Is the 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 a bad year?
179 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 68, 6.8× a quiet CLA 250 year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 5k–23k miles, where you are now.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2014 CLA 250 owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 14,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 68 (38%) | 5k–23k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 44 (25%) | 5k–22k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Speed control | 36 (20%) | 5k–23k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Stability control | 20 (11%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 20 (11%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Air bags | 11 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 11 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 11 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 9 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Wheels | 9 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 8 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Brakes | 6 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 14,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 179 complaints: 5 mention a crash · 3 mention a fire · 6 report an injury · 5 say the car was towed.
6 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Sep 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Recently, every time I ma driving in the rain, no matter how light the rain is, the traction control light comes on and a message stating"Pre safe, functions limited, inoperative" Shows up.
I was driving on a main road when suddenly the car shuts off completely. I could not get it to start, nor put it on neutral gear, to at least push it away.
Car has now twice gone into pre-safe functions limited and inoperative mode (Simultaneously) while driving with no notice, effectively removing all ability to accelerate and creating near major accidents both times.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 14,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250: 6
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. A detached roof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
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. 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.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V787-4620.pdf An inaccurate vehicle location may delay emergency responders, increasing the risk of injury.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. The driver's air bag may unexpectedly deploy due to insufficient grounding of the steering components if an electrostatic discharge occurs and the air bag clockspring is broken. If the driver air bag inadvertently deploys, it can increase the risk of injury and a crash.
The affected vehicles have a fitting that connects the vacuum line to the brake booster which may break causing increased forced to be needed to apply the brakes. If the vehicles unexpectedly need increased pressure on the brake pedal to apply the brakes, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
The affected vehicles have fuses that may have been incorrectly installed in the passenger side interior fuse boxes. If the fuses were not properly installed, they may lose electrical contact.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Mercedes-Benz: 81
Repair instructions Mercedes-Benz sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Intermittent shift feel or thud/clunk noise perceived, such as a brief jerk or transmission reaction during certain driving situations
Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end)
Dear Mercedes-Benz USA Dealers, The part numbers listed in the chart below should no longer be installed…
Fault code P06DA00 is found current or stored in engine control unit
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Front Roof Panel Detachment
Neighbouring years
2015 CLA 250: 61 complaints, keep it.
Every Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 year
2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · All CLA 250 years side by side
Other Mercedes-Benz models: Mercedes-Benz AMG E 55 · Mercedes-Benz C 230 · Mercedes-Benz C 250 · Mercedes-Benz C 300 · Mercedes-Benz C 320 · Mercedes-Benz C 350 · Mercedes-Benz E 300 · Mercedes-Benz E 320 · Mercedes-Benz E 350 · Mercedes-Benz E 500 · Mercedes-Benz E 550 · Mercedes-Benz GL 450 · Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 · Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 · Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 · Mercedes-Benz GLK 350 · Mercedes-Benz ML 320 · Mercedes-Benz ML 350 · Mercedes-Benz Metris · Mercedes-Benz R 350 · Mercedes-Benz S 430 · Mercedes-Benz S 500 · Mercedes-Benz S 550 · Mercedes-Benz S Class · Mercedes-Benz SL 500 · Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 · Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 a bad year?
179 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 68, 6.8× a quiet CLA 250 year. At 14,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 5k–23k miles, where you are now.
What are the most common problems with the 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (68), electrical system (44), speed control (36), stability control (20), transmission and drivetrain (20). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 5k–23k miles.
How many recalls does the 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 have?
6 recall campaigns list this model year: Body structure (NHTSA 23V-854), Body structure (NHTSA 21V-197), Communication (NHTSA 19V-787), Air bags (NHTSA 17V-627) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.