YearToAvoid

2016 Mercedes-Benz Cla250 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

92/100

#2 most-complained of 14 Cla250 years

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

The 2016 Mercedes-Benz Cla250 has a complaint index of 92 and ranks 2nd worst out of 14 model years, earning an Avoid verdict. It has 66 complaints, 8 recalls, and a top problem area of Engine.

Complaints
66
Recalls
8
Crashes / fires
5 / 1
Injuries / deaths
4 / 1
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
27
24 city / 32 hwy

Top 2016 Mercedes-Benz Cla250 problems

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

  1. Other20 (30%)
  2. Engine16 (24%)
  3. Airbags13 (20%)
  4. Structure & Body10 (15%)
  5. Electrical System8 (12%)
  6. Fuel System7 (11%)
  7. Steering6 (9%)
  8. Transmission & Powertrain5 (8%)
  9. Brakes4 (6%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (5%)

What owners report

  • Airbags failed to deploy during front and side-impact crashes, including one crash where the automatic braking system also failed to engage.
  • Run-flat tires developed bubbles or blew out at highway speed, in one case causing the vehicle to swerve across lanes.
  • The oil pan was reported as vulnerable to cracking from road debris, which could cause the engine to lock up without warning.
  • Filling the fuel tank near full triggered engine sputtering, stalling, loss of power, and an illuminated check-engine light.
  • A seat warmer malfunction was linked to a fire in the vehicle.
2016 Mercedes-Benz Cla250 complaints: complaints filed per quarter82016 Q12018 Q22020 Q12021 Q22022 Q32024 Q32025 Q4
97 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2016 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2026 Q2 (8).

2016 Mercedes-Benz Cla250 recalls

8 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 21V058000Feb 5, 2021Other1,292,258 vehiclesOver-the-air fix

    Communication: auto crash notification

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 - 2021 CLA-Class, GLA-Class, GLE-Class, GLS-Class, SLC-Class, A-Class, GT-Class, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, CLS-Class, SL-Class, B-Class, GLB-Class, GLC-Class, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to the Part 573 report for specific vehicle model details. The software design of the communication module may fail to communicate the correct vehicle location for the emergency call system (eCall) in the event of a crash.

    Risk: Failure of the eCall system may result in emergency responders being dispatched to the wrong location, increasing the risk of injury following a crash.

    Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and the communication module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. The recall began March 12, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021020025.

See all 8 recalls for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz Cla250 →

2016 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.

2016 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
2014Avoid100179628.5
2015Avoid8561727
2016Avoid9266827
2017Caution46271027
2018Avoid7740927

All Mercedes-Benz Cla250 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Mercedes-Benz Cla250 reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2016 Cla250 ranks 2nd worst among 14 model years with a complaint index of 92, giving it an Avoid verdict relative to other Cla250 years.
What problems does the 2016 Mercedes-Benz Cla250 have?
NHTSA lists 66 complaints for the 2016 Cla250, led by Engine issues at 24% of complaints, followed by Airbags at 20% and Structure & Body at 15%. The median mileage at engine-related failure was 37,000 miles for the model year overall, though the engine problem area specifically shows a median of 45,000 miles.
Does the 2016 Mercedes-Benz Cla250 have recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 8 recalls for the 2016 Cla250, covering Structure & Body, Airbags, Electrical System, and other components. None of these are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2016 Cla250 compare to other years?
The 2016 model has a complaint index of 92, worse than 2017 (46), 2019 (62), and 2021 (38), but slightly better than 2014 (100), which is the worst year on record.
What is the fuel economy of the 2016 Mercedes-Benz Cla250?
The EPA rates the 2016 Cla250 at 27 mpg combined, 24 mpg city, and 32 mpg 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.