MODELYEARINDEX

Which Mercedes-Benz CLA years to avoid

Across 7 scored model years, the 2014 and 2016 model years carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates.

Ownership label · Mercedes-Benz CLA Full report
F
Grade 2014–2020
2014 vs model median 7.1×
Model median3× median
Engine 46
Speed Control 31
Electrical 30
Avoid

2014 · 2016

Best

2018 · 2019

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2014
7.11× 177 F
2015
1.45× 27 C
2016
2.09× 40 D
2017
0.90× 25 B
2018
0.40× 12 A
2019
0.41× 11 A
2020
1.00× 24 B

What owners report

The component groups most often named, with one representative report. These are unverified — allegations, not findings.

2014 F 177 reports · median 12,341 mi

  1. Engine 46

    This has happened multiple times starting in jan. 2014 and most recently april 15, 2014: come to a stop at red light (or stop sign) and when I step on gas to go when light turns green, etc., no power or, at most, car… owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Speed Control 31

    I purchased a new new new mercedes cla-250c automobile late september 2013. In mid-october I experienced un-commanded acceleration to above 5500 RPM. This ceased just as I was about to apply braking. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Electrical 30

    Today I was driving in a parking lot and approached the light to exit and my dashboard lit up with a presafe system failure, system is inoperative and my car slowed down considerably when I tried to accelerate. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

3 crash · 6 injuries

2016 D 40 reports · median 31,000 mi

  1. Airbags & Restraints 9

    The contact rented a 2016 mercedes-benz cla250. While driving 45 MPH, the contact's vehicle crashed into the rear of another vehicle. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Engine 6

    If something in the roadway hits the oil pan it will crack and causing the engine to lock up without notice. It seems there should be something protecting the oil pan preventing this from happening and more time… owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Tires & Wheels 4

    We purchased a brand new mercedes benz 2016 5 months ago. I AM driving about 28 miles from my starting point and come to find two of my front tires with air bubbles. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

8 crash · 3 injuries

The best year for the CLA

Ranked by overall score among years with a full 60 months on the road.

2019 is the best-scoring CLA model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 89.8 out of 100 — a score that combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations. On complaint rate alone the lowest is 2018 at 0.40× this model’s median, against 0.41× for 2019.

Yearvs medianReportsGrade
2019 0.41× 11 A
2018 0.40× 12 A
2020 1.00× 24 B

Recalls

No recall campaigns are on record for this model.

How long do they last?

Complaint records show when problems get reported, not how long a car survives. Where owners gave an odometer reading, faults on the 2014 were reported at a median of 12,341 miles. Treat that as the point problems start being noticed, not a lifespan.

Common questions

Answered directly from this model’s record.

Which Mercedes-Benz CLA years should you avoid?
2014, 2016 carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Mercedes-Benz CLA model year measured over an identical 60-month window.
What is the best year for the Mercedes-Benz CLA?
2019 is the best-scoring Mercedes-Benz CLA model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 89.8 out of 100. The score combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.
How many recalls does the Mercedes-Benz CLA have?
0 distinct recall campaigns are on record across all scored Mercedes-Benz CLA model years. A recall is a matter of record: the manufacturer filed a defect report with NHTSA.

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2014 CLA
Complaints in window
177
Severity-weighted
270
Model median (weighted)
38
vs model median
7.11×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
0
Open investigations
1
Score 21.7 F