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Mercedes-Benz CLA250Model year report

2018 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 Problems

Compared with other Mercedes-Benz CLA250 years

Fewer complaints than typical for this model

34/100 0.7× a typical year · 50 = typical

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
41filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
27,000miles, 9 complaints with mileage
Recalls
9campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
29 mpgcombined, 2.0L 4-cyl FWD · 24 city / 37 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2018 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 41 consumer complaints for the 2018 Mercedes-Benz CLA250. The part named most often is electrical system, with 10 complaints (24% of the total), followed by other or unknown (10) and air bags (8). 9 of the complaints include a mileage, and 56% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 27,000 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns and 106 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 36 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Other or unknown complaints overlap with 7 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Compared with the other 4 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 34 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (fewer complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Lane departure (1), Suspension (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1), Wheels (1).

Example complaints

Electrical system: “I was driving on the access road getting ready to merge onto the highway. I proceeded onto the highway and made it into the middle lane going around 60 MPH but shortly after my car threw itself into neutral and the dash lit up with three lines of words: the first line said 'service required', the second line said 'do not shift gears' and the last line said 'contact dealer'. I was able to pull my car over to the far left hand side of traffic. I turned off my car and turned it back on and it started with no issues. …”

NHTSA complaint #11143405, filed 2018-10, 3,274 miles

Other or unknown: “I am driving around 55K miles in this car, and my check engine light comes up. I head to a local place to get a code check. The guy looks it up and tells me this is pretty much with EVERY Mercedes CLA around that mile point.. So, I look up on reddit and other forums, and it's exactly what he said. Pretty much the PCV valve is faulty and costs around $1800-2500 to fix after 50-60K miles which causes emission problems and other safety concerns if not taken care of. It makes no sense how this is not a recall. …”

NHTSA complaint #11622361, filed 2024-10

Air bags: “The year and model of my car has been recalled for a steering column module/clock spring. Mercedes says my VIN is not in the recall. This is a safety concern as an airbag will not deploy. I believe I should be included in the recall.”

NHTSA complaint #11564288, filed 2024-01

Engine: “The contact owns a 2018 Mercedes-Benz CLA250. The contact stated that coolant was leaking from the engine with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the mechanic replaced the coolant reservoir cap. Several months later, the warning light re-appeared, and the contact topped off the coolant level and the warning light disappeared. Recently, the check engine warning light illuminated and took the vehicle back to the independent mechanic. …”

NHTSA complaint #11531259, filed 2023-07, 118,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

56% of the 9 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 10,000 and 61,050 miles.

22%0–1022%10–2511%25–5033%50–750%75–10011%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (9 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 27,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

20182019202020212022202320242025112026
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2018 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
CLA250 FWD2.0L 4-cyl7-speed automatic243729$2,850
CLA250 4matic part-time 4WD2.0L 4-cyl7-speed automatic243227$3,050
CLA250 4matic 4WD2.0L 4-cyl · flex-fuel7-speed automatic243227$3,050

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

See all 9 recalls for the 2018 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 106 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 106 bulletins →

Other model years of the Mercedes-Benz CLA250

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20236—0—29—Too new
20217—5—29—Not enough data
20202015,93411—28—Rising
20192335,0006—29—Rising
20184127,0009—2934 · FewerRising
20172839,38110—2943 · TypicalStable
20166737,0008—3074 · MoreStable
20156136,9547—3050 · TypicalStable
201417916,7686—30100 · MoreFalling
2013970,0000———Not enough data
2012765,0000———Not enough data

All Mercedes-Benz CLA250 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2018 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 have?

NHTSA recorded 41 consumer complaints for the 2018 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2018 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 10 complaints (24% of the total), followed by other or unknown with 10.

Has the 2018 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2018 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 get?

The EPA rates the 2018 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 (CLA250, 2.0L 4-cyl) at 29 mpg combined, 24 city and 37 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,850 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2018 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 reported?

Among the 9 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 27,000 miles and the middle half falls between 10,000 and 61,050 miles; 56% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.