YearToAvoid

2019 Mercedes-Benz Cla250 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

62/100

#6 most-complained of 14 Cla250 years

The 2019 Mercedes-Benz Cla250 has a Complaint Index of 62, ranked 6th worst of 14 model years, with 22 complaints and 6 recalls. Its verdict is Caution — not the worst year, but engine and fuel system issues stand out.

Complaints
22
Recalls
6
Crashes / fires
2 / 0
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
27
24 city / 32 hwy

Top 2019 Mercedes-Benz Cla250 problems

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

  1. Engine5 (23%)
  2. Fuel System4 (18%)
  3. Other4 (18%)
  4. Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (18%)
  5. Electrical System3 (14%)
  6. Airbags2 (9%)
  7. Visibility & Wipers2 (9%)
  8. Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (5%)
  9. Steering1 (5%)
  10. Structure & Body1 (5%)

What owners report

  • Owners report sudden unintended acceleration while driving into a parking garage, leading to loss of control and a crash into a wall and a parked vehicle.
  • Airbag warning lights and 'front left malfunction' messages appeared along with difficulty steering, at low mileage around 600 miles.
  • Multiple owners describe wheel rims cracking or bending on all four wheels without pothole impact or accident involvement.
  • A rear-view camera failed to operate at 50,000 miles, disabling the backover prevention system.
  • One owner reported the sunroof exploding with an abnormal sound while driving 65-70 mph, with no road debris involved.
  • Owners describe delays getting the electrical communication module recall repair completed because replacement parts were unavailable.
2019 Mercedes-Benz Cla250 complaints: complaints filed per month4Apr 2019Oct 2021Mar 2023Dec 2023Jan 2025Nov 2025
27 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2019 to Mar 2026; peak Nov 2025 (4).

2019 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 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 6 recalls for the 2019 Mercedes-Benz Cla250 →

2019 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.

2019 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
2017Good46271027
2018Avoid7740927
2019Caution6222627
2020Caution54201127.5
2021Good387528

All Mercedes-Benz Cla250 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2019 Mercedes-Benz Cla250 reliable?
NHTSA data gives the 2019 Cla250 a Complaint Index of 62, with a Caution verdict. It ranks 6th worst among the 14 model years covered, better than years like 2014 and 2015 but worse than 2017 or 2021.
What are the most common problems with the 2019 Mercedes-Benz Cla250?
Engine complaints make up 23% of reports, followed by fuel system and suspension/wheel issues at 18% each. Electrical system problems account for 14% of complaints.
Does the 2019 Mercedes-Benz Cla250 have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 2019 Cla250, covering the structure/body, electrical system, and door locks. None are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2019 Cla250 compare to other Cla250 years?
The 2019 model's Complaint Index of 62 is lower than 2014's 100, 2016's 92, and 2015's 85, all rated Avoid, but higher than 2017's 46 and 2021's 38, both rated Good.
What is the fuel economy of the 2019 Mercedes-Benz Cla250?
EPA rates the 2019 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.