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2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class: problems, recalls and fuel economy
NHTSA has 94 owner complaints on file for the 2015 GLA-Class, more than any other GLA model year in our data[1][2]. Five recalls are on file for this model year, so check your VIN before you buy or keep one[2].
Most reported problems
Owners filed 94 complaints with NHTSA[1]. Four mention a crash and one a fire, and 8 injuries are reported. None report a death[1]. These are unverified owner reports, and one complaint can name several components.
Here are the component groups with the most complaints:
| Component group | Complaints | Median mileage at failure |
|---|---|---|
| Engine[4] | 27 | 50,000 |
| Unknown or other[5] | 16 | 16,300 |
| Power train[6] | 14 | 55,000 |
| Structure[7] | 12 | 29,500 |
| Air bags[8] | 12 | 72,747 |
| Fuel/propulsion system[9] | 12 | not given |
| Electrical system[10] | 11 | 18,000 |
| Brakes[11] | 5 | not given |
We also read a small sample of the complaint texts for the larger groups. Here is what owners describe in that sample.
- Engine. Owners describe check engine lights, stalling or a car that would not start, and a gas smell inside the cabin[4].
- Power train. Owners describe the car slipping into neutral or shifting erratically, with a transmission warning on the dash and sudden slowing. A few describe a failed rear differential and a repair bill over $6,000[6].
- Structure. Owners describe panoramic sunroof parts breaking or a roof panel coming loose. Some say their VIN was not covered by the roof recalls. A couple describe rust and holes in the rear subframe found at an inspection[7].
- Air bags. Owners describe air bag warning lights, and several wrote that parts for the 17V627 recall were not available when they tried to book the repair[8].
The air bag group has 3 crashes and 4 injuries among its complaints[8]. The brakes group has 4 injuries among 5 complaints[11]. The complaint counts do not tell us how often each problem happens across all cars.
Recalls
NHTSA lists five recalls for this model year, newest first. Each fact says the dealer repair is free of charge.
- Roof panel (23V854). Issued 2023-12-15 for 2,976 potentially affected units[12]. The front roof panel The front roof panel above the windshield edge, next to the panoramic sunroof, may not have been attached correctly during an earlier repair, so it could come off., so it could come off. A loose panel on the road raises crash risk. Dealers will put on a new front panel at no cost to the owner[12]. It expands the earlier recall 21V197[12].
- Roof panel (21V197). Issued 2021-03-19 for 15,096 units with a panoramic sunroof[13]. Same kind of problem with the front roof panel. Dealers remove the bonded panel and fit a new one with approved glue and cleaning products, free of charge[13].
- Emergency call software (19V787). Issued 2019-11-01 for 24,226 units[14]. A software fault can make the emergency call system report the wrong date and time, and possibly a wrong location. That could slow emergency responders. MBUSA started an over-the-air update, and dealers check the software or update the module, free of charge[14].
- Driver air bag (17V627). Issued 2017-10-06 for 495,290 units[15]. Static electricity and poor grounding of steering parts could make the driver air bag go off unexpectedly if the clockspring is broken. That raises the risk of injury and a crash. Dealers add grounding to the steering parts, free of charge[15].
- Camshafts (15V662). Issued 2015-10-16 for 857 units[16]. It covers certain GLA250 and GLA250 4Matic cars built from July 17, 2015 to August 31, 2015[16]. Camshaft welds may fail and damage the engine, which may cause a stall and raise crash risk. Dealers replace the affected camshafts, free of charge[16].
Ask a dealer to confirm in writing whether each recall was done for the car. Some owners in the complaint sample say their car was not included in a recall for a problem they had[7].
Fuel economy
EPA lists several versions. All use a 2.0L four-cylinder turbo and premium fuel, and one lists premium or E85[17][18][19][3].
| Version | City / highway / combined MPG | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|
| GLA250, front-wheel drive[3] | 25 / 34 / 28 | $2,950 |
| GLA250 4matic, four-wheel drive[18] | 24 / 31 / 27 | $3,050 |
| GLA250 4matic, premium or E85[19] | 24 / 31 / 27 | $3,050 |
| GLA45 AMG 4matic[17] | 23 / 29 / 25 | $3,300 |
EPA bases annual cost on its current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.
Engine and size
The EPA test list rates the 2.0L four-cylinder at 208 to 355 hp depending on version[20]. The transmission is listed as Automatic (AM7) in the EPA entries[17][18][3].
Size below is for the GLA 250 4MATIC[21]. These are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models[21].
How 2015 compares with other years
Show the numbers
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 94 | 5 |
| 2016 | 50 | 4 |
| 2017 | 31 | 9 |
| 2018 | 50 | 12 |
| 2019 | 29 | 11 |
| 2020 | 11 | 5 |
| 2021 | 21 | 9 |
| 2022 | 5 | 2 |
| 2023 | 8 | 1 |
| 2024 | 2 | 2 |
| 2025 | 3 | 1 |
| 2026 | 2 | 1 |
NHTSA counts for each GLA-Class model year[2]:
- 2015: 94 complaints, 5 recalls
- 2016: 50 complaints, 4 recalls
- 2017: 31 complaints, 9 recalls
- 2018: 50 complaints, 12 recalls
- 2019: 29 complaints, 11 recalls
The 2015 model year has the most complaints of any year listed, which run from 2015 to 2026. It does not have the most recalls. 2018 has 12 and 2019 has 11[2]. These counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold.
Should you buy a used 2015 GLA-Class?
This model year has the highest complaint count of any GLA year in our data, with engine, power train and structure among the larger groups[1][4][6][7][2]. The five recalls all have free dealer repairs listed, so confirm each one was done for the car you are considering[12][13][14][15][16]. Owners in the complaint sample describe sunroof and roof panel failures, sudden shifting to neutral and a costly rear subframe or differential repair, so ask for those to be inspected[6][7]. We have no safety ratings or price data, so this page cannot say how it compares on those.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the most common problems with the 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class?
- Engine is the largest complaint group with 27 of 94 complaints[1][4]. Owners in a small sample describe check engine lights, stalling, shifting problems and sunroof or roof panel failures[4][6][7].
- Does the 2015 GLA-Class have any recalls?
- Yes. NHTSA lists five recalls: two for the roof panel, and one each for emergency call software, the driver air bag and camshafts[12][13][14][15][16].
- What is the gas mileage of a 2015 GLA-Class?
- EPA combined ratings run from 25 MPG for the GLA45 AMG 4matic to 28 MPG for the front-wheel drive GLA250[17][3].
- Is the 2015 the worst GLA-Class year?
- It has the most complaints, 94 against 50 for 2016 and 2018, but 2018 has more recalls with 12 against 5[2]. Counts are not adjusted for sales.
Facts and sources
- NHTSA has 94 owner complaints on file for the 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class (4 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 8 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
- Owner complaints and recalls for every Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
- EPA rating for GLA250, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (AM7), Premium, Front-Wheel Drive: 25 city / 34 highway / 28 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,950. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- 27 complaints name the engine component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 50,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 16 complaints name the unknown or other component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 16,300). NHTSA vehicle records
- 14 complaints name the power train component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 55,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 12 complaints name the structure component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 29,500). NHTSA vehicle records
- 12 complaints name the air bags component group (3 crashes, 0 fires, 4 injuries, median mileage at failure 72,747). NHTSA vehicle records
- 12 complaints name the fuel/propulsion system component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 11 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 18,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 5 complaints name the brakes component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 4 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- Recall 23V854, filed December 15, 2023: Structure › Body › Roof And Pillars. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 21V197, filed March 19, 2021: Structure › Body › Roof And Pillars. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 19V787, filed November 1, 2019: Communication. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 17V627, filed October 6, 2017: Air Bags › Frontal. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 15V662, filed October 16, 2015: Engine And Engine Cooling › Engine. NHTSA recall database
- EPA rating for GLA45 AMG 4matic, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (AM7), Premium, 4-Wheel Drive: 23 city / 29 highway / 25 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,300. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- EPA rating for GLA250 4matic, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (AM7), Premium, 4-Wheel Drive: 24 city / 31 highway / 27 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,050. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- EPA rating for GLA250 4matic, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (AM7), Premium or E85, 4-Wheel Drive: 24 city / 31 highway / 27 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,050. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- EPA Test Car List, 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class with 2.0L 4-cylinder: rated 208 to 355 hp depending on version. www.epa.gov
- Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, GLA CLASS GLA 250 4MATIC 4DR SUV AWD: length 174 in, width 71 in, height 61 in, wheelbase 106 in, curb weight 3,318 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov