YearToAvoid

2014 Mercedes-Benz Cla250 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 14 Cla250 years

The 2014 Mercedes-Benz Cla250 ranks worst among all 14 model years covered, with a complaint index of 100, 179 complaints, and 6 recalls. Engine problems drive half of all complaints, with a median failure mileage of 14,720 miles.

Complaints
179
Recalls
6
Crashes / fires
5 / 3
Injuries / deaths
6 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
28.5
25 city / 34 hwy

Top 2014 Mercedes-Benz Cla250 problems

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

  1. Engine89 (50%)
  2. Electrical System44 (25%)
  3. Brakes26 (15%)
  4. Other23 (13%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain20 (11%)
  6. Structure & Body13 (7%)
  7. Airbags11 (6%)
  8. Fuel System11 (6%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires9 (5%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers9 (5%)

What owners report

  • Vehicles lose power or stall suddenly at highway speed while a 'Pre-Safe functions limited/inoperative' warning appears on the dashboard.
  • ABS, ESP, and electronic stability control warning lights illuminate together, sometimes with sudden loss of acceleration or braking response.
  • Owners describe steering and brakes locking up simultaneously, resulting in loss of vehicle control.
  • A front passenger-side wheel has detached while driving, causing the car to come to rest on three wheels.
  • Exterior body molding has separated from the vehicle at highway speed.
  • An engine compartment fire occurred with no prior warning lights, with visible damage to the sunroof and dashboard area.
2014 Mercedes-Benz Cla250 complaints: complaints filed per quarter282013 Q42015 Q22016 Q42018 Q22019 Q42021 Q22023 Q22025 Q4
265 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2013 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2015 Q1 (28).

2014 Mercedes-Benz Cla250 recalls

6 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 23V854000Dec 15, 2023Structure & Body2,976 vehicles

    Structure:body:roof and pillars

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2014-2020 C-Class, CLA, GLA, S-Class, GLC, and GLE vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle details. The front roof panel located between the windshield and the panoramic sunroof may not have been bonded correctly to the vehicle during a prior repair, allowing the front panel to detach from the vehicle.

    Risk: A detached roof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the front panel, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 2, 2024. Owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, on, March 22,2024, and August 2, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 21V-197.

  2. NHTSA 21V197000Mar 19, 2021Structure & Body15,096 vehicles

    Structure:body:roof and pillars

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017-2020 C300 Coupe, C43 Coupe AMG, C43 AMG, 2015-2020 C300, GLA250, 2016-2018 C350e, CLA45 Coupe AMG, 2015 C400, S65 AMG, 2015-2019 C63 AMG, 2016 C450, 2015-2016 GLA45 AMG, S600, 2016-2020 GLC300, 2017-2019 GLC43 AMG, GLE43 Coupe AMG, 2014-2019 CLA250 Coupe, 2014-2015 CLA45 AMG, 2018 GLC63 AMG, 2014-2017 S550, 2018-2020 S450, 2016-2019 GLE63 Coupe AMG, 2016 GLE450 Coupe, 2014-2020 S63 AMG, 2018-2019 S560, and 2019 GLC350e vehicles equipped with a panoramic sunroof. The front roof panel located between the windshield and the panoramic sunroof may not have been bonded correctly to the vehicle during a prior repair.

    Risk: The adhesive bonding of the front panel might deteriorate, possibly causing the front panel to detach from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Mercedes-Benz dealer will remove the bonded panel and will install a new front panel by following the detailed repair instructions and using the approved primer, cleaner and adhesive, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 3, 2021 and October 26, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

  3. NHTSA 19V787000Nov 1, 2019Other24,226 vehiclesOver-the-air fix

    Communication

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2013-2017 vehicles due to a software fault that may cause the date and time for the emergency call system (eCall) to differ from the actual date and time, potentially relaying an inaccurate vehicle location. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V787-4620.pdf

    Risk: An inaccurate vehicle location may delay emergency responders, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: MBUSA has initiated an Over the Air (OTA) remote update. MBUSA will also notify owners, and dealers will check software for a successful OTA or update the communication module software as needed, free of charge. The recall began December 23, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2019120008.

See all 6 recalls for the 2014 Mercedes-Benz Cla250 →

2014 Mercedes-Benz Cla250 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
25 MPG
Highway
34 MPG
Combined
28.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,800
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.

2014 compared with other Cla250 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2012Good3170—
2013Best1590—
2014Avoid100179628.5
2015Avoid8561727
2016Avoid9266827

All Mercedes-Benz Cla250 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2014 Mercedes-Benz Cla250 reliable?
Among the 14 model years with data, 2014 has the worst ranking, with a complaint index of 100 and 179 complaints reported to NHTSA, plus 6 recalls.
What is the biggest problem with the 2014 Cla250?
Engine issues are the top problem area, accounting for 89 complaints (50% of the total) with a median failure mileage of 14,720 miles.
Does the 2014 Cla250 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 2014 Cla250, covering structure/body panels, brakes, airbags, and other systems, none of which are do-not-drive recalls.
Which Cla250 model years are better than 2014?
NHTSA data shows 2013 (complaint index 15) and 2012 (complaint index 31) rank as Best and Good, far below the 2014 model's index of 100.
Were there crashes or fires reported for the 2014 Cla250?
NHTSA logged 5 crashes, 3 fires, and 6 injuries among the 179 complaints for the 2014 Cla250.

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.