2016 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class: recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings
EPA rates the 2016 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class at 26–30 mpg combined across 4 versions. NHTSA lists 9 safety recalls and 68 owner complaints for this model year.
Safety recalls
9
EPA combined mpg
26–30
NHTSA overall rating
—
Recall file dated Oct 27, 2026 · EPA file dated Sep 29, 2026 · updated Oct 27, 2026, 7:34 AM EDT
NHTSA lists this vehicle as AMG CLA45, CLA250.
Check your own car: enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls for that exact vehicle, and contact a Mercedes-Benz dealer to schedule the repair — safety recall repairs are free. The list below covers the whole model year, so not every recall applies to every car.
2016 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class recalls
NHTSA's recall file lists 9 safety recalls for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class, newest first.
Structure: Body: Roof and pillars
NHTSA 23V854000Reported Dec 15, 2023
Filed by
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Units affected
2,976 (estimate)
Problem
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2014-2020 C-Class, CLA, GLA, S-Class, GLC, and GLE vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle details. 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.
Risk
A detached roof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the front panel, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 2, 2024. Owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, on, March 22,2024, and August 2, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 21V-197.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (manufacturer recall no. 2021070010)
Units affected
15,096 (estimate)
Problem
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017-2020 C300 Coupe, C43 Coupe AMG, C43 AMG, 2015-2020 C300, GLA250, 2016-2018 C350e, CLA45 Coupe AMG, 2015 C400, S65 AMG, 2015-2019 C63 AMG, 2016 C450, 2015-2016 GLA45 AMG, S600, 2016-2020 GLC300, 2017-2019 GLC43 AMG, GLE43 Coupe AMG, 2014-2019 CLA250 Coupe, 2014-2015 CLA45 AMG, 2018 GLC63 AMG, 2014-2017 S550, 2018-2020 S450, 2016-2019 GLE63 Coupe AMG, 2016 GLE450 Coupe, 2014-2020 S63 AMG, 2018-2019 S560, and 2019 GLC350e vehicles equipped with a panoramic sunroof. 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.
Risk
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.
Remedy
Mercedes-Benz dealer will remove the bonded panel and will install a new front panel by following the detailed repair instructions and using the approved primer, cleaner and adhesive, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 3, 2021 and October 26, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (manufacturer recall no. 2021020025)
Components
Electrical system: Software; Communication: Auto crash notification
Units affected
1,292,258 (estimate)
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.
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. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021020025.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (manufacturer recall no. 2020060012)
Units affected
129 (estimate)
Problem
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2015-2018 CLA250 and CLA250 4MATIC, and 2017-2018 CLA45 AMG vehicles. The Occupant Classification System (OCS) may have been improperly calibrated, which may prevent the proper deployment of the front passenger air bag.
Risk
In the event of a crash, if the air bag does not deploy as designed, the front seat passenger has an increased risk of an injury.
Remedy
MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger seat cushion, free of charge. The recall began July 31, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2020060012.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (manufacturer recall no. 2019120008)
Units affected
24,226 (estimate)
Problem
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2013-2017 vehicles due to a software fault that may cause the date and time for the emergency call system (eCall) to differ from the actual date and time, potentially relaying an inaccurate vehicle location. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V787-4620.pdf
Risk
An inaccurate vehicle location may delay emergency responders, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy
MBUSA has initiated an Over the Air (OTA) remote update. MBUSA will also notify owners, and dealers will check software for a successful OTA or update the communication module software as needed, free of charge. The recall began December 23, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2019120008.
If the driver air bag inadvertently deploys, it can increase the risk of injury and a crash.
Remedy
MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will add sufficient grounding to the steering components, free of charge. The recall began in December 6, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691.
Electrical system: Software; Air bags: Frontal: Sensor/control module-inactive
Units affected
51 (estimate)
Problem
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 AMG GT-S, GLC300, CLA250 and GLE300d 4Matic vehicles, 2013 C250, E350 BlueTec and G63 AMG vehicles, 2008-2014 C300 vehicles, 2013-2014 C300 4Matic and ML350 4Matic vehicles, 2009 C350 vehicles, 2014 CLS550, E350 4Matic, E350 Coupe 4Matic, E350 Wagon 4Matic, GLK350 and SL550 vehicles, 2012 CLS550 4Matic vehicles, 2012-2016 E350 vehicles, 2016-2017 GL450 4Matic vehicles, 2012-2014 ML350 4Matic BlueTec vehicles, 2015 S550, S550 4Matic and C300 4Matic Sedan vehicles, 2015-2016 C300 Sedan vehicles, and 2017 SL63 AMG vehicles. Various control units on these vehicles may have been updated with incorrect software, potentially affecting the correct deployment of the air bags in the event of a crash.
Risk
If the air bags do not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, there would be an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy
MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update software in the affected control units, free of charge. The recall began April 21, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Electrical system: Starter assembly and 1 more component
NHTSA 17V114000Reported Feb 23, 2017
Filed by
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (manufacturer recall no. 2017080002)
Components
Electrical system: Starter assembly; Engine and engine cooling: Engine
Units affected
307,629 (estimate)
Problem
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2015-2017 C300 4Matic, C300, CLA250, CLA250 4Matic and CLA45 AMG vehicles, 2017 C300 4Matic Cabrio, C300 4Matic Coupe, C300 Cabrio, C300 Coupe, E300, E300 4Matic, E400 4Matic Wagon, E43 AMG 4Matic, GLA250, GLA250 4Matic and GLC300 4Matic Coupe vehicles and 2016 C350e and GLC300 vehicles and 2016-2017 C450 4Matic AMG Sport and GLC300 4Matic vehicles. In the event that the engine or transmission cannot turn over, the starting current limiter may overheat from the repeated attempts of the starter motor attempting to start the vehicle.
Risk
If the starting current limiter overheats, the surrounding components can melt, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy
MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional fuse in the electrical line to the starter, free of charge. The recall began August 31, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2017080002.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling one 2016 CLA45 AMG vehicle manufactured November 10, 2015. This vehicle is equipped with a dual clutch transmission that may have a defective weld between the dual clutch disk and hub. This weld may crack and result in a loss of power to the wheels, causing the vehicle to stop.
Risk
A sudden loss of power can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
MBUSA will notify the owner, and a dealers will replace the dual clutch, free of charge. The recall began on August 11, 2016. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Recall summaries are written by NHTSA from manufacturers' defect reports. Dates are when NHTSA received the report.
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2016 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class fuel economy by version
EPA city/highway/combined estimates for each engine, transmission and drive combination. Annual fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year (55% city, 45% highway) at EPA's current fuel-price assumptions; your cost will vary.
Source: FuelEconomy.gov (U.S. DOE and EPA), file dated Sep 29, 2026. Each version links to its FuelEconomy.gov record.
EPA estimates come from standardized lab tests so cars can be compared fairly; real-world mileage depends on speed, weather, load, tires and driving style.
2016 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the tested versions. More stars mean a lower chance of serious injury in that type of crash. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program), checked Oct 26, 2026.
Star ratings compare vehicles of similar size and weight; a frontal rating for a large pickup is not directly comparable with one for a small car.
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2016 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class owner complaints
Owners have filed 68 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class, most recently on Oct 24, 2026. 5 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 4 injured people and 1 deaths. These are unverified reports; a complaint is not proof of a defect.
Most-cited components in 2016 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class complaints
Component named in complaints
Mentions
Unknown or other
20
Engine
15
Air bags
14
Electrical system
8
Steering
8
Fuel/propulsion system
6
Structure: Body
6
Power train
5
Service brakes
3
Wheels
3
Source: NHTSA consumer complaint files (complaints received since January 1, 2015). One complaint can name several components.
