCIDENT OCCURRED AT 991 ODOMETER MILES. AFTER DRIVING APPROX. ~300 MOSTLY CONTIGUOUS, FLAT, RURAL HIGHWAY MILES IN-BETWEEN LINCOLN, NE AND ST. LOUIS, MO (HEADING TO ATLANTA, GA) IN APPROX. 30 WEATHER ON DRY PAVEMENT, THE ENGINE STOPPED PRODUCING ENOUGH ENGINE POWER TO PROPEL THE VEHICLE AT THE 70-75 MPH THAT I WAS TRAVELING. AT APPROX. 60-65 MPH, I APPLIED ADDITIONAL PRESSURE TO THE GAS PEDAL WHICH WAS NOT EFFECTIVE. PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR DID NOTHING EXCEPT, OCCASIONALLY, THE TRANSMISSION…
Owner-reported narrative. 991 miles reported. Look up ODI 10578246 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
6 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
15V426000 · Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification | Visibility/Wiper | Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers
Reported: 2015-07-06 (July 6, 2015)
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2014 CLA 250C vehicles manufactured September 10, 2014, to September 11, 2014, 2014 CLA 250C 4Matic vehicles manufactured September 13, 2014, to September 25, 2014, and 2014 CLA 45 AMG 4Matic vehicles manufactured September 10, 2014, to September 25, 2014. The affected vehicles have fuses that may have been incorrectly installed in the passenger side interior fuse boxes.
Consequence: If the fuses were not properly installed, they may lose electrical contact. In the event of a loss of electrical contact, certain systems may be impacted, including the function of the front passenger seat occupancy recognition system, the passenger side air bag indicator lamp, the instrument cluster and the windshield wipers. Should the function of the front passenger seat occupancy recognition system or the passenger side airbag indicator lamp be affected, the risk of injury for passengers in the event of a crash would be increased. Should the function of the instrument cluster and the windshield wipers be affected, the risk of a crash would be increased.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the position and orientation of the fuses, and if necessary, replace the fuse box, free of charge. The recall began on August 18, 2015. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2015060007.
NHTSA campaign record ↗16V901000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
Reported: 2016-12-14 (December 14, 2016)
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2014 CLA250 vehicles manufactured December 14, 2012, to April 24, 2013 equipped with gasoline engines. The affected vehicles have a fitting that connects the vacuum line to the brake booster which may break causing increased forced to be needed to apply the brakes.
Consequence: If the vehicles unexpectedly need increased pressure on the brake pedal to apply the brakes, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the connector end fitting at the brake booster, free of charge. The recall began July 21, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
NHTSA campaign record ↗17V627000 · Air Bags:Frontal
Reported: 2017-10-06 (October 6, 2017)
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling these vehicles: 2014-2018 CLA250, CLA250 4Matic, CLA45 AMG 4Matic, 2015-2018 GLA250, GLA250 4Matic, GLA45 AMG 4Matic, C300 4Matic, C63S AMG, 2012-2014 C250, C350, C300 4Matic, E550 4Matic, 2013-2014 C63 AMG, 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2013-2015 C350 4Matic Coupe, GLK250 4Matic BlueTec, GLK350, GLK350 4Matic, 2016-2017 C350e, C43 AMG, 2015 C400 4Matic, 2016-2018 C63 AMG, GLC300, GLC300 4Matic, 2017-2018 C300 Coupe, C300 4Matic Coupe, C43 AMG, C63 AMG Coupe, C63S AMG Coupe, C300 Cabriolet, C300 4Matic Cabriolet, C43 AMG Cabriolet, C63 AMG Cabriolet, C63S AMG Cabriolet, GLC300 4Matic Coupe, GLC43 AMG, GLC43 AMG Coupe, 2014 E350 Coupe, E350 4Matic Coupe, E350 Cabriolet, E400 Hybrid, 2015-2017 E400 Coupe, E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabriolet, 2014-2017 E550 Coupe, E550 Cabriolet, B250e, 2014-2016 E250 BlueTec, E63 AMG 4Matic Wagon, 2012-2013 E350 BlueTec, 2012-2016 E350, E350 4Matic, 2015-2016 E400, E400 4Matic, 2012 E63 AMG, 2014-2015 E250 4Matic BlueTec, 2013-2016 E350 Wagon, 2017 GLC300d 4Matic, and 2018 GLC350e 4Matic. The driver's air bag may unexpectedly deploy due to insufficient grounding of the steering components if an electrostatic discharge occurs and the air bag clockspring is broken.
Consequence: If the driver air bag inadvertently deploys, it can increase the risk of injury and a crash.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will add sufficient grounding to the steering components, free of charge. The recall began in December 6, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691.
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V787000 · Communication
Reported: 2019-11-01 (November 1, 2019)
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2013-2017 vehicles due to a software fault that may cause the date and time for the emergency call system (eCall) to differ from the actual date and time, potentially relaying an inaccurate vehicle location. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V787-4620.pdf
Consequence: An inaccurate vehicle location may delay emergency responders, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: MBUSA has initiated an Over the Air (OTA) remote update. MBUSA will also notify owners, and dealers will check software for a successful OTA or update the communication module software as needed, free of charge. The recall began December 23, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2019120008.
NHTSA campaign record ↗21V197000 · Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars
Reported: 2021-03-19 (March 19, 2021)
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017-2020 C300 Coupe, C43 Coupe AMG, C43 AMG, 2015-2020 C300, GLA250, 2016-2018 C350e, CLA45 Coupe AMG, 2015 C400, S65 AMG, 2015-2019 C63 AMG, 2016 C450, 2015-2016 GLA45 AMG, S600, 2016-2020 GLC300, 2017-2019 GLC43 AMG, GLE43 Coupe AMG, 2014-2019 CLA250 Coupe, 2014-2015 CLA45 AMG, 2018 GLC63 AMG, 2014-2017 S550, 2018-2020 S450, 2016-2019 GLE63 Coupe AMG, 2016 GLE450 Coupe, 2014-2020 S63 AMG, 2018-2019 S560, and 2019 GLC350e vehicles equipped with a panoramic sunroof. The front roof panel located between the windshield and the panoramic sunroof may not have been bonded correctly to the vehicle during a prior repair.
Consequence: The adhesive bonding of the front panel might deteriorate, possibly causing the front panel to detach from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Mercedes-Benz dealer will remove the bonded panel and will install a new front panel by following the detailed repair instructions and using the approved primer, cleaner and adhesive, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 3, 2021 and October 26, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
NHTSA campaign record ↗23V854000 · Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars
Reported: 2023-12-15 (December 15, 2023)
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2014-2020 C-Class, CLA, GLA, S-Class, GLC, and GLE vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle details. The front roof panel located between the windshield and the panoramic sunroof may not have been bonded correctly to the vehicle during a prior repair, allowing the front panel to detach from the vehicle.
Consequence: A detached roof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the front panel, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 2, 2024. Owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, on, March 22,2024, and August 2, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 21V-197.
NHTSA campaign record ↗