Home · 2015 Mercedes-benz CLA · Complaints

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

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (157)Crash / fire / injury (11)Engine (42)Airbags (21)Transmission & drivetrain (20)Body & structure (19)Electrical system (18)Fuel system (14)Visibility & wipers (12)Brakes (9)Speed control (6)Driver assistance (5)

9 of 157 complaints match · Brakes · clear filters

Dec 30, 2022BrakesDriver assistance

Had an update on the software to control collision prevention on the car, and soon afterward it began to deploy at certain spots without any other car in front for at least 50 feet. Took it back to the M-B Seattle dealer and after 4 weeks of investigation, I was told that the matter is exterior to the car and that the car performs as intended. T still drive the car and it still gives me warnings of impending to engage the collision detection braking system. I don't feel very comfortable driving it in the city.

NHTSA ODI 11499518

Apr 3, 2021Brakes

MY CONCERN IS BRAKE AND ROTORS. I REPLACED BRAKES A FEW MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING MY VEHICLE IN 2020. MY DEALERSHIP WAS NOT HELPFUL ABOUT EXPERIENCE. I ASKED WHY BRAKES WERE NOT INSPECTED B4 PURCHASE AND AFTER SEVERAL CALLS REPAIRS WERE DONE. IT'S BEEN 1 YEAR AND VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN MUCH DUE TO COVID. NOW HAVING SAME PROBLEMS WITH SHAKING AGAIN.. I FEEL BRAKES ARE A ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND I NEED ANSWERS. I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ON LINE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH BRAKES ROTORS ON CLA250 MERCEDES BENZ .PLEASE HELP

NHTSA ODI 11406252

Jul 24, 2019Speed controlBrakesCrash4 injuries

I WAS DRIVING TO MEET A FRIEND FOR LUNCH. I CAME UP UPON A STOP LIGHT THAT WAS ALREADY RED AND I WOULD HAVE BEEN THE THIRD CAR IN LINE. I CAME TO WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A STOP. I WAS ABOUT A CAR LENGTH OR MORE BEHIND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. NEXT THING I KNOW, I HEAR A LOUD BANG AS MY CAR HAD ACCELERATED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THAT CAR, IN TURN, HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF THEM. I WAS VERY CONFUSED. I RECEIVED A TRAFFIC TICKET FOR UNCONTROLLED SPEED. THE POLICEMAN THOUGHT I WAS I WAS CRAZY WHEN I SAID THAT I HAD COME TO A STOP. THE CAR WAS DRIVABLE, SO I STILL WENT TO LUNCH WITH MY FRIEND. NO PROBLEM WHATSOEVER WITH PARKING OR DRIVING THE CAR TO THE RESTAURANT, WHICH WAS ABOUT 1 MILE AWAY. AFTER LUNCH, I THEN NEEDED TO RUN AN ERRAND BEFORE I WENT HOME. I DROVE ABOUT 2 BLOCKS AWAY FROM THE RESTAURANT AND PULLED INTO A SHOPPING CENTER. I THEN SLOWLY PULLED INTO A PARKING SPOT BETWEEN TWO OTHER CARS. AS MY CAR HIT THE CURB, IT THEN WENT OVER THE CURB, ONTO THE SIDEWALK AND SLAMMED INTO THE CONCRETE WALL OF ONE OF THE SHOPS. I WAS ABLE TO GET HOME, VERY SHAKEN, AND RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET. EVERYTHING I FOUND INDICATED IT WAS SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION (SUA). I TOLD MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND ALSO CALLED MERCEDES BENZ USA. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE MERCEDES COLLISION REPAIR SHOP. MERCEDES DID A RECORDED CONVERSATION AND SAID NOT TO HAVE THE CAR REPAIRED AND THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT. THEY WERE DEFENSIVE WHEN I MENTION SUA, BUT MY MAT IS VELCROED ON AND IT HAPPENED TWICE IN ONE DAY. AFTER THE SECOND COLLISION, I SAW A MESSAGE ON MY DASH THAT SAID : ?COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS INOPERATIVE". MY AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. I CHECKED AT THE MERCEDES COLLISION CENTER TODAY AND WAS TOLD MERCEDES REMOVED A BLACK RECORDING BOX FROM MY CAR. I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING BACK AS OF YET. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR EVEN IF IT IS REPAIRED.*DT *DT *TR

NHTSA ODI 11234599

Jun 10, 2019SuspensionElectrical systemBrakesCrash

I HAVE 2015 CLA250 COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST DOSE NOT WORK AND IT’S ALWAYS ON AS ALARM ON MY DASHBOARD AFTER I SEARCH TOO MANY PEOPLE HAVE SAME ISSUES I WANT TO THE DEALER THE ASK 190$ FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND THEN WILL CHARGE MY FOR RE PROGRAM AND SUSPENSION TO HARSH NOTICE MY CAR MILEAGE 33000 ONLY THANKS

NHTSA ODI 11218893

Mar 19, 2019Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Brakes

WE HAVE HAD THIS CAR ABOUT A YEAR, WE ENCOUNTER NUMEROUS OCCASION THE THE "COLLISION ASSIST PLUS" HAS ENGAGED INTERMITTENTLY W/O ANY REASONABLE OBSTACLE IN FRONT OF THE CAR WHEN IT IS IN MOTION. ABOUT A MONTH AGO, THE CAR GAVE MESSAGE "COLLISION ASSIST INOPERATIVE" AND I CAN EVEN GET THE CAR IN GEAR NOT WITH MULTIPLE RESTART. LAST WEEK I WENT OUT WITH MY WIFE AND THE CAR STOP ON THE BUSY STREET ON THE STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AND THE CAR DID "AUTO START STOP" WAS UNABLE TO RESTART AND IT DISENGAGE THE TRANSMISSION AND I HAD TO RESTART THE CAR MANUALLY AND REENGAGE THE TRANSMISSION. I HAD FILE COMPLAINT ABOUT INTERMITTENT "COLLISION ASSIST " CONDITION TO THE DEALER (HOUSE OF IMPORT, BUANA PARK, CA), THE SERVICE ADVISER SAID IT IS NORMAL FOR THE COLLISION ASSIST ACTING UP SOME TIME. I BELIEVE THERE ARE SOME SOFTWARE GREMLIN OR SOME OTHER ECU ISSUE NEED TO BE ADDRESS. IT S A SAFETY CONCERN TO KEEP DRIVING THIS CAN W/O ANY SOLUTION, I DID CONTACTED MBZ USA, THEY OFFER NO HELP NOR SOLUTION AT ALL.

NHTSA ODI 11190094

Jan 6, 2018Speed controlBrakes

CAR TAKEN TO MERCEDES BENZ SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON 1/3/2018 FOR COLLISION ASSIST SYSTEM FAILURE ON 12/30/2017 CAUSING CAR TO LOSE POWER, COLLISION ASSIST SYSTEM WARNING ALERT, AUTO BRAKING (ALL AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHILE ENTERING HIGHWAY FROM ON-RAMP). ONLY SOLUTION WAS TO LIMP TO SIDE OF FREEWAY AND TURN OFF CAR, THEN RESTART. ALL WARNINGS CLEARED, CAR RETURNED TO NORMAL STATE. ABLE TO DRIVE. OCCURRED TWICE BEFORE (12/22/2017 AND 12/23/2017). AFTER RECEIVING CAR BACK FROM MERCEDES BENZ SERVICE DEPARTMENT, REPORTED ISSUE WAS CA SENSOR WAS LOOSE IN ITS SEAT AFTER VISUAL INSPECTION. REPORTED TO HAVE REPLACED SENSOR AND RE-SEATED, INITIAL STARTUP ON CA MODULE INCLUDING UPDATE AND CALIBRATION, TEST DRIVE OF 9 MILES WITHOUT INCIDENT, REPORTED AS "EVERYTHING FUNCTIONING AT THIS TIME". VEHICLE RETRIEVED FROM MB ON 1/4/2018. ON 1/6/2018, ISSUE OCCURRED AGAIN AFTER MAKING RIGHT HAND TURN ON SURFACE ROAD AND ACCELERATING TO APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH (45 MPH ZONE). SAME SITUATION: LOSS OF POWER, AUTO DAMPENING, COLLISION ASSIST WARNING AND CHIMES. TAKING VEHICLE BACK TO MB SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AMONG 2015 MB CLA250S, AS REPORTED ON MBWORLD BLOG SITE - HTTPS://MBWORLD.ORG/FORUMS/C-CLASS-W205/584375-COLLISION-PREVENTION-ASSIST-PLUS-INOPERATIVE-ERROR.HTML.

NHTSA ODI 11060894

Dec 29, 2017Electronic Stability Control (esc)BrakesEngine

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

Oct 30, 2015Brakes

THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE GAS PEDAL ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. I AM CONSTANTLY FEELING THE SLIGHT TOUCH OF THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE CARS AND SUV'S IN THE PAST AND I CANNOT EVERY RECALL TOUCHING THE BRAKE WHEN GASSING. I AM VERY CONSCIOUS OF THE PROXIMITY OF THE 2 PEDALS AND TRY TO NOT TOUCH THE BRAKE. IT STILL HAPPENS FROM TIME TO TIME.

NHTSA ODI 10787316

Nov 10, 2014Brakes

THERE WAS NO INCIDENT WITH THE CAR. I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW AND WHEN DRIVING IT I DETECTED A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD WITH THE POSITIONS OF THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP ARE TOO CLOSE TO EACH OTHER. FOR EXAMPLE IF YOUR ARE WEARING MEN'S TENNIS SHOES THEIR IS A HAZARD OF TOUCHING BOTH THE BRAKE AND GAS WHEN YOU WANT TO APPLY THE BRAKE YOU ALSO APPLY THE GAS. SIMPLY BECAUSE THE SHOES ARE TOO WIDE. THE DIMENSIONS ARE: THE BRAKE PEDAL IS 5" X 3" AND THE GAS PEDAL IS 2" WIDE AND 6" LONG. THE SEPARATION BETWEEN THE TWO PEDALS IS 2 INCHES. THE GAS PEDAL IS 1 INCH FROM THE CENTER WALL ON THE RIGHT AND THE BRAKE PEDAL IS 10 INCHES FROM THE LEFT WALL. I DON'T IF THESE TOLERANCES ARE ACCEPTABLE ONLY DOT WOULD KNOW.

NHTSA ODI 10653964

Working with the data? Download all 157 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 19, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2015 Mercedes-benz CLA verdict →