YearToAvoid

2019 Mercedes-Benz A 220 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 4 A 220 years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2019 Mercedes-Benz A 220 is the worst year of the 4 model years with data, with 45 complaints, a complaint index of 100, and 14 recalls. Electrical System issues lead at 22% of complaints, followed by Engine at 18%.

Complaints
45
Recalls
14
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
28
24 city / 34.5 hwy

Top 2019 Mercedes-Benz A 220 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Other14 (31%)
  2. Electrical System10 (22%)
  3. Engine8 (18%)
  4. Fuel System6 (13%)
  5. Airbags5 (11%)
  6. Collision Avoidance & Cameras4 (9%)
  7. Steering3 (7%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (7%)
  9. Brakes2 (4%)
  10. Lane Departure2 (4%)

What owners report

  • Vehicles failed to restart after refueling with the engine off, sometimes requiring the battery cable to be disconnected and reconnected by a technician.
  • The passenger airbag warning light activated repeatedly, and in one case the passenger airbag deployed unexpectedly during nighttime rain driving.
  • While decelerating at highway speed, the engine erroneously cut power down to a crawl with the check engine light on, requiring a tow to the dealer.
  • The transmission dropped into neutral while accelerating from a low speed and required an engine restart before the vehicle would respond again.
  • Owners reported that lane departure warning activated with steering wheel shake and abnormal noise while driving.
  • Some owners said recall parts, including airbag and steering/suspension repair parts, were not available for extended periods after notification.
2019 Mercedes-Benz A 220 complaints: complaints filed per month6May 2019Aug 2020Mar 2022Jan 2023Jun 2023Jan 2024Dec 2024May 2026
62 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2019 to Aug 2026; peak Apr 2024 (6).

2019 Mercedes-Benz A 220 recalls

14 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 26V481000Jul 24, 2026Structure & Body310,667 vehicles

    Latches/locks/linkages:doors:lock

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2020-2021 CLA, 2019-2022 A-Class, 2022-2023 C-Class, 2024 CLE, 2020-2026 GLA/GLB, and 2023-2024 GLC vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific model information. The micro-switch in the driver's door lock may corrode and fail to detect an open door, preventing the electronic parking brake or "Auto-Park" feature from engaging automatically. This may result in a vehicle rollaway.

    Risk: A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash or injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's door lock, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 18, 2026. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning July 31, 2026.

  2. NHTSA 23V732000Nov 1, 2023Brakes42,742 vehicles

    Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:pads

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2020 A220, 2020 CLA250, GLB250, AMG A35, AMG CLA45, AMG CLA35, and 2021 GLA250 vehicles. The vehicles may not be equipped with an inspection gauge to check the wear of the rear brake pads. In addition, information for using this inspection gauge might not be included in the owner's manual. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."

    Risk: Driving with worn brake pads can reduce braking ability, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will install an inspection gauge and provide supplemental owner's manual information, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 29, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

  3. NHTSA 22V365000May 20, 2022Electrical System242,722 vehiclesOver-the-air fix

    Electrical system:software

    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.

    Remedy: The communication module software will be updated through an Over-the-Air (OTA) update or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 8, 2022. Owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, on July 8, 2022, May 17, 2024, July 29, 2024, and September 27, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's numbers are for this recall is 2022060005 and 2023110006.

See all 14 recalls for the 2019 Mercedes-Benz A 220 →

2019 Mercedes-Benz A 220 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
24 MPG
Highway
34.5 MPG
Combined
28 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,850
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2019 compared with other A 220 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002019202020212022
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2019Avoid100451428
2020Caution67201028
2021Good339428.5

All Mercedes-Benz A 220 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2019 Mercedes-Benz A 220 reliable?
Among the 4 model years with data, 2019 ranks worst, with a complaint index of 100 and 45 owner complaints reported to NHTSA, mostly tied to the Electrical System.
What is the top problem area for the 2019 A 220?
Electrical System complaints make up 22% of all complaints, with a median failure mileage of 738 miles, including reports of the car failing to restart at fuel stations.
How many recalls does the 2019 A 220 have?
NHTSA lists 14 recalls for the 2019 A 220, covering components such as Electrical System, Brakes, Fuel System, Structure & Body, Suspension, and Collision Avoidance & Cameras.
Which A 220 model year is better than 2019?
2021 has a complaint index of 33 and a Good verdict, and 2022 has a complaint index of 0, both far lower than the 2019 index of 100.
What fuel economy does the 2019 A 220 get?
The 2019 A 220 is EPA-rated at 28 mpg combined (24 city / 34.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,850.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.