Most common 2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 problems
Share of the 21 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mercedes-Benz CLA250 complaints by model year
Best CLA250 years: 2012, 2013, 2021. Years to avoid: 2014, 2016, 2015. Compare all years →
2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 recalls (11)
Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Lock
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2020-2021 CLA, 2019-2022 A-Class, 2022-2023 C-Class, 2024 CLE, 2020-2026 GLA/GLB, and 2023-2024 GLC vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific model information.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's door lock, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 18, 2026.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc › Pads
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2020 A220, 2020 CLA250, GLB250, AMG A35, AMG CLA45, AMG CLA35, and 2021 GLA250 vehicles. The vehicles may not be equipped with an inspection gauge to check the wear of the rear brake pads.
Remedy: Dealers will install an inspection gauge and provide supplemental owner's manual information, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 29, 2024.
Communication › Auto crash notification
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017-2022 CLA-Class, GLA-Class, GLE-Class, GLS-Class, SLC-Class, A-Class, AMG GT-Class, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, SL-Class, GLC-Class, CLS-Class, GLB-Class, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details.
Remedy: 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.
Back over prevention › Display function
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2018-2021 CLA-Class, GLE/GLS-Class, A-Class, C-Class, E-Class, E-Class Coupe/Convertible, GLA/GLB-Class, GLC-Class, and CLS-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details.
Remedy: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 15, 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Steering › Electric power assist system
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling one 2020 CLA250 vehicle. The power supply connection to the electric power steering may have been contaminated with melted adhesive, which can cause the power steering assist to fail while driving.
Remedy: A dealer will inspect and repair the power supply connection, as necessary, free of charge. The owner notification letter was mailed January 21, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Fuel system, gasoline › Fuel injection system › Injectors
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2019 AMG G63, C300, E300, G550, AMG GT63, AMG GT53, 2019-2020 A220, GLA250, GLC300, 2016 C300, 2020 AMG A35, AMG C43, AMG C63, CLA250, E350, E450, GLB250, GLE450, GLS450, GLS580, S560, and SL550 vehicles equipped with a gasoline engine.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel rail and fuel injectors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 22, 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Show 5 more recalls
Electrical system › Software
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2021 CLA-Class, GLE/GLS-Class, A-Class, E-Class, E-Class Coupe and Convertible, GLA/GLB-Class, GLC-Class, CLS-Class, and AMG GT-Class 4-door Coupe vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details.
Remedy: The multimedia system software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning June 28, 2021.
Communication › Auto crash notification
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017-2019 C300, E300, 2018-2020 CLA250, 2020 CLS450, AMG E53, AMG GT53, GLE450, 2018 AMG E63, AMG GTA, 2017-2020 GLA250, GLC300, 2019 GLC350, AMG GLC43, 2017-2018 GLE350, 2019 AMG GLC 43, GLC350, GLE400, 2017 GLS450, S550, C300 Cabrio, and 2018-2019 S560 vehicles.
Remedy: 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.
Communication › Auto crash notification
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 - 2021 CLA-Class, GLA-Class, GLE-Class, GLS-Class, SLC-Class, A-Class, GT-Class, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, CLS-Class, SL-Class, B-Class, GLB-Class, GLC-Class, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to the Part 573 report for specific vehicle model details.
Remedy: 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.
Electrical system › Instrument cluster/panel
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2020 CLA250, CLA250 4MATIC and CLA35 AMG 4MATIC, 2020-2021 GLE350, GLE350 4MATIC, GLE450 4MATIC, GLS450 4MATIC and GLS580 4MATIC and 2021 GLE53 AMG Coupe, GLE63S AMG 4MATIC, GLS63 AMG 4MATIC and Maybach GLS600 4MATIC vehicles.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2020 A 220 and A 220 4MATIC, 2020 CLA 250, CLA 250 4 MATIC, GLC 300 Coupe 4MATIC, GLC 300 and GLC 300 4MATIC vehicles. The driver's side front airbag modules may not have been properly bolted down.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver airbag module and replace it, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 29, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
What 2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 owners say
Electrical system
My back up camera badge located at the trunk has been permanently stuck open for a few months now when I put car in reverse the screen shows my camera for 2 seconds then disappears and goes back to my Home Screen I brought to the dealer and they told me I need a new battery I replaced my battery paid almost 400 dollars and it still doesn't work .
Rear camera works, but the hatch will not close making it difficult to open and close the trunk. I have seen many vehicles in this Family Class with the rear camera in the same condition which leads me to believe that it's not a maintenance issue.
Driver assistance
The system that appeared to malfunction is the front airbags sensors. I drove past an accident on the freeway the left by some rocks/debris in the road. I steered away from the rocks avoiding my tires, however, both of my front airbags deploy as if i collided with something. This has completely disabled my vehicle on the freeway, and shattered my windshield. I had the car towed to a repair shop for further diagnostic, and they confirmed there is no front end impact or collision on my vehicle. There is minor undercarriage scrapping, but it isn't near the airbag sensor. There were no warning lights on my vehicle prior to this, and my vehicle has been in no accidents. What caused my airbags to deploy if there was no impact?
The back-up camara is stuck open on the trunk for more than 30 days now. When I put it in reverse the camara will show for about 5 seconds and then go back to the home screen. I brought this to the attention of my advisor and he said that its a known issue. If Mercedes knows this is an issue with the CLA250, they should offer a replacement instead of charging to fix a faulty component.
Engine & cooling
My vehicle's cylinder head needs to be replaced due to a leak in the valve seat. It is available for inspection upon request. My safety and the safety of others were at risk because the engine of the vehicle could of failed at anytime while the vehicle was in use. This could have lead to an accident. The problem has been confirmed by the dealer and the dealer is recommending I replace the cylinder head. The dealer's service center had a certified technician perform a diagnostic test on my vehicle. There were no warnings, messages, or symptoms prior to the check engine light coming on. I brought my vehicle in to the dealership for a diagnosis of the check engine light as soon as the check engine light appeared. That is when I was informed that I needed to replace my cylinder head.
Approximately several weeks ago, the check engine light illuminated in my vehicle. No issues were present at that time. Shortly after, approximately a week later, the vehicle began to stutter when reversing or driving on surface streets after being on the highway. The vehicle also would stall after the check engine light flashed several times. The vehicle would need to be turned off and turned back on to accelerate correctly and not stall. This has not been inspected by the dealer yet, a service appointment has been made. Mercedes recently recalled other models due to a water intrusion issue, but this model was not included, however it is exhibiting nearly the exact same symptoms.
2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 7-speed dual-clutch | FWD | 25 / 35 / 28 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 a good car?
Based on 21 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2020 CLA250 rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the CLA250 at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA250?
The electrical system — 5 complaints, 24% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the driver assistance (5) and engine & cooling (4).
How many recalls does the 2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 have?
There are 11 recalls for the 2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA250, the most recent from July 24, 2026 (lock). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mercedes-Benz CLA250?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2012, 2013 and 2021. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2014, 2016 and 2015. See the full Mercedes-Benz CLA250 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 17,000 miles; 100% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.