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2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class

Gas Compact car

202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016
Specs & fuel economyRecallsComplaintsCrash ratings
C
Safety Signal
74 / 100
CSafety Signal · 74 / 100
6Recalls · NHTSA campaigns
9Complaints · owner reports
Crash rating · NHTSA overall
29 mpgFuel economy · best combined

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact car with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the CLA250, is EPA-rated at 29 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 9 complaints, most often about unknown or other.

Specs & fuel economy (EPA)

ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
CLA250GasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo253529$2,650
CLA250 4maticGas4WD2.0L 4-cyl turbo243327$2,850
AMG CLA35 4maticGas4WD2.0L 4-cyl turbo222925$3,100
AMG CLA45 4maticGas4WD2.0L 4-cyl turbo202923$3,350

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year and EPA reference fuel/electricity prices. Source: fueleconomy.gov vehicle records.

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Recalls (6)

Latches/Locks/Linkages

high
310,667 vehicles

Problem: 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. The micro-switch in the driver's door lock may corrode and fail to detect an open door, preventing the electronic parking brake or "Auto-Park" feature from engaging automatically. This may result in a vehicle rollaway.

Risk: A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash or injury.

Fix: Dealers will replace the driver's door lock, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 18, 2026. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning July 31, 2026.

NHTSA campaign 26V481000 · reported Jul 24, 2026 · Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC

Electrical System

minor
242,722 vehicles

Problem: 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. An error in the communication module's SIM card software can cause a mobile network connection failure, disabling the emergency call (eCall) system.

Risk: 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.

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. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's numbers are for this recall is 2022060005 and 2023110006.

NHTSA campaign 22V365000 · reported May 20, 2022 · Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC

Back Over Prevention

minor
126,443 vehicles

Problem: 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. The rearview camera may not display the rearview image due to a software error. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Risk: An inoperable rearview camera display reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: 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. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2022060007.

NHTSA campaign 22V232000 · reported Apr 8, 2022 · Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC

Electrical System

minor
343,191 vehicles

Problem: 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. The MBUX multimedia system software may cause the display to remain black, or reboot after startup. This could result in the rearview camera image not displaying properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Risk: A backup camera that displays a blank image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

Fix: 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. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6373. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021050012.

NHTSA campaign 21V354000 · reported May 14, 2021 · Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC

Electrical System

minor
1,292,258 vehicles

Problem: 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. 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.

Risk: Failure of the eCall system may result in emergency responders being dispatched to the wrong location, increasing the risk of injury following a crash.

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. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021020025.

NHTSA campaign 21V058000 · reported Feb 5, 2021 · Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC

Child Seat

moderate
231 vehicles

Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021 A220, A35 AMG, and CLA250 vehicles. The child seat anchoring system (ISOFIX) may be missing the right-side anchoring bar from the ISOFIX bracket on the right-rear seat.

Risk: If the anchoring bar is missing from the ISOFIX bracket, the child restraint cannot be properly secured to the seat using the ISOFIX securing system, increasing the risk of injury for a child in that seat.

Fix: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the right-rear ISOFIX bracket and replace the bracket, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 16, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021020004.

NHTSA campaign 21V034000 · reported Jan 29, 2021 · Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC

Owner complaints

9 complaints filed

1 involved a crash, 0 a fire, 1 injuries, 0 deaths reported by owners.

Filed by year — 2022: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2025: 2 · 2026: 2

Most-cited components

  • Unknown Or Other — 4
  • Fuel/Propulsion System — 2
  • Vehicle Speed Control — 2
  • Suspension — 1
  • Power Train — 1
“Vehicle would unexpectedly stall out while driving at slow speeds or stopped. Car was brought to an independent car shop and it was determined the Fuel pump had started to come apart sending debris into the fuel tank/system causing low fuel pressure. The fuel tank with fuel level sensor and suction jet pump was replace…”Aug 29, 2026 · Fuel/Propulsion System · NHTSA owner report
“My 2021 CLA 250 that I reached purchased as a used vehicle in the last three months and now is saying SOS unresponsive so in my vehicle where to get a motor vehicle accident, it will not be alerting any emergency personnel authorities and I think it’s really sad the whole fact that Mercedes-Benz has just ran you know…”Aug 26, 2026 · Unknown Or Other · NHTSA owner report
“The sunroof exploded on my CLA without external interference. The glass shattered everywhere causing a loud explosion and Major safety issue.”Dec 2, 2025 · Unknown Or Other · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

NHTSA has not published 5-Star crash ratings for this model year.

Other CLA-Class model years

A

2027 CLA-Class

0 recalls · 0 complaints

A

2026 CLA-Class

1 recalls · 1 complaints

A

2025 CLA-Class

0 recalls · 1 complaints

A

2024 CLA-Class

0 recalls · 2 complaints

A

2023 CLA-Class

1 recalls · 6 complaints

A

2022 CLA-Class

0 recalls · 4 complaints

F

2020 CLA-Class

13 recalls · 25 complaints

D

2019 CLA-Class

6 recalls · 22 complaints

F

2018 CLA-Class

10 recalls · 46 complaints

F

2017 CLA-Class

10 recalls · 27 complaints

F

2016 CLA-Class

9 recalls · 67 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records (ids 42931, 42930, 42929, 43564). Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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