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2016 Mercedes-benz Cla-class

Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.

Recalls, complaint breakdown & inspection checklist, all in a shareable PDF

65 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 14, 2026 · source: NHTSA

Buywillitcar.com

Why buy?

Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.

Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.

The math, shown

Full methodology →
Complaint volume (40%)89
Severity (30%)68
Recall load (20%)100
Trend (10%)57

Complaints filed per year

Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.

20162026 YTD

The road ahead

What breaks on a 2016 Mercedes-benz Cla-class, plotted where owners report it happening.

030k mi60k mi90k mi120k mi

Also reported (mileage varies): Engine (15) · Airbags (13) · Body & structure (8) · Electrical system (8)

Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.

Engine

23%

15 complaints · 4 in the last 2 years

My car has slipped into neutral twice while driving. Once while turning left from red light and once while sitting still at red light.

Airbags

20%

13 complaints · 2 in the last 2 years

My mechanic said that he believes there is a recall on a recalled part this was previously repaired per Mercedes notice of safety recall dated April 2018. The recall r…

Body & structure

12%

8 complaints · 3 in the last 2 years

Factory window tint of the back window & the driver/passenger side(s) windows are bubbling and peeling causing visual impairment while operating motor vehicle. Example…

Electrical system

12%

8 complaints · 4 in the last 2 years

Check engine light with error code P052E. From my research, this is a very common issue with this engine and one that either has been recalled or is planning to be rec…

Recalls (0)

No recall campaigns on file for this model year.

Before you hand over money

Check the VIN for open recalls

NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.

Free NHTSA VIN check

Get a pre-purchase inspection

A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2016 Mercedes-benz CLA-CLASS beats every score on the internet, including ours.

What to ask for

Not set on the 2016? See how every Cla-class model year scores →

Cross-shopping? Compare the 2016 Mercedes-benz Cla-class against another car →

What owners say

Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.

The fine print: this verdict is computed from public NHTSA complaint and recall records for the 2016 Mercedes-benz Cla-class as a model, not for any individual car. A well-maintained example of an “Avoid” can outlast a neglected “Buy”. Informational only, so always get a professional pre-purchase inspection.