2018 Mercedes-Benz Cla 250: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2018 Mercedes-Benz Cla 250: 9 recalls, 40 owner complaints and up to 29 mpg combined.
Recalls
9 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Airbags Vehicle recall #17V627000 · 2017 · 495,290 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: If the driver air bag inadvertently deploys, it can increase the risk of injury and a crash.
The 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.
Airbags Vehicle recall #18V514000 · 2018 · 86 vehicles
What's wrong: The occupant classification system (ocs) May not be properly calibrated, resulting in the front passenger air bag not being deactivated if a child seat is in the front seat.
Why it matters: If a child seat is in the front seat and the passenger air bag is not deactivated, in the event of a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Mbusa will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger seat cushion, free of charge. The recall began January 2, 2019.
Exterior lights, Exterior lights Vehicle recall #19V131000 · 2019 · 12 vehicles
What's wrong: Mercedes-benz USA, LLC. (mbusa) is recalling certain 2018 cla250 and cla250 4matic vehicles. The tail lights and the side marker lights May flicker or fail, affecting the vehicle's visibility.
Why it matters: Reduced visibility increases the risk of crash.
The fix: Mbusa will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected light bulb sockets, free of charge. The recall began April 5, 2019.
Airbags Vehicle recall #19V892000 · 2019 · 129 vehicles
What's wrong: Mercedes-benz USA, LLC. (mbusa) is recalling certain 2015-2018 cla250 and cla250 4matic, and 2017-2018 cla45 amg vehicles. The occupant classification system (ocs) May have been improperly calibrated, which May prevent the proper deployment of the front passenger air bag.
Why it matters: In the event of a crash, if the air bag does not deploy as designed, the front seat passenger has an increased risk of an injury.
The fix: Mbusa will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger seat cushion, free of charge. The recall began July 31, 2020.
Communication, Electrical Vehicle recall #21V058000 · 2021 · 1,292,258 vehicles
What's wrong: Please refer to the part 573 report for specific vehicle model details. The software design of the communication module May fail to communicate the correct vehicle location for the emergency call system (ecall) in the event of a crash.
Why it matters: Failure of the ecall system May result in emergency responders being dispatched to the wrong location, increasing the risk of injury following a crash.
The fix: Mbusa will notify owners, and the communication module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (ota) update, free of charge. The recall began March 12, 2021.
Communication, Communication Vehicle recall #21V072000 · 2021 · 67 vehicles
What's wrong: On June 18, 2021, an additional 9 vehicles were added, including certain 2021 gla250, glc300, 2018 s450, e400, and 2017 cla250 vehicles. The communication module might have been inadvertently deactivated during a service visit, which could have disabled the emergency call (ecall) function.
Why it matters: A disabled ecall system would prevent a vehicle occupant from contacting emergency services through the call center in an emergency, potentially delaying emergency responders and increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Mbusa will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the communication module and activate it, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2021. Letters for the owners of the 9 additional vehicles were mailed July 9, 2021.
Body & structure Vehicle recall #21V197000 · 2021 · 15,096 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The 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.
Communication, Electrical Vehicle recall #22V365000 · 2022 · 242,722 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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.
Body & structure Vehicle recall #23V854000 · 2023 · 2,976 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: A detached roof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
The 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.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 1 mention a fire, 2 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Electrical (10): the most common themes are electrical failure (3).
- Airbags (8): the most common themes are fails to deploy (3).
- Other / unknown (8): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Engine (6): the most common themes are warning light on (4).
The 2018 Mercedes-Benz Cla 250 has 40 owner complaints, ranking #1 of 8 Cla 250 model years for complaints (3.2× the average Cla 250 year). Complaints peaked in 2025 (11 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 6 years old, at a median of 27,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2019 (22 complaints, 6 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (AM7) | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 | 37 | 29 | Premium |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2018 Mercedes-Benz Cla 250.
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FAQ
Does the 2018 Mercedes-Benz Cla 250 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 9 vehicle recalls for the 2018 Mercedes-Benz Cla 250. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2018 Mercedes-Benz Cla 250 problems?
Owners have filed 40 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are electrical (10), airbags (8), other / unknown (8).
What gas mileage does the 2018 Mercedes-Benz Cla 250 get?
EPA ratings run up to 29 mpg combined (2.0 L, Automatic (AM7)), across 1 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2018 Mercedes-Benz Cla 250 repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.