Strawberry Plains, TN
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE SUNROOF SOUNDS LIKE ITS COMING OUT AND LEAKING WATER
NHTSA complaint #11378262 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FaultScore report
2013 Mercedes Benz CLA250 problems
Owners have filed 11 complaints about the 2013 Mercedes Benz CLA250 with NHTSA between 2016 and 2020. The largest single group is the airbags. Across this model's run it ranks 5 of 5 worst.
A
FaultScore 16/100
Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Mercedes Benz CLA250.
How this is worked outThe numbers
11
Complaints
0
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
70,000 mi
Median mileage at failure
Half of reported failures happened before this
40%
Failed under 36,000 miles
Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty
What kind of bad
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
- Complaint volume — 5
- Against the median year of the Mercedes Benz CLA250. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
- Severity — 0
- 0% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
- Early failure — 68
- 40% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.
How 2013 compares with every other Mercedes Benz CLA250
Click any bar to open that year's report.
What breaks on a 2013 Mercedes Benz CLA250
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Airbags
5
45.5%
Stability & Traction Control
1
9.1%
Median failure at 16,135 miles
Acceleration & Cruise Control
1
9.1%
Median failure at 16,135 miles
Brakes
1
9.1%
Median failure at 147,982 miles
Steering
1
9.1%
Median failure at 70,000 miles
Electrical System
1
9.1%
Engine & Cooling
1
9.1%
Median failure at 70,000 miles
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.
10,000 – 24,999 miles
2
40.0%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
2
40.0%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
1
20.0%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.
Feb 2016
peak 2
Dec 2020
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Germantown, TN
AIR BAGS
I HAVE 2 MERCEDES, 2013 E350 CONVERTIBLE AND A 2017 E400 COUPE. BOTH PURCHASED NEW. BOTH HAVE HAD AIRBAG RECALLS FOR YEARS. DEALER SAYS THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THEY WILL GET PARTS TO REPLACE. I WOULD THINK THAT MERCEDES WOULD HAVE A SOLUTION BY NOW.
NHTSA complaint #11360918 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Francisco, CA
AIR BAGS
MY VEHICLE HAS HAD A RECALL SINCE JANUARY 2018 WITH A REMEDY SCHEDULED FOR FIX APRIL 2020. THERE HAS BEEN NO UPDATE AT ALL AS TO WHAT IS GOING ON OR WHEN MY VEHICLE WILL BE FIXED. IT IS NOW MID JUNE 2020 WITH NO FIX IN SIGHT. THIS IS NOT A TIMELY MANNER AND IS THE WORST EXPERIENCE I HAVE EVER HAD OWNING A CAR. OVER TWO YEARS THAT THE RECALL ISN'T FIXED AND NOW OVER 2 MONTHS SINCE THE FIX WAS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND I AM TIRED OF WAITING WITHOUT ANY UPDATES OR REMEDY.
NHTSA complaint #11329750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 70,000 miles
Alpharetta, GA
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES BENZ CLA250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING INTO THE GARAGE, THE STEERING CEASED, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO RBM OF ALPHARETTA LOCATED AT 345 MCFARLAND PKWY, ALPHARETTA, GA 30004, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR WAS STILL PENDING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.
NHTSA complaint #11323508 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 70,000 miles
Alpharetta, GA
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES BENZ CLA250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING INTO THE GARAGE, THE STEERING CEASED, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO RBM OF ALPHARETTA LOCATED AT 345 MCFARLAND PKWY, ALPHARETTA, GA 30004, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR WAS STILL PENDING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.
NHTSA complaint #11323508 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 147,982 miles
Newnan, GA
SERVICE BRAKES
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
NHTSA complaint #11321194 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vallejo, CA
AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ CLA250. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V043000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. MERCEDES-BENZ OF FAIRFIELD (2950 AUTO MALL PKWY, FAIRFIELD, CA 94533, 707-430-0131 WAS CONTACTED AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11320344 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Seattle, WA
AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES BENZ CLA250. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V043000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11307000 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fort Worth, TX
AIR BAGS
I HAVE BEEN WAITING TO HAVE MY AIRBAGS REPLACED FOR OVER 1 TO 2 YEARS NOW. THE AIRBAGS ARE EXTREMELY A SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO THE FACT THAT THEY CAN DEPLOY AT ANY GIVEN TIME. I HAVE A GRAND CHILD THAT I TRANSPORT AND I AM SCORED FOR HER SAFETY IN THAT VEHICLE. THIS IS SAD HOW LONG THIS HAS BEEN UNREMEDIED. PLEASE HELP!
NHTSA complaint #11287148 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 16,135 miles
Maple Valley, WA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
PRE SAFE FUNCTIONS LIMITED ERROR MESSAGE REPEATEDLY COMES ON AND LOSES ACCELERATION.
NHTSA complaint #10825922 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 16,135 miles
Maple Valley, WA
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
PRE SAFE FUNCTIONS LIMITED ERROR MESSAGE REPEATEDLY COMES ON AND LOSES ACCELERATION.
NHTSA complaint #10825922 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.