YearToAvoid

2018 Mercedes-Benz Cla250 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

77/100

#4 most-complained of 14 Cla250 years

The 2018 Mercedes-Benz Cla250 ranks 4th worst out of 14 model years, with a complaint index of 77 and 40 complaints logged. It carries 9 recalls, more than most other years, with Electrical System issues being the top problem area at 25% of complaints.

Complaints
40
Recalls
9
Crashes / fires
2 / 1
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
27
24 city / 32 hwy

Top 2018 Mercedes-Benz Cla250 problems

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

  1. Electrical System10 (25%)
  2. Other9 (23%)
  3. Airbags8 (20%)
  4. Structure & Body7 (18%)
  5. Engine6 (15%)
  6. Fuel System3 (8%)
  7. Steering2 (5%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (5%)
  9. Transmission & Powertrain2 (5%)
  10. Lane Departure1 (3%)

What owners report

  • Airbags failed to deploy during a rear-end collision followed by a secondary crash, resulting in injuries despite the impact.
  • The transmission unexpectedly shifted into neutral at highway speed while dashboard warnings read 'service required,' 'do not shift gears,' and 'contact dealer.'
  • The passenger seat and rear seats repeatedly failed to lock in place, triggering recurring dashboard warnings that required manually forcing the seat into position.
  • Wheel rims cracked and slowly leaked air even while the vehicle was parked, triggering the low tire pressure warning.
  • Owners reported a knocking or ticking noise from the steering wheel and front end traced to faulty control arms needing replacement.
  • The engine leaked coolant with the check engine light on, and the problem recurred months after a coolant reservoir cap replacement.
2018 Mercedes-Benz Cla250 complaints: complaints filed per month3Jun 2018May 2021Jun 2023Jan 2024Nov 2024Jun 2025Mar 2026
51 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2018 to Aug 2026; peak Jan 2025 (3).

2018 Mercedes-Benz Cla250 recalls

9 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 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.

  3. 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.

See all 9 recalls for the 2018 Mercedes-Benz Cla250 →

2018 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.

2018 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
2016Avoid9266827
2017Good46271027
2018Avoid7740927
2019Caution6222627
2020Caution54201127.5

All Mercedes-Benz Cla250 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Mercedes-Benz Cla250 a bad model year?
Relative to other Cla250 years, the 2018 model ranks 4th worst out of 14 years tracked, with a complaint index of 77 and an 'Avoid' verdict based on NHTSA complaints and recalls.
What is the biggest problem with the 2018 Mercedes-Benz Cla250?
The Electrical System is the top problem area, accounting for 10 of 40 complaints (25%), with a median failure mileage of 3,274 miles. One of these complaints involved a fire.
Does the 2018 Mercedes-Benz Cla250 have recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 9 recalls for the 2018 Cla250, covering areas including airbags, electrical system, and structure & body, with none classified as do-not-drive.
How does the 2018 Cla250 compare to other years?
The 2018 model's complaint index of 77 is lower than 2014 (100), 2016 (92), and 2015 (85), but higher than 2017 (46), 2019 (62), and 2020 (54).

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.