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2018 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 Recalls, Complaints & Specs

9 safety recalls list the 2018 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250, and owners have filed 40 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

9
safety recalls
40
owner complaints to NHTSA
2 / 1
complaints citing a crash / fire

9 safety recalls for the 2018 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Roof and pillars (structure)

    NHTSA 23V854000 Reported 2,976 vehicles potentially affected Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2014-2020 C-Class, CLA, GLA, S-Class, GLC, and GLE vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle details. The front roof panel located between the windshield and the panoramic sunroof may not have been bonded correctly to the vehicle during a prior repair,…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the front panel, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 2, 2024. Owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, on, March 22,2024, and August 2, 2024. Owners may…

  2. Auto crash notification (communication) and software (electrical system)

    NHTSA 22V365000 Reported 242,722 vehicles potentially affected Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017-2022 CLA-Class, GLA-Class, GLE-Class, GLS-Class, SLC-Class, A-Class, AMG GT-Class, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, SL-Class, GLC-Class, CLS-Class, GLB-Class, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. An error in the communication…

    Remedy: The communication module software will be updated through an Over-the-Air (OTA) update or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 8, 2022. Owner notification letters will be mailed in…

  3. Roof and pillars (structure)

    NHTSA 21V197000 Reported 15,096 vehicles potentially affected Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017-2020 C300 Coupe, C43 Coupe AMG, C43 AMG, 2015-2020 C300, GLA250, 2016-2018 C350e, CLA45 Coupe AMG, 2015 C400, S65 AMG, 2015-2019 C63 AMG, 2016 C450, 2015-2016 GLA45 AMG, S600, 2016-2020 GLC300, 2017-2019 GLC43 AMG, GLE43 Coupe AMG, 2014-2019 CLA250 Coupe, 2014-2015 CLA45 AMG, 2018…

    Remedy: Mercedes-Benz dealer will remove the bonded panel and will install a new front panel by following the detailed repair instructions and using the approved primer, cleaner and adhesive, free of charge. Owner notification…

  4. Auto crash notification (communication) and communication

    NHTSA 21V072000 Reported 67 vehicles potentially affected Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017-2019 C300, E300, 2018-2020 CLA250, 2020 CLS450, AMG E53, AMG GT53, GLE450, 2018 AMG E63, AMG GTA, 2017-2020 GLA250, GLC300, 2019 GLC350, AMG GLC43, 2017-2018 GLE350, 2019 AMG GLC 43, GLC350, GLE400, 2017 GLS450, S550, C300 Cabrio, and 2018-2019 S560 vehicles. On June 18, 2021, an…

    Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the communication module and activate it, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2021. Letters for the owners of the 9 additional vehicles were…

  5. Software (electrical system) and auto crash notification (communication)

    NHTSA 21V058000 Reported 1,292,258 vehicles potentially affected Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 - 2021 CLA-Class, GLA-Class, GLE-Class, GLS-Class, SLC-Class, A-Class, GT-Class, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, CLS-Class, SL-Class, B-Class, GLB-Class, GLC-Class, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to the Part 573 report for specific vehicle model details. The software design of the…

    Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and the communication module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. The recall began March 12, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer…

  6. Occupant classification (air bags)

    NHTSA 19V892000 Reported 129 vehicles potentially affected Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC.

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2015-2018 CLA250 and CLA250 4MATIC, and 2017-2018 CLA45 AMG vehicles. The Occupant Classification System (OCS) may have been improperly calibrated, which may prevent the proper deployment of the front passenger air bag.

    Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger seat cushion, free of charge. The recall began July 31, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall…

  7. Exterior lighting and tail lights (exterior lighting)

    NHTSA 19V131000 Reported 12 vehicles potentially affected Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC.

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2018 CLA250 and CLA250 4MATIC vehicles. The tail lights and the side marker lights may flicker or fail, affecting the vehicle's visibility.

    Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected light bulb sockets, free of charge. The recall began April 5, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this…

  8. Occupant classification (air bags)

    NHTSA 18V514000 Reported 86 vehicles potentially affected Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC.

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2018 Mercedes-Benz CLA250, CLA250 4Matic, and CLA45 AMG 4Matic vehicles. The Occupant Classification System (OCS) may not be properly calibrated, resulting in the front passenger air bag not being deactivated if a child seat is in the front seat.

    Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger seat cushion, free of charge. The recall began January 2, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for…

  9. Air bags: frontal

    NHTSA 17V627000 Reported 495,290 vehicles potentially affected Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC.

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling these vehicles: 2014-2018 CLA250, CLA250 4Matic, CLA45 AMG 4Matic, 2015-2018 GLA250, GLA250 4Matic, GLA45 AMG 4Matic, C300 4Matic, C63S AMG, 2012-2014 C250, C350, C300 4Matic, E550 4Matic, 2013-2014 C63 AMG, 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2013-2015 C350 4Matic Coupe, GLK250…

    Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will add sufficient grounding to the steering components, free of charge. The recall began in December 6, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691.

40 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2018 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 have filed 40 complaints with NHTSA; 2 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. Reports cite 2 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 40,309 miles. Complaints peaked in 2025 with 11 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“Panel flew off on the highway it was terrifying.”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 26, 2026 · Unknown or other

“After a hard impact car continued to go then when came to a stop the air bags deployed which resulted in injuring my left arm”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 8, 2026 · Air bags

Compare Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
2018 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250940
2019 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250622
2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA 2501120
2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA 25057
2022 Mercedes-Benz CLA 25001
2023 Mercedes-Benz CLA 25006
2024 Mercedes-Benz CLA 25002
2025 Mercedes-Benz CLA 25001

Checking a specific 2018 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250

How do I know if my 2018 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 9 campaigns currently list the 2018 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Mercedes-Benz dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 17V627000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Mercedes-Benz models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.