2016 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 has 71 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.9x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (23% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2016 mercedes-benz gla250. while driving approximately 30-54 mph, the vehicle would vibrate and made a rumbling noise under the hood. once the vehicle reached 1,400 rpms/55 mph, the failure seized. the contact stated that the vibration could be felt through the steering wheel .

1 crash report 2 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.9x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

16 complaints

23%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MERCEDES-BENZ GLA250. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30-54 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE AND MADE A RUMBLING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD. ONCE THE VEHICLE REACHED 1,400 RPMS/55 MPH, THE FAILURE SEIZED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIBRATION COULD BE FELT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL
• ON AUGUST 4TH, 2018, SEPTEMBER 21ST ,2018 AND JANUARY 10TH, 2019, MY 2016 MERCEDES-BENZ GLA 250 SHUTDOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. SPECIFICALLY, IN ALL 3 OCCASIONS MENTIONED ABOVE, MY VEHICLE SHUT-DOWNED AND BECAME DISABLED AND NON-OPERATIONAL, ABRUPTLY AND WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS WHILE DRIVING.
• STRONG GASOLINE VAPOR IN ENGINE. WHILE CHECKING OIL OR REMOVING OIL FILLER CAP. I FEAR THIS COULD CAUSE EXPLOSION DURING SERVICE. THE MERCEDES DEALER SAYS THIS COMMON IN SOME 4 CYLINDERS ENGINES. THIS IS ONGOING.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MERCEDES-BENZ GLA250. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30-54 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE AND MADE A RUMBLING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD. ONCE THE VEHICLE REACHED 1,400 RPMS/55 MPH, THE FAILURE SEIZED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIBRATION COULD BE FELT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

16 complaints

23%

• DRIVING 70 MPH ON HIGHWAY, 12K MILES ON MY 2016 CAR AND THE SUNROOF EXPLODED OUT THE TOP OF MY CAR. SOUNDED LIKE A SHOTGUN BLAST, SHREDS OF GLASS EVERYWHERE. NO WARNINGS, SOUNDS, ANY IDEA ABOUT TO OCCUR.
• I HAVE A INFANT ON BOARD WITH ME, AND TRAVELS WITH ME, FROM FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA TO HAMPTON, VIRGINIA.WE CLOUD HAVE BEEN KILLED ON THE WAY HOME TO THANKS GIVING DINNER LAST MONTHIN HAMPTON. SO, MY GRANDDAUGHTER AND I LEFT LEFT FREDERICKSBURG, VI ALL OF A SUDDEN MY MERCEDES GLA 250 2016 SLAMMED I
• ON AN INITIAL START OF DRIVE, AS SOON AS THE ECO SYSTEM KICKS IN. WHEN L RELEASE MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE, AND BEFORE L EVEN TOUCH THE GAS THE CAR INSTANTLY CUTS OUT WITH THIS WARNING'SERVICE REQUIRED DO NOT SHIFT GEARS VISIT DEALER' AND AUTOMOBILE GOES INTO 'N'. I THEN PROCEED TO PUT THE CAR IN 'D'

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“DRIVING 70 MPH ON HIGHWAY, 12K MILES ON MY 2016 CAR AND THE SUNROOF EXPLODED OUT THE TOP OF MY CAR. SOUNDED LIKE A SHOTGUN BLAST, SHREDS OF GLASS EVERYWHERE. NO WARNINGS, SOUNDS, ANY IDEA ABOUT TO OCCUR.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

8 complaints

11%

• "TAKATA RECALL" WHAT PURPOSE DOES THIS RECALL SERVE IF THE MANUFACTURER STILL DOES NOT HAVE A "REMEDY" AVAILABLE? I HAVE 3 BENZ'S, ALL AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL AND FOR OVER 1 YEAR THE DEALER CANNOT REPAIR DUE TO "NO REMEDY YET AVAIL". SO IN THE MEANTIME, WE SHOULD DRIVE AND PRAY THAT SOMETHING TRA
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MERCEDES-BENZ GLA250. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V627000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. MERCEDES-BENZ
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MERCEDES-BENZ GLA250. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V627000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. OCCASIONAL

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“"TAKATA RECALL" WHAT PURPOSE DOES THIS RECALL SERVE IF THE MANUFACTURER STILL DOES NOT HAVE A "REMEDY" AVAILABLE? I HAVE 3 BENZ'S, ALL AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL AND FOR OVER 1 YEAR THE DEALER CANNOT REPAIR DUE TO "NO REMEDY YET AVAIL". SO IN THE MEANTIME, WE SHOULD DRIVE AND PRAY THAT SOMETHING TRA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

5 complaints

• I HAVE A INFANT ON BOARD WITH ME, AND TRAVELS WITH ME, FROM FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA TO HAMPTON, VIRGINIA.WE CLOUD HAVE BEEN KILLED ON THE WAY HOME TO THANKS GIVING DINNER LAST MONTHIN HAMPTON. SO, MY GRANDDAUGHTER AND I LEFT LEFT FREDERICKSBURG, VI ALL OF A SUDDEN MY MERCEDES GLA 250 2016 SLAMMED I
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MERCEDES-BENZ GLA250. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V627000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. OCCASIONAL
• My car puts itself into neutral while driving and while stopped. This has happened 4 times now. The dealer claims they aren’t familiar with this issue. My safety and the safety of others driving around me are in danger. Today, I was changing lanes on the feeder road, and my car locked up into neutra

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“I HAVE A INFANT ON BOARD WITH ME, AND TRAVELS WITH ME, FROM FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA TO HAMPTON, VIRGINIA.WE CLOUD HAVE BEEN KILLED ON THE WAY HOME TO THANKS GIVING DINNER LAST MONTHIN HAMPTON. SO, MY GRANDDAUGHTER AND I LEFT LEFT FREDERICKSBURG, VI ALL OF A SUDDEN MY MERCEDES GLA 250 2016 SLAMMED I”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

5 complaints

• I WAS DRIVING MY CAR IN MOTION AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING, THE CAR DECELERATED AND SUBSEQUENTLY STALLED WHILE I WAS TRAVELING ON I-85 IN GAFFNEY SOUTH CAROLINA. IT WENT FROM 50 TO 0 LEAVING ME STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY. IT WAS TOWED TO MERCEDES BENZ OF SOUTH CHARLOTTE WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS COMP
• The check engine light came on. The code reads Emission. They told me it wasn’t covered at Mercedes
• Smell of gas when turning on heater, fuel leaking on engine block

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“I WAS DRIVING MY CAR IN MOTION AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING, THE CAR DECELERATED AND SUBSEQUENTLY STALLED WHILE I WAS TRAVELING ON I-85 IN GAFFNEY SOUTH CAROLINA. IT WENT FROM 50 TO 0 LEAVING ME STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY. IT WAS TOWED TO MERCEDES BENZ OF SOUTH CHARLOTTE WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS COMP”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 71 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MERCEDES-BENZ GLA250. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30-54 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE AND MADE A RUMBLING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD. ONCE THE VEHICLE REACHED 1,400 RPMS/55 MPH, THE FAILURE SEIZED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIBRATION COULD BE FELT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: DRIVING 70 MPH ON HIGHWAY, 12K MILES ON MY 2016 CAR AND THE SUNROOF EXPLODED OUT THE TOP OF MY CAR. SOUNDED LIKE A SHOTGUN BLAST, SHREDS OF GLASS EVERYWHERE. NO WARNINGS, SOUNDS, ANY IDEA ABOUT TO OCCUR.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: "TAKATA RECALL" WHAT PURPOSE DOES THIS RECALL SERVE IF THE MANUFACTURER STILL DOES NOT HAVE A "REMEDY" AVAILABLE? I HAVE 3 BENZ'S, ALL AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL AND FOR OVER 1 YEAR THE DEALER CANNOT REPAIR DUE TO "NO REMEDY YET AVAIL". SO IN THE MEANTIME, WE SHOULD DRIVE AND PRAY THAT SOMETHING TRA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: I HAVE A INFANT ON BOARD WITH ME, AND TRAVELS WITH ME, FROM FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA TO HAMPTON, VIRGINIA.WE CLOUD HAVE BEEN KILLED ON THE WAY HOME TO THANKS GIVING DINNER LAST MONTHIN HAMPTON. SO, MY GRANDDAUGHTER AND I LEFT LEFT FREDERICKSBURG, VI ALL OF A SUDDEN MY MERCEDES GLA 250 2016 SLAMMED I
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)