YearToAvoid

2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 30 engine complaints for the 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250, 32% of the 94 total complaints for the year, with a median failure mileage of 44,000. A related recall (15V662000) covers camshaft replacement on affected engines.

Engine complaints
30
32% of 94
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
4
Median mileage
44,000 mi
Related recalls
1

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Sudden stalling or loss of power while driving at low to moderate speeds, sometimes with a warning message on the instrument panel.
  • Transmission-related engine complaints describing erratic or violent engagement into reverse, especially on cold starts.
  • Vehicle unexpectedly shifting into neutral with a 'transmission malfunction stop' message, requiring the driver to restart the car.
  • Check engine light illuminating along with a gas odor inside the cabin, in one case tied to an auxiliary electrical oil pump.
  • Coolant leaking from the turbocharger area after a missing clamp let hot liquid spray onto nearby components.
  • Slow or delayed acceleration when the vehicle is in park or stopped at a red light, reported after a dealer visit for the camshaft recall.

When 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 engine complaints were filed

First complaint Apr 21, 2015, latest Aug 11, 2025.

2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 engine complaints: complaints filed per month3Apr 2015Mar 2018Apr 2019Oct 2020Jan 2023Dec 2023Mar 2024Aug 2024
30 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2015 to Aug 2025; peak Oct 2023 (3).

Engine recalls for the 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250

  1. NHTSA 15V662000Oct 16, 2015Engine857 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling:engine

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (Mercedes-Benz) is recalling certain model year 2015 CLA250, CLA250 4Matic, GLA250, GLA250 4Matic, and 2016 SLK300 roadster vehicles manufactured July 17, 2015, to August 31, 2015. The affected vehicles have intake or exhaust camshafts whose welds may fail and possibly cause engine damage.

    Risk: Engine damage may result in a stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Mercedes-Benz will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected camshafts, free of charge. Interim notices were mailed to owners on December 9, 2015. The recall began on December 23, 2015. Owners may contact Mercedes-Benz customer service at 1-800-367-6372. Mercedes-Benz's number for this recall is 2015100006.

Engine complaints by GLA 250 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20140 (0%)
  2. 201530 (32%)
  3. 201616 (33%)
  4. 20178 (28%)
  5. 201812 (24%)
  6. 20193 (10%)
  7. 20202 (22%)
  8. 20216 (33%)
  9. 20222 (50%)
  10. 20233 (38%)
  11. 20240 (0%)
  12. 20250 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How many engine complaints does the 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 have?
NHTSA lists 30 engine complaints for the 2015 GLA 250, which is 32% of the 94 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there an engine recall for the 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250?
Yes. Recall campaign 15V662000, reported October 16, 2015, covers camshaft replacement on affected 2015 GLA250 and GLA250 4Matic vehicles built between July 17, 2015 and August 31, 2015.
At what mileage do engine problems typically show up on the 2015 GLA 250?
The median mileage at failure for engine complaints on this model year is 44,000 miles, based on NHTSA complaint data.
Did the 2015 GLA 250 engine problems cause any crashes or injuries?
NHTSA records show 1 crash and 4 injuries associated with engine-area complaints for the 2015 GLA 250, and no fires.
Is the engine complaint rate worse for the 2015 GLA 250 than other years?
The 2015 model year has the highest raw count at 30 engine complaints, though its 32% share is close to several later years like 2016 (33%) and 2021 (33%).

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.