Most common 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA250 problems
Share of the 21 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mercedes-Benz GLA250 complaints by model year
Best GLA250 years: 2024, 2020, 2017. Years to avoid: 2015. Compare all years →
2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA250 recalls (9)
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.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc › Caliper
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2020 AMG CLA 35 and 2021 GLA 250 vehicles. The rear brake caliper housing fasteners may be loose, which can reduce brake performance or cause rear brake components to detach from the vehicle.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten the fasteners on the rear brake caliper housings, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 25, 2022.
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.
Show 3 more recalls
Air bags › Frontal
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain GLA250 vehicles. The ground connection for the front passenger air bag may not be mounted properly, which could result in an inadvertent deployment.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ground connection for the passenger air bag and correct it, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 26, 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.
What 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA250 owners say
Engine & cooling
When coming to a full stop at a red light (or any need to idle at a stop), the car frequently begins to hesitate as if it is about to cut off. I assume it has something to do with the 'fuel saving feature' which comes on in the form of a green symbol in the lower left of the odometer display (the engine is still running the AC) . When you start to drive again the car always jerks before moving , on at least 3 occasions it has actually cut off completely and must be restarted (everything goes off) - it is big problem, especially in heavy traffic (horns blaring & angry drivers are encountered) I almost had a car hit me from behind; my car had jerked slightly when I began to accelerate and then shut off completely. It is definitely a dangerous defect. The Dealership emphasizes 93 Octane gas or higher to help with this issue- but I Always use the highest Octane gas I can find ! …
I am reporting a potential safety and mechanical defect involving the cylinder head in the Mercedes-Benz GLA 250. Many owners, including myself, have experienced premature cylinder head failure, often without warning, leading to loss of power, engine misfires, rough idling, and in some cases, sudden engine shutdown while driving. This issue appears to be widespread among GLA models equipped with the M260/M270 engine, often occurring well before 100,000 miles. It raises serious concerns about the design, durability, and safety of the engine's top-end components. Given the frequency and severity of this failure - and the high cost of repairs - I believe this warrants an official investigation and potential manufacturer recall. I urge the NHTSA to review similar complaints and initiate a formal inquiry into Mercedes-Benz's awareness and handling of this defect. …
Electrical system
The contact owns a 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA250. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V354000 (Back Over Prevention, Electrical System). The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the rearview camera image was not displaying on the display screen. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the dealer could not activate the display screen and informed the contact that they were waiting for parts to arrive to perform the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 2,200.
Cowl vent grille openings allowed normal environmental debris to accumulate, plug drainage and divert water onto electrical components and potentially result in a fire if not addressed. Some of the debris passes through into the hvac system and cannot be cleaned without dealer removal/repair of the hvac motor, which costs the customer more than $500 in repairs and disincentivizes mitigation. Furthermore, Mercedes is aware of the problem, has not issued a customer satisfaction recall, and instead, is charging customers more than $1,000 to install a plastic protective shield to prevent accumulation of debris, clogged water management, and risk of fire.
Driver assistance
The contact owns a 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA250. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V354000 (Back Over Prevention, Electrical System). The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the rearview camera image was not displaying on the display screen. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the dealer could not activate the display screen and informed the contact that they were waiting for parts to arrive to perform the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 2,200.
The contact owns a 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA250. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V354000 (Back Over Prevention, Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA250 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 8-speed dual-clutch | FWD | 25 / 34 / 28 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA250 a good car?
Based on 21 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2021 GLA250 rates average: 1.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the GLA250 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 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA250?
The engine & cooling — 9 complaints, 43% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the electrical system (4) and driver assistance (3).
How many recalls does the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA250 have?
There are 9 recalls for the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA250, 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 GLA250?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2024, 2020 and 2017. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2015. See the full Mercedes-Benz GLA250 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA250 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 11,000 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.