At a glance
What can fail
Your vehicle may lack an inspection gauge for checking rear brake pad wear, and your owner's manual might not explain how to use it. This prevents you from monitoring brake pad condition as required.
What the fix does
This page covers 8 recalls and 15 owner complaints for the 2021 Mercedes-Benz Gla 250.
Complaints on the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 are spread across a handful of systems, with no single issue dominating at high volume. The electrical system draws the most reports, including a fuel door actuator failure that left the gas door inoperable with no manual override and no warning indicator. A separate electrical-adjacent complaint describes the engine hesitating and feeling close to stalling at idle stops, which owners associate with the auto stop-start system. On the tire side, two owners report conflicting inflation placards, one on the driver's door jamb and another inside the fuel door, listing different recommended pressures, and both owners say tire shops attributed premature tread wear to overinflation from following the higher figure. Engine complaints include rough idling, misfires, and loss of power that owners link to cylinder head concerns, though this appears in a single report.
15
Total Complaints
1
Crash-Related
2
With Injuries
By System
The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 has 8 recalls, the most serious involving a loose front passenger airbag ground connection that can trigger an unexpected deployment, and rear brake caliper fasteners that can come loose, reducing braking power or allowing brake components to detach from the vehicle.
Two other brake-related issues round out the chassis concerns: certain vehicles were not equipped with the inspection gauge needed to check rear brake pad wear, and the owner's manual may not explain how to use it, leaving worn pads undetected until braking performance suffers. On the connectivity side, three separate recalls address the automatic emergency call system, which can fail to contact an emergency response center, send responders to the wrong location, or stop functioning entirely after a crash. The rearview camera also has two overlapping software issues where the display can stay black or reboot after startup, leaving the driver without a rear view while reversing.
At a glance
What can fail
Your vehicle may lack an inspection gauge for checking rear brake pad wear, and your owner's manual might not explain how to use it. This prevents you from monitoring brake pad condition as required.
What the fix does
We may earn a commission for purchases made through these links.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
A dealer will install an inspection gauge and provide updated manual information about using it at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software error in the communication module's SIM card can prevent mobile network connection, which disables the emergency call (eCall) system.
What the fix does
The communication module software will be updated at no cost through an over-the-air update or by a dealer.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software error prevents the rearview camera from displaying the backup image on the screen.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the rearview camera software at no cost to restore the backup image display.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The fasteners that hold the rear brake caliper housing may loosen, which can reduce braking power or cause rear brake parts to separate from the vehicle.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the rear brake caliper housing fasteners and tighten them as needed, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The MBUX multimedia system software may cause the display to go black or restart after startup, preventing the rearview camera image from displaying properly.
What the fix does
A dealer will update the multimedia system software, or you can receive the update over-the-air, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The ground connection for the front passenger air bag may not be properly mounted, potentially causing the air bag to deploy unexpectedly.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the passenger air bag ground connection and correct it if needed at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The communication module may have been turned off during service, disabling the Emergency Call function that connects your vehicle to emergency services.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the communication module and reactivate it if needed, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The communication module software may fail to send your vehicle's correct location to emergency services when the eCall system activates during a crash.
What the fix does
A dealer will update the communication module software, or the update will be sent over-the-air, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.