YearToAvoid

2017 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

36/100

#8 most-complained of 12 GLA 250 years

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

The 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 has a Complaint Index of 36 and ranks 8th out of 12 model years, making it a comparatively

Complaints
29
Recalls
9
Crashes / fires
0 / 1
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
26
23 city / 31 hwy

Top 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 problems

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

  1. Electrical System10 (34%)
  2. Engine8 (28%)
  3. Other6 (21%)
  4. Airbags4 (14%)
  5. Fuel System3 (10%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain3 (10%)
  7. Visibility & Wipers2 (7%)
  8. Brakes1 (3%)
  9. Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (3%)
  10. Steering1 (3%)

What owners report

  • Owners report burning odors and smoke from the electrical system, in one case while the vehicle was parked and would not restart.
  • Recall 17V114000 for electrical system, engine, and engine cooling issues was frequently delayed because replacement parts were unavailable at dealers.
  • One owner reported the instrument display briefly disappeared and the car shifted into neutral with a transmission malfunction warning at highway speed.
  • A sunroof crack caused water to leak into the cabin while driving at 60 mph.
  • One owner reported the airbag warning light illuminating along with a failed horn and speedometer, later traced to a faulty steering column.
  • A separate owner described a thumping or grinding noise from the rear differential with metal shavings found in the differential oil.
2017 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 complaints: complaints filed per month4May 2017May 2018May 2021Sep 2022Oct 2023Jan 2025Jul 2026
40 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2017 to Jul 2026; peak Sep 2017 (4).

2017 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 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 21V229000Apr 1, 2021Steering4,992 vehicles

    Steering

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017 B250e, CLA250, 2017-2018 AMG CLA45, GLA250, and AMG GLA45 vehicles. The steering shaft bore hole for the universal joint bearing may allow excessive movement that, over time, could result in the separation of the bearing and universal joint.

    Risk: A separated universal joint bearing can cause a loss of steering control and increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and as necessary, replace the steering shaft, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 23, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021060001.

See all 9 recalls for the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 →

2017 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
23 MPG
Highway
31 MPG
Combined
26 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,050
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.

2017 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
2015Avoid10094527
2016Avoid8249427
2017Good3629926
2018Avoid91491226
2019Caution73291126

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

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 reliable?
NHTSA lists 29 complaints and 9 recalls for the 2017 GLA 250, giving it a Complaint Index of 36. Compared to other GLA 250 years, that ranks 8th out of 12, and the verdict is 'Good' relative to the model's history.
What are the most common problems on the 2017 GLA 250?
The top problem area is the Electrical System, accounting for 34% of complaints (10 of 29), followed by Engine issues at 28% (8 complaints) and Airbags at 14% (4 complaints).
Does the 2017 GLA 250 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 9 recalls for the 2017 GLA 250, covering electrical system, airbags, steering, and structural components. None of these recalls are classified as do-not-drive.
How does the 2017 GLA 250 compare to other years?
The 2017 model's Complaint Index of 36 is lower than 2015 (100), 2016 (82), and 2018 (91), all of which carry an 'Avoid' verdict, making 2017 a relatively better choice among GLA 250 years.
What mileage do problems typically appear at on the 2017 GLA 250?
The median mileage at failure across reported complaints for the 2017 GLA 250 is 62,000 miles, though Electrical System issues had a median of 74,000 miles and Engine issues showed a much lower median of 13,000 miles.

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.