What 157 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Mercedes-benz CLA

When I went to start my vehicle it did not turn on. The lights weren’t on and we had the battery and alternator checked out and they were fine.

NHTSA ODI 11487464

I noticed for the last several weeks my car sometimes hesitates when I start the engine. I hadn't looked into it and wasn't sure what it could be because I changed my battery less than 2 years ago. I hoped it was a fluke or do to the increasing cold weather. Also the car occasionally shudders and hesitates when I increase and decrease speed and one or two the radio shut off on it's own. This morning, the automatic windshield wipers came on even though it was not raining and my windshield was not wet. This lasted for a few minutes before it stopped on it own. Then I drove about a mile and was at a stop light. When I eventually tried to accelerate, I wasn't able to and it was then that I noticed my car had slipped to neutral on it's own. I was on a busy road when this happened. The car also restarted on its own and I was able to shift to drive and continue driving. Thinking this was a fluke or perhaps a battery issue, I continued to drive for a few more minutes and again I found myself at a stop light and again, the car slipped into neutral. I quickly put my emergency lights on and restarted the car. The radio came but on, but I noticed the A/C did not come back on. I didn't bother turning it back on. I was able to drive 23 miles to my destination with no other incident. The majority of the 23 mile drive, after the car had stopped 2 times, was highway driving, so I did not need to stop much.

NHTSA ODI 11443577

)N 6/15/20 WHILE DRIVING TO A DOCTORS APPOINTMENT ON THE HIGHWAY, MY ENGINE SUDDENLY OVERHEATED AND IT WARNED ME TO PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY. THE VEHICLE HAD 37,800 MILES ON IT. ON DIAGNOSIS, IT WAS FOUND THAT A VALVE IN THE WATER PUMP HAD SEIZED FROM A COOLANT LEAK, PREVENTING IT FROM OPENING AND CIRCULATING COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE. UNFORTUNATELY, THE CAR WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY.,

NHTSA ODI 11383815

IT APPEARS THAT WHEN THE TURBOCHARGER IS ENGAGED, COOLANT LEAVING THE TURBOCHARGER IS SPRAYING FROM WHERE A PRESUMABLY NOW MISSING CLAMP WOULD OTHERWISE FORM A TIGHT FIT AROUND THE TUBING, WHICH IS NORMALLY HOUSED BENEATH HEAT SHIELDING. THE HEAT SHIELDING HAS BEEN DISPLACED BY THE HIGH PRESSURE PRODUCED BY THE HOT LIQUID. THE LIQUID IS SO HOT LEAVING THE TURBOCHARGER THAT AS IT SPRAYS OUT ONTO THE SURROUNDING AREAS IT HAS MELTED THE AIR INTAKE SYSTEM.

NHTSA ODI 11363083

CHECK ENGINE APPEARED ON OUR DASH BOARD AT 56,000 MILEAGE AND DIAGNOSED WITH A PROBLEM OF THE AUXILLARY ELECTRICAL OIL PUMP. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME WE HAVE CHECK ENGINE AFTER WE ARE OFF WARRANTY. I CAN ALSO SMELL GAS INSIDE THE CABIN WHEN I TURNED ON THE ENGINE

NHTSA ODI 11258021

I HAVE MERCEDES BENZ GLA 250 YEAR 2015 AND THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ALREADY APPEARING IN MY DASH BOARD . I HAVE ONLY DRIVEN THIS CAR FROM HOME TO WORK WHICH IS 10-20 MILES AWAY. OTHER ISSUE I HAVE IS THAT WHEN THE WEATHER IS 30-40 DEGREES AND WILL HAVE MY HEATER IN MAX I SMELT A TERRIBLE GAS ODOR COMING FROM MY AIR VENTS

NHTSA ODI 11203129

THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE WATER PUMP, MB HAS SINCE REPLACED THE PRODUCT WITH A NEW ONE BECAUSE OF ISSUES WITH THE OLD STYLE NOT WORKING. MY CAR IS JUST OVER THE WARRANTY AND HAS ON 10,270 MILES ON IT AND IS NOW EXPERIENCING THE OVERHEATING ISSUE (WARRANTY ENDED DECEMBER 2018). IF THE PROBLEM WITH OLD STYLE WATER PUMP WAS KNOWN WHY NOT NOTIFY CUSTOMERS? WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ON, DRIVING OR RUNNING STATIONARY THE ENGINE OVERHEATS.

NHTSA ODI 11196214

I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR WHEN IT'S IN "PARK" POSITION AND WHEN IT'S AT A RED LIGHT OR STOPPED. THE CAR WILL ACCELERATE SLOWLY WHEN IT'S AT A RED LIGHT OR WHEN TURNED ON IN PARK POSITION. I TOOK MY CAR TO MB IN DALLAS (10/18) BEFORE WARRANTY EXPIRED TO CHECK ON THE ENGINE AND THE CAMSHAFT RECALL. AFTER PICKING UP MY CAR, THE SAME DAY, MY CAR HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND NOW IT HAS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. I HAVE BEEN TAKING MY CAR TO THE DEALER ON AND OFF FOR THE LAST MONTHS TO GET THIS FIXED. IT'S ONLY 45K MILES AND I'VE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH OTHER MERCEDES CARS I'VE HAD. IT IS NOW 02/19 AND THE CHECK ENGINE CAME ON AGAIN. I ASK MERCEDES TO SERIOUSLY CHECK ON THIS PROBLEM IT IS DANGEROUS TO BE AT A RED LIGHT THEN SUDDENLY FEEL THE CAR ACCELERATE.

NHTSA ODI 11182527

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE CAR SHIFTED ITSELF INTO NEUTRAL AND DISPLAYED THE FOLLOWING ERROR MESSAGE: "TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION STOP." I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND UPON STOPPING, THE FOLLOWING ERROR MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED: "SERVICE REQUIRED DO NOT SHIFT GEARS VISIT DEALER." I TURNED THE CAR OFF, RESTARTED IT, AND IT DROVE WITHOUT INCIDENT. THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 DIFFERENT TIMES: ONCE ON A SUBURBAN ROAD, ONCE IN A PARKING GARAGE, AND THREE TIMES ON A CITY STREET.

NHTSA ODI 11128815

VEHICLE DRIVEN TO MERCEDES BENZ (MB) DEALER FOR PERFORMANCE PROBLEM. MB DIAGNOSIS PROBLEM AS ENGINE WATER DAMAGE. VEHICLE WAS NEVER SUBMERGED, NOR EXPOSED TO LARGE PUDDLE OF WATER. MB REPORTED ENGINE REPLACEMENT REQUIRED AS A RESULT OF WATER DAMAGE. NO ELECTRICAL OR WATER DAMAGE TO BODY REPORTED. MB TOOK NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ENGINE REPLACEMENT ALTHOUGH THIS MODEL VEHICLE REPORTED HISTORY OF FIRE RISK IF ATTEMPTS TO RESTART AFTER DRIVING THROUGH WATER. VEHICLE MILEAGE APPROXIMATELY 25K. I HAVE PURCHASED FIVE MB SINCE 2002 WITH NO ISSUE UNTIL THIS MODEL GLA 250 2015 VEHICLE PURCHASED USED FROM DEALER IN 2016.

NHTSA ODI 11078579

IMMEDIATELY AFTER ENTERING A FREEWAY FROM AN ON-RAMP AT APPROXIMATELY 60MPH, WARNING CHIMES FOR COLLISION INDICATOR DEACTIVATED CAME ON, AUTO-DAMPENING OF ENGINE SPEED OCCURRED, AND AUTO-BRAKING OCCURRED. NO VEHICLES WERE DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF VEHICLE, NOR NEAR ENOUGH TO SIDE OR REAR CAUSE PROXIMITY SENSORS TO ACTIVATE. THE ONLY REMEDY FOR THIS WAS TO LIMP TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD (IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC), TURN OFF CAR, AND THEN TURN BACK ON. ALL INDICATORS AND WARNINGS WERE CLEARED UPON RESTARTING VEHICLE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED WITHIN 12-MONTHS.

NHTSA ODI 11057296

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES-BENZ CLA45 AMG. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V114000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO DECLINED TO BUY BACK THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11003099

IF SOMETHING IN THE ROADWAY HITS THE OIL PAN IT WILL CRACK AND CAUSING THE ENGINE TO LOCK UP WITHOUT NOTICE. IT SEEMS THERE SHOULD BE SOMETHING PROTECTING THE OIL PAN PREVENTING THIS FROM HAPPENING AND MORE TIME NOTIFYING OF LOW OIL SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO MOVE OFF THE ROAD WAY AND SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN. I ALSO QUESTION THE STRENGTH OF THE MATERIAL OR DESIGN OF THE OIL PAN.

NHTSA ODI 10980269

IF SOMETHING IN THE ROADWAY HITS THE OIL PAN IT WILL CRACK AND CAUSING THE ENGINE TO LOCK UP WITHOUT NOTICE. IT SEEMS THERE SHOULD BE SOMETHING PROTECTING THE OIL PAN PREVENTING THIS FROM HAPPENING AND MORE TIME NOTIFYING OF LOW OIL SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO MOVE OFF THE ROAD WAY AND SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN. I ALSO QUESTION THE STRENGTH OF THE MATERIAL OR DESIGN OF THE OIL PAN.

NHTSA ODI 10980274

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES-BENZ CLA250. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY BEGAN TO DECELERATE AND LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE ACTUATOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

NHTSA ODI 10916140

TRANSMISSION VIOLENTLY ENGAGE IN REVERSE: SO FAR I HAVE ONLY EXPERIENCED THIS (TWICE) DURING COLD-STARTS. STARTED THE ENGINE, SHIFT CAR IN TO REVERSE GEAR, DISENGAGE PARKING BREAK. IN NORMAL SITUATION, THE CAR WOULD REVERSE SLOWLY WITHOUT APPLYING THROTTLE. IN THE TWO TIMES I EXPERINCED THE PROBLEM, THE CAR WOULD STILL BE IDLE, EVEN AFTER GENTLY APPLYING THROTTLE. AFTER ABOUT 5 SECONDS OR SO, THE CAR WOULD VIOLENTLY JERK AND THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY ENGAGED IN REVERSE. THE LOCAL MB SERVICE CENTER WAS NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE. SOME GLA OWNERS ALSO EXPERINCED THE SAME ISSUE, WHICH CAN BE FOUND IN THIS DISCUSSION: HTTP://WWW.GLAOWNERS.COM/FORUM/ENGINE-TECHNICAL-DISCUSSION/8297-TRANSMISSION-WOES.HTML HERE IS THE VIDEO THAT ILLUSTRATES MY EXPERIENCE, FROM ANOTHER GLA OWNER: HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/GLN7KPGXYB4

NHTSA ODI 10860609

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES BENZ GLA250. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE CHECK ENGINE WARING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, IT JERKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AGAIN WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 10811450