YearToAvoid

2019 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

73/100

#4 most-complained of 12 GLA 250 years

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

The 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 has a complaint index of 73, ranking 4th worst out of 12 model years, with a Caution verdict. It logs 29 complaints, 11 recalls, and its top problem area is Transmission & Powertrain at 41% of complaints.

Complaints
29
Recalls
11
Crashes / fires
2 / 0
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
26
23 city / 31 hwy

Top 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 problems

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

  1. Transmission & Powertrain12 (41%)
  2. Other6 (21%)
  3. Airbags4 (14%)
  4. Steering4 (14%)
  5. Brakes3 (10%)
  6. Engine3 (10%)
  7. Fuel System3 (10%)
  8. Electrical System2 (7%)
  9. Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (7%)
  10. Structure & Body2 (7%)

What owners report

  • Transmission unexpectedly shifts into neutral while driving at highway speeds, sometimes with a message telling the driver to pull over and contact service immediately.
  • Transmission control unit failures cause loss of motive power and stalling, with some vehicles needing to be towed to a dealer.
  • Power steering suddenly cuts out at around 30 MPH along with the engine shutting off and warning lights illuminating.
  • Airbags deploy unexpectedly while driving on the highway with no collision, spraying chemical residue and prompting inspection of the steering column.
  • Fuel odor and fuel leaking from the fuel rails at the fuel injectors was reported, matching NHTSA Campaign 21V961000.
  • The active brake assist front radar sensor was reported as defective, with owners unable to get replacement parts.
2019 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 complaints: complaints filed per month6Aug 2020May 2022Mar 2023Jan 2024Jun 2024Mar 2025Sep 2025Jan 2026
46 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2020 to Sep 2026; peak Jul 2022 (6).

2019 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 recalls

11 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 21V961000Dec 13, 2021Fuel System139 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system:fuel rail

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2019 AMG G63, C300, E300, G550, AMG GT63, AMG GT53, 2019-2020 A220, GLA250, GLC300, 2016 C300, 2020 AMG A35, AMG C43, AMG C63, CLA250, E350, E450, GLB250, GLE450, GLS450, GLS580, S560, and SL550 vehicles equipped with a gasoline engine. During the manufacturing process, particles may have been trapped between the fuel rail and injectors, which can cause a fuel leak.

    Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source, such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel rail and fuel injectors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 22, 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for the recall is 2022030003.

See all 11 recalls for the 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 →

2019 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.

2019 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
2017Good3629926
2018Avoid91491226
2019Caution73291126
2020Good279526.5
2021Caution5518927.5

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

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 reliable?
NHTSA data gives the 2019 GLA 250 a complaint index of 73, the 4th worst of 12 model years for this model, earning a Caution verdict relative to other GLA 250 years.
What is the biggest problem with the 2019 GLA 250?
Transmission & Powertrain issues make up 41% of complaints (12 of 29), including unexpected shifts to neutral, with a median failure mileage of 47,500.
Does the 2019 GLA 250 have a transmission recall?
Yes. Recall 21V033000 covers a transmission control unit power supply interruption that can cause the transmission to shift into neutral while driving.
How many recalls does the 2019 GLA 250 have?
NHTSA lists 11 recalls for the 2019 GLA 250, including issues with the fuel system, electrical system, structure, and transmission, none of which are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2019 GLA 250 compare to other years?
The 2019 GLA 250's complaint index of 73 is worse than 2017 (36), 2020 (27), and 2023 (45), but better than 2015 (100) and 2018 (91).

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.