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

Upon start, got a "reverse not possible" warning. Tried to drive home, but shifting was very erratic and car slowed dramatically between shifts. On several occasions, cars behind me had to swerve to avoid me. And, if I would have had to reverse out of danger, I would have been in serious trouble. After too many close calls, I stopped to arrange a tow. When I returned to the car to move it, the problem went away. I am afraid to put my family in this car.

NHTSA ODI 11482597

Incident on 10/18/21, while coasting into a parking space, my car suddenly accelerated and smashed into a concrete wall. Damage was extensive and car was determined a loss. Service was maintained throughout ownership. There was no warning, no lights, messages, no ABS brakes. Airbag did not deploy. Extensive seatbelt bruising. I'm upset car was a loss but I would never feel safe driving it. It was as if someone else had taken over control and I was powerless to alter the situation.

NHTSA ODI 11438246

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

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

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

I HAVE LEASED GLA 250 MERCEDES BENZ WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, I FELT THE GAS PEDAL STOP WORKING AND THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING WITH SIGN OF "COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS" ON THE CARPOOL LANE. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS HAPPENING EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I HAVE BEEN A MERCEDES BENZ CUSTOMER PAST 5 YEARS AND I NEVER HAD THIS ACCIDENT. I MIGHT HAVE AN ACCIDENT IF A CAR BEHIND ME DID NOT STOP ITS CAR. THIS IS A DEFINITELY MECHANICAL PROBLEM AND I WANT MERCEDES BENZ TO TAKE A RESPONSIBILITY AND SOLVE THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10711863