2017 MERCEDES-BENZ CLA250 Complaints and Recall Information
The 2017 MERCEDES-BENZ CLA250 has 2 complaints and 226 recalls filed with NHTSA. Owners most frequently report issues involving engine performance degradation and instrument cluster display failures. These complaints highlight potential safety risks during normal vehicle operation.
Common Issues- Partial-load ventilation valve failure. The valve responsible for regulating crankcase pressure malfunctions, causing increased engine pressure, oil leaks, and engine damage. This issue leads to engine stalling or reduced power during acceleration, increasing accident risk. Oil leaks may result in smoke or fire hazards. The problem was confirmed by a technician and accompanied by warning lights and engine hesitations.
- Instrument cluster display malfunction. The display intermittently fails by showing incorrect information or going blank during driving. This failure prevents the driver from viewing critical data like speed and warning lights, posing safety concerns in traffic. An independent service center confirmed the issue without prior warning lamps.
There are 226 recalls on record involving various systems including body structure, electrical software, air bags, steering components, and communication modules. These recalls indicate multiple areas where the vehicle may suffer from safety-related defects requiring free repairs or software updates from dealers.
Recalls- Roof structure panel bonding. (NHTSA 23V854000, 2976 vehicles) The front roof panel between the windshield and panoramic sunroof may not have been bonded correctly after repair, risking detachment and creating a road hazard. Dealers replace the front panel free of charge. No Do Not Drive or Park Outside advisory was issued.
- Communication module software. (NHTSA 22V365000, 242722 vehicles) A SIM card software error disables the emergency call (eCall) system by losing mobile network connection, potentially delaying emergency response after a crash. Dealers perform an Over-the-Air or dealer software update at no cost.
- Occupant Classification System calibration. (NHTSA 19V892000, 129 vehicles) Improper calibration may prevent proper deployment of the front passenger air bag, increasing injury risk during a crash. Dealers replace the passenger seat cushion free of charge.
- Communication module location error. (NHTSA 21V058000, 1,292,258 vehicles) The software may fail to communicate the correct vehicle location during an emergency call, potentially delaying responders. Dealers update communication module software free of charge via OTA or dealer visit.
- Steering shaft universal joint. (NHTSA 21V229000, 4992 vehicles) Excessive movement in the steering shaft bore hole can cause bearing separation, resulting in loss of steering control and increased crash risk. Dealers inspect and replace the steering shaft as necessary at no cost.
- Emergency call module deactivation. (NHTSA 21V072000, 67 vehicles) A service visit may have inadvertently deactivated the communication module disabling the emergency call function, increasing injury risk. Dealers inspect and reactivate the module free of charge.
- Roof panel adhesive deterioration. (NHTSA 21V197000, 15,096 vehicles) Deterioration of adhesive bonding on the front roof panel can cause detachment and road hazards. Dealers remove and install new front panels with approved materials free of charge.
- Passenger air bag inflator failure. (NHTSA 17V080000, 2112 vehicles) The pelvis or front passenger air bag inflator may fail to ignite during a crash, increasing injury risk. Dealers replace affected air bag modules at no cost beginning March 2017.
- Starter assembly overheating. (NHTSA 17V114000, 307,629 vehicles) Repeated starter motor attempts may cause the starter current limiter to overheat and melt surrounding components, raising fire risk. Dealers install additional fuses free of charge.
- Driver air bag inadvertent deployment. (NHTSA 17V627000, 495,290 vehicles) Insufficient grounding may cause the driver air bag to deploy unexpectedly due to electrostatic discharge, increasing crash and injury risk. Dealers add proper grounding free of charge.
Owners facing repeated repairs, unresolved recall issues, or safety defects with their 2017 MERCEDES-BENZ CLA250 may have rights under their state’s lemon law. Consulting a consumer protection attorney can help clarify those rights and available remedies.
2017 MERCEDES-BENZ CLA250 Summary
2017
Model Year
2
Total Complaints
10
Total Recalls
2363271
Vehicles Affected
Recalls
2017 MERCEDES-BENZ CLA250
2976 vehicles affected
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
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, allowing the front panel to detach from the vehicle.
Risk: A detached roof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
2017 MERCEDES-BENZ CLA250
242722 vehicles affected
COMMUNICATION: AUTO CRASH NOTIFICATION
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 module's SIM card software can cause a mobile network connection failure, disabling the emergency call (eCall) system.
Risk: A disabled eCall system would prevent a vehicle occupant from contacting the emergency services call center in an emergency, potentially delaying emergency responders and increasing the risk of injury.
2017 MERCEDES-BENZ CLA250
4992 vehicles affected
STEERING
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017 B250e, CLA250, 2017-2018 AMG CLA45, GLA250, and AMG GLA45 vehicles. The steering shaft bore hole for the universal joint bearing may allow excessive movement that, over time, could result in the separation of the bearing and universal joint.
Risk: A separated universal joint bearing can cause a loss of steering control and increase the risk of a crash.
2017 MERCEDES-BENZ CLA250
1292258 vehicles affected
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
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 communication module may fail to communicate the correct vehicle location for the emergency call system (eCall) in the event of a crash.
Risk: Failure of the eCall system may result in emergency responders being dispatched to the wrong location, increasing the risk of injury following a crash.
2017 MERCEDES-BENZ CLA250
67 vehicles affected
COMMUNICATION
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 additional 9 vehicles were added, including certain 2021 GLA250, GLC300, 2018 S450, E400, and 2017 CLA250 vehicles. The communication module might have been inadvertently deactivated during a service visit, which could have disabled the Emergency Call (eCall) function.
Risk: A disabled eCall system would prevent a vehicle occupant from contacting emergency services through the call center in an emergency, potentially delaying emergency responders and increasing the risk of injury.
2017 MERCEDES-BENZ CLA250
15096 vehicles affected
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
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 GLC63 AMG, 2014-2017 S550, 2018-2020 S450, 2016-2019 GLE63 Coupe AMG, 2016 GLE450 Coupe, 2014-2020 S63 AMG, 2018-2019 S560, and 2019 GLC350e vehicles equipped with a panoramic sunroof. 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.
Risk: The adhesive bonding of the front panel might deteriorate, possibly causing the front panel to detach from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
2017 MERCEDES-BENZ CLA250
129 vehicles affected
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
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.
Risk: In the event of a crash, if the air bag does not deploy as designed, the front seat passenger has an increased risk of an injury.
2017 MERCEDES-BENZ CLA250
495290 vehicles affected
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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 4Matic BlueTec, GLK350, GLK350 4Matic, 2016-2017 C350e, C43 AMG, 2015 C400 4Matic, 2016-2018 C63 AMG, GLC300, GLC300 4Matic, 2017-2018 C300 Coupe, C300 4Matic Coupe, C43 AMG, C63 AMG Coupe, C63S AMG Coupe, C300 Cabriolet, C300 4Matic Cabriolet, C43 AMG Cabriolet, C63 AMG Cabriolet, C63S AMG Cabriolet, GLC300 4Matic Coupe, GLC43 AMG, GLC43 AMG Coupe, 2014 E350 Coupe, E350 4Matic Coupe, E350 Cabriolet, E400 Hybrid, 2015-2017 E400 Coupe, E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabriolet, 2014-2017 E550 Coupe, E550 Cabriolet, B250e, 2014-2016 E250 BlueTec, E63 AMG 4Matic Wagon, 2012-2013 E350 BlueTec, 2012-2016 E350, E350 4Matic, 2015-2016 E400, E400 4Matic, 2012 E63 AMG, 2014-2015 E250 4Matic BlueTec, 2013-2016 E350 Wagon, 2017 GLC300d 4Matic, and 2018 GLC350e 4Matic. The driver's air bag may unexpectedly deploy due to insufficient grounding of the steering components if an electrostatic discharge occurs and the air bag clockspring is broken.
Risk: If the driver air bag inadvertently deploys, it can increase the risk of injury and a crash.
2017 MERCEDES-BENZ CLA250
307629 vehicles affected
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2015-2017 C300 4Matic, C300, CLA250, CLA250 4Matic and CLA45 AMG vehicles, 2017 C300 4Matic Cabrio, C300 4Matic Coupe, C300 Cabrio, C300 Coupe, E300, E300 4Matic, E400 4Matic Wagon, E43 AMG 4Matic, GLA250, GLA250 4Matic and GLC300 4Matic Coupe vehicles and 2016 C350e and GLC300 vehicles and 2016-2017 C450 4Matic AMG Sport and GLC300 4Matic vehicles. In the event that the engine or transmission cannot turn over, the starting current limiter may overheat from the repeated attempts of the starter motor attempting to start the vehicle.
Risk: If the starting current limiter overheats, the surrounding components can melt, increasing the risk of a fire.
2017 MERCEDES-BENZ CLA250
2112 vehicles affected
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017 CLA250, CLA250 4Matic, E400 Coupe, E400 4Matic Coupe, E550 Coupe, E400 Cabriolet, E550 Cabriolet, E300, E300 4Matic, E400 Wagon, GLA250, and GLA250 4Matic vehicles. The pelvis air bag or the front passenger air bag inflator initiator may fail to ignite in the event of a crash.
Risk: If the pelvis airbag or the front passenger airbag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the occupants have an increased risk of injury.
Complaints
2017 MERCEDES-BENZ CLA250
ID: 2112954ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The instrument cluster display intermittently failed, either showing incorrect information or going completely blank while driving. Yes, the component is still installed in the vehicle and available for inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? When the display failed, I was unable to view critical information such as vehicle speed, warning lights, and engine performance data. This posed a significant safety risk, especially while navigating traffic. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, the issue was reproduced and confirmed by a independent service center. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? There were no warning lamps or error messages prior to the failure. The issue first appeared June 20, 2025 and began occurring intermittently before worsening over time.
2017 MERCEDES-BENZ CLA250
ID: 2100410POWER TRAIN
Component or System That Failed or Malfunctioned: The component that failed was the partial-load ventilation valve, which is part of the engine’s crankcase ventilation system. This valve is responsible for regulating airflow and pressure within the crankcase during partial engine loads. A malfunction in this valve can lead to increased engine pressure, oil leaks, and potential damage to engine components. The component is still available for inspection upon request. Safety Risk: The failure of the partial-load ventilation valve put my safety, and that of others, at risk in the following ways: •Engine stalling or reduced power while driving, especially during acceleration, which increases the risk of an accident. •In some cases, oil leakage caused by excess crankcase pressure could lead to engine compartment smoke or a potential fire hazard. •If the engine performance is compromised, it may suddenly lose power on highways or intersections, posing a serious risk. Problem Reproduced or Confirmed: Yes, the issue was confirmed. The technician verified the faulty valve during a diagnostic inspection after I noticed performance issues and warning messages. Inspected by Manufacturer, Dealer, or Others: Yes, the vehicle was inspected Warning Lamps, Messages, or Other Symptoms: Yes, there were warning signs prior to the failure: •Check Engine Light illuminated on the dashboard. •Engine running rough or hesitating, particularly during acceleration.