2016 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe a check-engine light traced to the crankcase ventilation (PCV) regulator valve, typically appearing from around 30,000-70,000 miles and handled as a costly repair. Roof-panel and sunroof complaints are also common, ranging from noise and sealing problems to panels detaching or glass shattering, and a smaller group describes the car slipping into neutral while driving. Many complaints reference recall campaigns and note that owners had to check their own VIN coverage.

1. 1
   Body and structure

   Sunroof and roof panel detaching, noise or shattering

   • 9 complaints (13%)
   • median 80,000 mi at 7.4 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2017–2026

   Complaints describe the front stationary roof panel separating or flying off, sometimes after a wind noise appeared, and several owners say their VIN was not included in the related recall despite the same symptom. Others report the panoramic sunroof failing to close, not sealing when shut, or the glass shattering while driving with no impact. A recurring rattle or clanking near the roof and door areas is also mentioned. Reported across a wide mileage range, from low-mileage cars to over 100,000 miles.

   Recall 23V854000Recall 21V1970002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Inspect the bond and fit of the front roof panel and sunroof, listen for wind noise or rattles at speed, and confirm with a dealer whether the roof-bonding recall applies to that VIN. Ask whether the panel has been re-adhered before.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “We received a recall notice advising that the stationary roof panel located between the windshield and sunroof was not bonded correctly and could full detach from the vehicle. while driving on the freeway I heard a wind noise coming from the roof and then without warning the roof panel flew off the vehicle onto the freeway lanes. The piece was not recovered due to the danger of stopping on freeway. This posed an immediate safety threat to us and other drivers. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11420467, filed 2021-06

   “The incident that occurred is that my sunroof exploded on me while I was driving. There was know one in front of me nor next to me. Nothing hitting it to cause this, it just exploded.”

   NHTSA complaint #11696324, filed 2025-10
2. 2
   Air bags

   Airbag warning or deployment concerns after recalls

   • 14 complaints (21%)
   • median 29,000 mi at 3.9 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2026

   Complaints describe airbags deploying unexpectedly at low speed or while parked, airbags not deploying in a collision, and frustration that recall remedies were not yet available when parts were scarce. Several owners mention they learned of the airbag or steering-column grounding recall from NHTSA rather than from a dealer notice. Appears from very low mileage up to around 40,000 miles, with several reports tied to recall notification timing.

   Recall 19V892000Recall 17V627000

   What to check: Verify with a dealer that every open airbag and occupant-classification recall has been completed on that VIN, and ask for documentation of the work. Also confirm the passenger-seat occupancy sensor behaves correctly with the airbag indicator.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Takata recall. Contacted mercedes benz greenway spoke with service department explained that I checked upon mail notification of a recall on my vehicle. Spoke with receptionist who told me that there was no recall (tammy or chrystal). Called back and luis told me that there was a recall but no solution. What do I do? Continue driving at risk with my child in the car!!!!???”

   NHTSA complaint #11040195, filed 2017-10

   “Takata recall what purpose does this recall serve if the manufacturer still does not have a remedy available? I have 3 benz's, all affected by this recall and for over 1 year the dealer cannot repair due to no remedy yet avail . So in the meantime, we should drive and pray that something tragic does not occur?”

   NHTSA complaint #11044220, filed 2017-11
3. 3
   Engine

   Crankcase ventilation valve fault (P052E)

   • 7 complaints (10%)
   • typically at 8.0 yrs old
   • filed 2022–2026

   Owners describe the check-engine light coming on with code P052E, which service centers identify as a problem with the crankcase ventilation regulator valve. Several say the light came and went for thousands of miles before becoming persistent, and that the repair quote was high. Some report the same part failing again after an earlier replacement under warranty, and a few connect it with stalling or rough running. Generally from about 30,000 to 70,000 miles, often appearing intermittently before becoming frequent.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for service records showing whether the crankcase ventilation valve has been replaced, and scan for stored P052E codes before purchase. A service bulletin covers check-engine light diagnostics with crankcase vent line fault codes, so a dealer can check the circuit.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Check engine light with error code P052E. From my research, this is a very common issue with this engine and one that either has been recalled or is planning to be recalled. According to some online forums for Mercedes Benz, Mercedes is being sued over this problem and has issued an extended warranty on certain models because of how common this problem has become. The list of models needs to be expanded to include other models experiencing the same problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #11642317, filed 2025-02

   “P052E: Positive Crankcase Ventilation Regulator Valve Performance. It is available for inspection upon request. It was a problem that was confirmed by two independent service centers. It first appeared at around 30k miles, then the engine light disappeared. At around 40k, it starts to intermittently appears and disappears, most of the time the engine light was off, my mechanics checked at it, said it was not uncommon to see this problem with Mercedes and said it won't affect driving. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11500389, filed 2023-01
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission slips into neutral while driving

   • 5 complaints (7%)
   • median 43,464 mi at 4.8 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2019–2024

   Owners report the car dropping out of gear into neutral on its own, sometimes with a message on the dash telling them to visit the dealer or that the car cannot shift. In several cases it happened at low speed or while stopped, and drivers had to stop, shift to park and then back to drive to continue. Some describe prior odd shifting or delayed acceleration before the event. Mostly described between roughly 30,000 and 70,000 miles, sometimes at low speed in traffic.

   What to check: Test drive at low speed and through stop-and-go traffic, watching for delayed engagement or any neutral message. Ask whether the transmission control unit or electrohydraulic controller has been replaced or updated.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When we are driving the transmission slip intro neutral ramdomly message appear « do not shift in gear, visit dealer » we need to stop the car on the high way put it in park and after in drive . Its happen really often and my wife d’ont want to drive it any more because its to dangerous with kid, we need a solution”

   NHTSA complaint #11606153, filed 2024-08

   “I was driving on the street and lost power, I looked down and saw a red transmission message and noticed that my vehicle was in neutral. I hurried, and stepped on the break and put my car in drive. I drove 5 minutes to my destination. A few hours later, as I was leaving my destination, my car did the same thing. I lost power, the red transmission light popped up and my car was in neutral. I noticed it once a few months ago and thought it was minor. As I reflect, I have had a few instances where I was driving and my acceleration was off. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11486543, filed 2022-09
5. 5
   Fuel system

   Fuel odor and fuel gauge or low-fuel running issues

   • 7 complaints (10%)
   • median 8,500 mi at 2.0 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2017–2025

   Complaints describe a strong fuel smell inside the cabin at idle or while driving, and in some cases the fuel gauge reads empty after refueling or drops unexpectedly. A few owners report the engine losing power and stalling shortly after filling the tank, or the car refusing to run normally when the gauge shows low. Reported from very low mileage (under 10,000 miles) up to around 60,000 miles.

   What to check: Check for fuel smell around the filler area and inside the cabin after a fill-up, and confirm the gauge reads correctly from full to empty. Ask whether the fuel tank, vent lines or gauge sender have been inspected.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I purchased the vehicle january 2019, the vehicle was running smooth for a couple months. Now it is january 2020 and between the months of september and now I have been to mercedes about 4 times. The car doesn't reverse sometimes while I am driving. The words 'car cannot reverse' comes up on the dashboard. I couldn't use the heat in november due to a gas smell coming in the car. Sometimes I will be in gear 3 and the car will change to gear 5 on its own. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11300834, filed 2020-01

   “Car cannot be filled with gas more than 7/8 of the tank. When filled full, the engine sputters and car start to stall/shake violently, engine loses power and engine light comes on and then engine shuts down by itself. After engine shuts down all lights on the dash board lit up and need to turn off car. This happens on both city road and highway driving soon after filling the tank. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11032300, filed 2017-10, 6,000 miles

Buying note. Check the service history for the crankcase ventilation valve, confirm recall completion for the roof panel and airbag campaigns by VIN, and test the transmission and sunroof carefully on a drive. A pre-purchase scan for stored codes and a dealer recall check are worth doing before committing.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.