AI Damage2015 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250: common problems
Owners of the 2015 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 filed 61 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and air bags. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 61
- involving a crash
- 5
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 23% of all complaints
- 2 Air bags 13% of all complaints
- 3 Structure 11% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 10% of all complaints
- 5 Powertrain 10% of all complaints
- 6 Service brakes 7% of all complaints
- 7 Visibility 7% of all complaints
- 8 Suspension 5% of all complaints
- Engine: 14 complaints (23% of all).
- Air bags: 8 complaints (13% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Structure: 7 complaints (11% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 6 complaints (10% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 6 complaints (10% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 61 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 8 | 3 | 0 |
| Structure | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Backover prevention | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously involved in a collision, in which another vehicle crashed into the passenger's side of the vehicle, causing damage to the frame and headlights; however, the air bags failed to deploy.
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.
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
The frontal air bags did not deploy. The supplemental restraint system warning indicator illuminated after the crash. The contact sustained injuries to the neck, head, and back and was transported to the hospital via ambulance. The contact was kept at the hospital for three days and released.
My airbags did not deploy from the initial impact (which blew out my rear passenger window on impact) or the car hitting the pole(the pole came completely down on impact). I have the investigation form & the police report number if needed.
Check Engine Light - Code P052E71 - Positive Crankcase Ventilation Valve Performance. The component failure can lead to increased exhaust gas emission, oil leaks, and internal engine damage resulting in unsafe operation. Yes, the problem has been confirmed by an independent certified service center.
Mercedes subframes that prematurely rust or deteriorate. Mercedes has extended warranty for the mentioned parts on some models. But clearly it is not enough because more models have the same issues. This is a serious safety issues and Mercedes should have taken more responsibility.
The contact attempted to restart the vehicle; however, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was inspected by two independent mechanics however, the contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 4,799 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 13% most complained about).
On average one model year of the CLA 250 has 30 complaints (15 years in the data). This year has 61, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Other years of this model
- CLA 250 20127 sources
- CLA 250 20139 sources
- CLA 250 2014179 sources
- CLA 250 2016139 sources
- CLA 250 2017105 sources
- CLA 250 2018118 sources
- CLA 250 2019144 sources
- CLA 250 2020290 sources
- CLA 250 2021251 sources
- CLA 250 2022186 sources
- CLA 250 2023184 sources
- CLA 250 2024168 sources
- CLA 250 202575 sources
- CLA 250 202659 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2015 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, air bags, structure. Total complaints: 61. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: windows, sunroof (21%), warning lights, check engine (18%), airbags did not deploy (7%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2015 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2015 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2015 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.