2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Aug 26, 2026 · 94 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other GLA 250 years
Far more complaints than other years 1st of 13 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 94 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250. That is the most of any GLA 250 model year in the database (13 years). The most reported problem area is engine (27 complaints, 29%), typically at around 50,000 miles. Complaints mention 4 crashes, 1 fire, 8 injuries. There are 5 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Engine27 · ~50,000 mi
Unknown or Other16 · ~16,300 mi
Power Train14 · ~55,000 mi
Air Bags12 · ~72,747 mi
Fuel/propulsion System12 · ~56,000 mi
Structure12 · ~29,500 mi
Electrical System11 · ~18,000 mi
Visibility5 · ~120,000 mi
Forward Collision Avoidance4 · ~72,000 mi
Service Brakes4 · ~9,700 mi
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Engine2729%50,000——
Unknown or Other1617%16,300——
Power Train1415%55,000——
Air Bags1213%72,747——
Fuel/propulsion System1213%56,000——
Structure1213%29,500——
Electrical System1112%18,000——
Visibility55%120,000——
Forward Collision Avoidance44%72,000——
Service Brakes44%9,700——
Electronic Stability Control (esc)33%9,700——
Steering33%18,000——
Suspension33%35,210——
Vehicle Speed Control33%21,200——
Visibility/wiper33%15,013——
Lane Departure22%———
Exterior Lighting11%21,000——
Seat Belts11%72,747——
Service Brakes, Hydraulic11%———
Tires11%30,000——

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2024, with 18 complaints
2014: 1201412015: 7201572016: 5201652017: 5201752018: 8201882019: 8201982020: 3202032021: 2202122022: 102022102023: 142023142024: 182024182025: 102025102026: 320263

n = 94 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 recalls (5)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Structure:body:roof and pillarsDec 15, 2023 · NHTSA campaign 23V854000 · 2,976 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Fix: 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.

Structure:body:roof and pillarsMar 19, 2021 · NHTSA campaign 21V197000 · 15,096 vehicles

Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017-2020 C300 Coupe, C43 Coupe AMG, C43 AMG, 2015-2020 C300, GLA250, 2016-2018 C350e, CLA45 Coupe AMG, 2015 C400, S65 AMG, 2015-2019 C63 AMG, 2016 C450, 2015-2016 GLA45 AMG, S600, 2016-2020 GLC300, 2017-2019 GLC43 AMG, GLE43 Coupe AMG, 2014-2019 CLA250 Coupe, 2014-2015 CLA45 AMG, 2018 GLC63 AMG, 2014-2017 S550, 2018-2020 S450, 2016-2019 GLE63 Coupe AMG, 2016 GLE450 Coupe, 2014-2020 S63 AMG, 2018-2019 S560, and 2019 GLC350e vehicles equipped with a panoramic sunroof. 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.

Risk: The adhesive bonding of the front panel might deteriorate, possibly causing the front panel to detach from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Mercedes-Benz dealer will remove the bonded panel and will install a new front panel by following the detailed repair instructions and using the approved primer, cleaner and adhesive, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 3, 2021 and October 26, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

CommunicationNov 1, 2019 · NHTSA campaign 19V787000 · 24,226 vehicles

Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2013-2017 vehicles due to a software fault that may cause the date and time for the emergency call system (eCall) to differ from the actual date and time, potentially relaying an inaccurate vehicle location. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V787-4620.pdf

Risk: An inaccurate vehicle location may delay emergency responders, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: MBUSA has initiated an Over the Air (OTA) remote update. MBUSA will also notify owners, and dealers will check software for a successful OTA or update the communication module software as needed, free of charge. The recall began December 23, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2019120008.

Air bags:frontalOct 6, 2017 · NHTSA campaign 17V627000 · 495,290 vehicles

Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling these vehicles: 2014-2018 CLA250, CLA250 4Matic, CLA45 AMG 4Matic, 2015-2018 GLA250, GLA250 4Matic, GLA45 AMG 4Matic, C300 4Matic, C63S AMG, 2012-2014 C250, C350, C300 4Matic, E550 4Matic, 2013-2014 C63 AMG, 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2013-2015 C350 4Matic Coupe, GLK250 4Matic BlueTec, GLK350, GLK350 4Matic, 2016-2017 C350e, C43 AMG, 2015 C400 4Matic, 2016-2018 C63 AMG, GLC300, GLC300 4Matic, 2017-2018 C300 Coupe, C300 4Matic Coupe, C43 AMG, C63 AMG Coupe, C63S AMG Coupe, C300 Cabriolet, C300 4Matic Cabriolet, C43 AMG Cabriolet, C63 AMG Cabriolet, C63S AMG Cabriolet, GLC300 4Matic Coupe, GLC43 AMG, GLC43 AMG Coupe, 2014 E350 Coupe, E350 4Matic Coupe, E350 Cabriolet, E400 Hybrid, 2015-2017 E400 Coupe, E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabriolet, 2014-2017 E550 Coupe, E550 Cabriolet, B250e, 2014-2016 E250 BlueTec, E63 AMG 4Matic Wagon, 2012-2013 E350 BlueTec, 2012-2016 E350, E350 4Matic, 2015-2016 E400, E400 4Matic, 2012 E63 AMG, 2014-2015 E250 4Matic BlueTec, 2013-2016 E350 Wagon, 2017 GLC300d 4Matic, and 2018 GLC350e 4Matic. The driver's air bag may unexpectedly deploy due to insufficient grounding of the steering components if an electrostatic discharge occurs and the air bag clockspring is broken.

Risk: If the driver air bag inadvertently deploys, it can increase the risk of injury and a crash.

Fix: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will add sufficient grounding to the steering components, free of charge. The recall began in December 6, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691.

Engine and engine cooling:engineOct 16, 2015 · NHTSA campaign 15V662000 · 857 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Fix: 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.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

NHTSA defect investigations

  • Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture (EA21002) — opened Sep 17, 2021, still open.
  • Front Roof Panel Detachment (PE21001) — opened Jan 8, 2021, closed Oct 14, 2021, led to recall 21V197000.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

During an inspection, an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealership discovered severe corrosion and perforation, including holes, in the rear subframe of my 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA. There were no warning lights or messages alerting us to the condition before it was discovered. The dealership confirmed that…

Suspension · received Aug 26, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11759718

I came out from work. Got in my car and started it and went to make a three-point turn to go the opposite direction on a quiet back street in the airbag deployed halfway through and blew up in my face, causing my hands to be hurt and difficulty with breathing.

Air Bags · received Feb 10, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11716914

Collision Prevention Assist Plus Inoperative Light on the dashboard it appears often and beep I am not sure and why

Lane Departure · received Feb 1, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11714841

The contact owns a 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA250. The contact stated that the roof panel had detached and was tilted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where an estimate for the repair was provided. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V197000 (Structure), but the dealer…

Structure · received Nov 20, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11700522

The contact owns a 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA250. The contact stated that the sunroof panel was tilted on one side and fractured. There were no warning lights illuminated. Upon researching the failure, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V918000 (Visibility); however, the…

Visibility · received Nov 20, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11700532

Other Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 years

← 2014 GLA 250 · 2016 GLA 250 →

See all Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 problems by year, every Mercedes-Benz model, or the Mercedes-Benz VIN decoder.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250?

Owners most often report engine, unknown or other, power train problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 27 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250?

Yes, 5 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other GLA 250 model years, the 2015 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.