Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I just got the vehicle it's losing power already, I was driving up a hill as a school bus was behind me, and my car started losing power and rolling back. I have a transmission issue they sold it this way also electrical.
Please let me preface this by saying that I am a certified aircraft mechanic and have a good working knowledge of cars. My vehicle had NO prior indications, symptoms or abnormalities! This was completely out of the blue. Absolutely no warning that this was going to happen. The transmission of my 2014 CLA 250 Base model, while operating at 65mph on the interstate, all on its own, went into neutral and now will not engage into Drive. Initially following this incident, as I dogged the other vehicles on the interstate and coasted to the emergency lane, there were the following warning lights: ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, PARKING BRAKE accompanied with the alerts....PRE-SAFE Functions Limited, ABS/TRACTION CONTROL Currently Unavailable See O.M., Parking Brake See O.M. …
On this day, I was nearly killed in my 2014 Mercedes CLA250 4matic that stalled on a highway in new york city. The car has roughly 40,300 miles on the odometer. I was driving on the brooklyn queens expressway at 4:00 am. The car's motor stalled and the car came to a stop in the left lane. There were no shoulders. I attempted to get the car restarted but all I got were flashing dashboard lights. I attempted to put up a warning triangle to the rear of the car, but the traffic was moving too quickly for me to safely do that. I sat in my car and buckled my seat belt. I called 911 to announce my emergency and I contacted my car's insurer for a tow truck (they provide such a service). Within moments, a Toyota with tlc plates smashed into my car sending me into the barrier. The rear of the car was broken and deformed. …
I was getting off work and I was about to get out of the garage and I drove for about 100 yards and I get the check engine light on, power terain light on saying disabled and on the dashboard it said inoperative see operators manual and also pre_safe functions limited. It was going back and forth between these two. When I was driving going about 5mph, the car would speed up by itself without me touching the gas pedal, then it would slow down and speed up again. It was like I was learning to driving stick shift, stop and go, except the car was doing it by itself. Then I parked the car, and the arrow in tachometer was going up and down. It would go to 1.5 and then drop to .5 every second or so. Then I stepped on the gas and floored it while I had it on park and it did nothing. I shut it off and started it again to see maybe it would get fixed but it didn't. …
While sitting at a red light, the vehicle will put itself into neutral. It's happened multiple times and we've brought the car at the dealership each time it's happened yet it still hasn't been fixed. This is a serious safety concern and Mercedes needs to look into a fix asap before they have a lawsuit on their hands. In addition, the entire engine has already had to be replaced! So far, to address the issue about the vehicle putting itself into neutral the dealership did a transmission control update and replaced the valve body. It's now back for a third time at the dealership and we've told them that we aren't picking it back up until they can guarantee tee the issue has been fixed. When the vehicle puts itself in nuetral the 'pre-safe function limited' appears on the dash. Also, it's hard to recreate the issue as it only appears randomly.
Vehicle's transmission & throttle response is jerky & unpredictable. Rotors went bad at 5,000 miles, beginning to go bad again at 12,000. Numerous unknown interior rattles.windshield wiper completely flew off vehicle while driving in heavy rain - visibility instantly reduced to near-zero. On two occasions, the car displayed "pre-safe functions limited/ESP inop" message followed by engine immediately losing power on freeway, which could have ended very badly. Not only is this vehicle of poor quality, it is becoming increasingly dangerous to drive. Seriously considering pursuing state lemon law.
Tl* the contact owns a 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA250. While driving 25 MPH, the vehicle lost power. The accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to accelerate. The brake, ESC, and multiple warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, but the contact was unsure about what part was replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer who was unable to diagnose or repair the vehicle. The failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 40,000.
Bought the cla 250 brand new in 2014, vehicle has now twice gone in to pre-safe mode and inoperative mode while driving. The car switches to neutral as I am driving and then refuses to shift in to drive or reverse leaving me stranded in the streets on two occasion which could have caused two very serious accidents. The car on the second time had to be towed to dealership who could'nt find anything wrong with the car. There solution was more of a guess about a cpu needing to be replaced.
While traveling with my wife and newborn on highway 64 my 2014 cla mb cut off( while in motion ) and gave a code 'do not shift gears 'visit dealer. Somehow the car switch to netural while I coast the car to a safe edge of the road. We were terrified!! Next it gave a transmission code in red to do not shift visit dealer. I'm not sure if any recalls but this is a safety that needs attention!!
There is a design defect in the rear differential. Multiple independent repair shops have reported this. Mercedes Benz has an internal "service technical bulletins" to their dealers on this.issues. There are numerous reports on this on different forums on Mercedes cars.
Transmission complaints in other CLA250 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA250?
NHTSA has 20 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA250, 11% of the model year's 179 complaints. The component named most often is driveline › differential unit (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA250, though it has 6 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 15,000 miles, and 64% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 1 injury to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.