YearToAvoid

2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 12 GLA 250 years

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

The 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 has 94 NHTSA complaints and a Complaint Index of 100, the worst of all 12 model years covered for this model. Engine problems dominate with 30 complaints (32% share) and a median failure mileage of 44,000 miles. Five recalls are on file, none requiring drivers to stop driving the vehicle.

Complaints
94
Recalls
5
Crashes / fires
4 / 1
Injuries / deaths
8 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
27
24 city / 31 hwy

Top 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 problems

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

  1. Engine30 (32%)
  2. Other16 (17%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain14 (15%)
  4. Airbags12 (13%)
  5. Electrical System12 (13%)
  6. Fuel System12 (13%)
  7. Structure & Body12 (13%)
  8. Visibility & Wipers8 (9%)
  9. Brakes7 (7%)
  10. Collision Avoidance & Cameras4 (4%)

What owners report

  • Engine stalls without warning at low speeds and later triggers an intermittent check engine light, sometimes leaving the transmission unable to shift into reverse.
  • Gas pedal stops responding while driving on the freeway, causing the vehicle to lose acceleration even with no obstacle ahead.
  • Transmission engages violently into reverse during cold starts before the car has moved.
  • Steering wheel shakes and power steering fails while idling, accompanied by a banging noise and a fractured front tire.
  • Airbags deploy in low-speed or unexpected situations, in one case flipping the vehicle onto its roof.
  • Smoke and visible flames come from the center console area while driving at normal speed.
2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 complaints: complaints filed per quarter102014 Q42016 Q22018 Q12019 Q22021 Q22022 Q42024 Q12025 Q2
137 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2014 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2024 Q1 (10).

2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 recalls

5 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 5 recalls for the 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 →

2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
24 MPG
Highway
31 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 GLA 250 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2014No verdict1810—
2015Avoid10094527
2016Avoid8249427
2017Good3629926

All Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2015 GLA 250 ranks worst among the 12 model years tracked, with a Complaint Index of 100 and 94 total complaints.
What are the most common problems with the 2015 GLA 250?
Engine issues lead with 30 complaints (32% share) and a median failure mileage of 44,000 miles, followed by transmission/powertrain issues (14 complaints) and tied issues in airbags, electrical, fuel system, and structure/body categories (12 complaints each).
Does the 2015 GLA 250 have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2015 GLA 250 covering engine camshafts, airbag steering grounding, structure/body panels, and an eCall software date/time fault. None are do-not-drive recalls.
Which GLA 250 model years should I avoid?
NHTSA complaint data flags 2015, 2016, and 2018 as Avoid years, with Complaint Index values of 100, 82, and 91 respectively, the highest among all years tracked.
How many complaints involve crashes or fires for the 2015 GLA 250?
NHTSA lists 4 crashes, 1 fire, and 8 injuries among the 94 complaints filed for the 2015 GLA 250, with no reported deaths.

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.