YearToAvoid

2015 Mercedes-Benz Cla250 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

85/100

#3 most-complained of 14 Cla250 years

The 2015 Mercedes-Benz Cla250 ranks 3rd worst out of 14 model years, with a Complaint Index of 85, 61 complaints, and 7 recalls. Owners most often reported Engine problems (28% of complaints), with a median failure mileage of 36,107. NHTSA rates this year 'Avoid' relative to other Cla250 years.

Complaints
61
Recalls
7
Crashes / fires
5 / 0
Injuries / deaths
4 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
27
24 city / 32 hwy

Top 2015 Mercedes-Benz Cla250 problems

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

  1. Engine17 (28%)
  2. Other17 (28%)
  3. Airbags8 (13%)
  4. Structure & Body8 (13%)
  5. Electrical System6 (10%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain6 (10%)
  7. Brakes5 (8%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (8%)
  9. Visibility & Wipers4 (7%)
  10. Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (3%)

What owners report

  • Airbags failed to deploy in frontal or side collisions despite significant impact, sometimes with the restraint system warning light illuminated.
  • Collision prevention assist warning stays active on the dashboard without a real hazard present, sometimes accompanied by harsh suspension behavior.
  • The transmission jerks violently when downshifting through the gears and can get stuck in 2nd gear, refusing to shift up or down.
  • The throttle actuator can fail at highway speed, causing sudden deceleration and loss of power.
  • The oil pan is reported as vulnerable to cracking from road debris, which can cause the engine to lock up without warning.
  • The infotainment audio system reboots intermittently and can eventually stop working entirely, a problem tied to a documented recall.
2015 Mercedes-Benz Cla250 complaints: complaints filed per month5Sep 2015Jan 2018Apr 2019Aug 2020Jun 2021May 2023Jun 2024Jul 2025
81 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2015 to Oct 2025; peak May 2024 (5).

2015 Mercedes-Benz Cla250 recalls

7 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 19V892000Dec 16, 2019Airbags129 vehicles

    Air bags:sensor:occupant classification

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2015-2018 CLA250 and CLA250 4MATIC, and 2017-2018 CLA45 AMG vehicles. The Occupant Classification System (OCS) may have been improperly calibrated, which may prevent the proper deployment of the front passenger air bag.

    Risk: In the event of a crash, if the air bag does not deploy as designed, the front seat passenger has an increased risk of an injury.

    Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger seat cushion, free of charge. The recall began July 31, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2020060012.

See all 7 recalls for the 2015 Mercedes-Benz Cla250 →

2015 Mercedes-Benz Cla250 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
24 MPG
Highway
32 MPG
Combined
27 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,950
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.

2015 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
2013Best1590—
2014Avoid100179628.5
2015Avoid8561727
2016Avoid9266827
2017Good46271027

All Mercedes-Benz Cla250 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2015 Mercedes-Benz Cla250 reliable?
Compared to other Cla250 model years, 2015 ranks 3rd worst out of 14 years tracked, with a Complaint Index of 85 and 61 NHTSA complaints. NHTSA data suggests this year has more reported problems than most other Cla250 years.
What are the most common problems with the 2015 Mercedes-Benz Cla250?
Engine issues are the top problem area, making up 28% of complaints, followed by Airbags and Structure & Body issues, each at 13%. The median mileage at failure across complaints is 36,953.5.
Does the 2015 Mercedes-Benz Cla250 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 7 recalls for this year, covering Structure & Body, Airbags, Electrical System, and Engine components, including a camshaft replacement recall and an airbag occupant classification recall. None are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2015 Cla250 compare to the 2014 model?
The 2014 Cla250 has a higher Complaint Index of 100 with 179 complaints, making it the worst year overall, while 2015 sits lower at a Complaint Index of 85 with 61 complaints.
What is the fuel economy of the 2015 Mercedes-Benz Cla250?
EPA rates the 2015 Cla250 at 27 mpg combined (24 city / 32 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,950.

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.