Mercedes Benz CLA 250 vs BMW 540I
Both cars' complete complaint records, side by side.
Read the totals carefully. NHTSA publishes no sales figures, so the car that sold more collects more complaints regardless of quality. The rows worth weighing are the proportions — the share of complaints that involved harm, and which part dominates.
| Measure | Mercedes Benz CLA 250 | BMW 540I |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints on file | 137 | 340 |
| Model years covered | 2018–2025 | 1994–2025 |
| Worst model year | 2018 | 2018 |
| Best model year | 2020 | 1994 |
| Crashes reported | 8 | 26 |
| Fires reported | 2 | 7 |
| Injuries reported | 12 | 14 |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 |
| Most complained-about part | Electrical System | Engine & Cooling |
| Share of complaints involving harm | 16.1% | 13.8% |
Mercedes Benz CLA 250 by year
What breaks
Electrical System
23
16.8%
Other & Unspecified
20
14.6%
Engine & Cooling
17
12.4%
Airbags
13
9.5%
Fuel & Propulsion
11
8.0%
Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance
10
7.3%
Body & Structure
9
6.6%
Steering
6
4.4%
BMW 540I by year
What breaks
Engine & Cooling
70
20.6%
Airbags
49
14.4%
Electrical System
42
12.4%
Transmission & Drivetrain
23
6.8%
Brakes
21
6.2%
Steering
17
5.0%
Seats
17
5.0%
Seat Belts
16
4.7%