MODELYEARINDEX

Which Mercedes-Benz GLA years to avoid

Across 6 scored model years, the 2015 model year carries the highest severity-weighted complaint rates.

Ownership label · Mercedes-Benz GLA Full report
F
Grade 2015–2021
2015 vs model median 2.4×
Model median3× median
Airbags & Restraints 8
Engine 6
Electrical 6
Avoid

2015

Best

2016 · 2017

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
2015
2.44× 49 F
2016
0.36× 12 A
2017
0.73× 18 B
2018
0.98× 16 B
2019
1.26× 20 C
2021
1.01× 21 B
2023 P
0.70× 14 B

P — provisional. These years have not completed 60 months on the road, so their totals are incomplete and they are excluded from the verdict.

What owners report

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

2015 F 49 reports · median 17,150 mi

  1. Airbags & Restraints 8

    I had two mva accidents (february 1 and march 16, 2016) in this vehicle within~ 3 months of ownership. The accidents occurred when I slowed down this vehicle under 10-15mph. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Engine 6

    The contact owns a 2015 mercedes benz GLA250. While driving approximately 15 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Electrical 6

    Vehicle on side street near home...suddenly chugs, and slows to a crawl will not accelerate...all lights come on dashboard..also engine light... owner complaint filed with NHTSA

9 crash · 18 injuries

2019 C 20 reports

  1. Drivetrain 3

    The vehicle with only 29,775 miles on it, and I bought it new, made a knocking noise in the brakes and the brake pedal jumped up and down at first stop sign when I left my house. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Driver Assist 3

    I bought this car at end of june, dealership never disclosed information that car had an active recall… I looked it up on NHTSA and sure enough I need a sim card for emergency service, the site says it will be done over… owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Airbags & Restraints 2

    The contact was leasing the 2019 mercedes benz GLA250. The contact stated that while stopped she attempted to shift to park however, the vehicle shifted into reverse as she crashed into an unknown object. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

6 crash · 4 injuries

The best year for the GLA

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

2016 is the best-scoring GLA model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 87.6 out of 100 — a score that combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.

Yearvs medianReportsGrade
2016 0.36× 12 A
2017 0.73× 18 B
2021 1.01× 21 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 2015 were reported at a median of 17,150 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 GLA years should you avoid?
2015 carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Mercedes-Benz GLA model year measured over an identical 60-month window.
What is the best year for the Mercedes-Benz GLA?
2016 is the best-scoring Mercedes-Benz GLA model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 87.6 out of 100. The score combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.
How many recalls does the Mercedes-Benz GLA have?
0 distinct recall campaigns are on record across all scored Mercedes-Benz GLA 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 2015 GLA
Complaints in window
49
Severity-weighted
80.5
Model median (weighted)
33
vs model median
2.44×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
0
Open investigations
1
Score 35.7 F