Home · 2019 Mercedes-benz Cla-class · Complaints

What 51 owners told NHTSA about the 2019 Mercedes-benz Cla-class

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 (51)Crash / fire / injury (5)Transmission & drivetrain (13)Engine (7)Fuel system (7)Airbags (6)Steering (5)Electrical system (4)Visibility & wipers (4)Wheels (4)Body & structure (3)Brakes (3)

6 of 51 complaints match · Airbags · clear filters

Jan 13, 2026SteeringAirbagsDriver assistance

The emergency braking system keeps coming on every time I go to drive, my car automatically shifts into neutral gear when driving and I have an error message saying that I can’t reverse. My seat will Not go further back and I have an air bag issue light

NHTSA ODI 11710573

Mar 22, 2025Airbags

Clock spring broke

NHTSA ODI 11649940

Aug 23, 2024AirbagsCrash1 injury

The contact owned a 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLA250. The contact stated while driving at approximately 55 MPH when the contact was cut off by another vehicle, the contact stated that he depressed the brake pedal in a panic stop. The contact stated that he was crashed into the rear end of his vehicle by a vehicle from behind and was pushed into the rear of the vehicle that had cut him off. The contact stated that the force of the crash turned the vehicle off. The contact stated that the front end of his vehicle, the hood, grill, and lights were crushed and crumpled back to the front wheel wells. The contact stated that the trunk and rear bumper were damaged. The contact stated that the rear bumper was nearly detached from the vehicle. The contact stated that his vehicle and the vehicle he had crashed into were towed to impound lots. The contact that the vehicle that crashed into his rear end was not towed. The contact stated that the driver's air bag had not been deployed, no air bags had deployed. The contact stated that his insurance provider declared the vehicle a total loss. The contact stated that the police were on the scene and had written a report. The contact drove to his personal doctor due to pain in his right side ribs, and bruising on his left bicep. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 52,000.

NHTSA ODI 11610476

May 28, 2022Airbags1 injury

On December 4th 2021, while driving my airbags deployed without warning or notice. On a normal day at this time I would be traveling on the highway. The impact of the airport was so intense it stunned me and I thought another vehicle made impact. The chemicals of the airbag got al over my clothes, skin, and the interior. The steering column was sent to Germany for review and it was determined it was a technical issue that was not my fault However, in a different circumstance this could have caused a severe problem fatal collision woth another vehicle or object if I was traveling at a greater rate of speed. At the time of deployment I was traveling under 20mph. I did notice a warning lamp just a couple of hours prior to its deployment and called Mercedes to schedule a service to look into it. Approx 3 hours later the airbag deployed. The components in the steering wheel flew out causing damage to the interior of the vehicle and if it made contact with me could have cut me as well. I had discomfort from the chemical as a result of it getting all over my clothes, hair and skin. I was bruised and mentally impacted. I drive with the fear an airbag can deploy at any time in any vehicle I'm traveling in and cause me or my daughter bodily harm, damage or death

NHTSA ODI 11466514

Aug 10, 2020Transmission & drivetrainAirbagsBrakesCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT WAS LEASING THE 2019 MERCEDES BENZ GLA250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED SHE ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT TO PARK HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AS SHE CRASHED INTO AN UNKNOWN OBJECT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE THEN WENT INTO DRIVE AT CRASHED INTO A TRUCK. THE SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED BUT NOT THE AIR BAG IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISING TO THE CHEST THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED FIRST AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A POLICE TOW LOT AND THEN TOWED TO AN INSURANCE LOT WHERE THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED THE VEHICLE AS TOTAL LOSS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 11,000.

NHTSA ODI 11348431

Apr 30, 2019SteeringAirbags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 MERCEDES-BENZ CLA250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE "FRONT LEFT MALFUNCTION" AND "SERVICE REQUIRED" MESSAGES APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PARK PLACE MOTOR CARS MERCEDES-BENZ (5601 BRYANT IRVIN RD, FORT WORTH, TX 76132, (817) 310-9745) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAGS NEEDED NEW WIRING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 600.

NHTSA ODI 11204701

Working with the data? Download all 51 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 14, 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 2019 Mercedes-benz Cla-class verdict →