2021 Mercedes-Benz Gla 250 4MATIC
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Mercedes-Benz › Gla 250 4MATIC › 2021
These records cover every 2021 Mercedes-Benz Gla 250 4MATIC. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
1 recall names the 2021 Mercedes-Benz Gla 250 4MATIC. Newest first.
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…
Risk and remedy
Risk
A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the driver's door lock, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 18, 2026. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. 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.
Owner complaints
3 complaints
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Engine
On 7/17/26, while driving at highway speed, the check engine light illuminated and the vehicle lost power and shut off. I safely pulled over. It would not restart; a red battery warning displayed. Towed to Mercedes-Benz of Wilkes-Barre, RO #8388432. Dealer found battery severely discharged…
On 7/17/26, while driving at highway speed, the check engine light illuminated and the vehicle lost power and shut off. I safely pulled over. It would not restart; a red battery warning displayed. Towed to Mercedes-Benz of Wilkes-Barre, RO #8388432. Dealer found battery severely discharged, replaced it, then found engine would not turn by hand. Diagnosis: internal engine damage/seized; recommended full engine replacement, est. $20,128, on a 2021 GLA 250 with 82,137 miles. MBUSA TSB MC-10241534-0001 (8/4/2023) extends the emission warranty on the exhaust valve assembly (cylinder head, exhaust valves, valve seat rings/guides) on the M260 2.0L turbo engine from 4yr/50k mi to 15yr/150k mi, covering MY2021-2022 GLA 250. My vehicle falls within this window. The bulletin's defect (valve guide/seat wear causing misfire and MIL activation) is consistent with the check engine light observed at failure. I have repeatedly asked MBUSA in writing to confirm whether the DTCs referenced in this bulletin were pulled/reviewed, and whether my case was cross-checked against the bulletin before any offer. MBUSA has not provided a written response. Reps made verbal offers ($2,100 toward the engine; separately $800.20 "service credit" equal to a battery charge that does not appear to have been performed), and on one call described the bulletin as "only a sensor issue," inconsistent with its own text. Filing to document a possible unaddressed engine defect on a GLA 250 within this TSB's covered model years, and concern that vehicles with catastrophic seizure may not be evaluated against this known condition before being treated as ordinary out-of-warranty repairs.
- Engine
I recently purchased my vehicle with under 30k miles in July of 2026. Not long after my purchase my car began roughly idling with a blinking check engine light, and soon after the engine began misfiring. This also cause loss of power when attempting to accelerate creating dangerous conditions in…
I recently purchased my vehicle with under 30k miles in July of 2026. Not long after my purchase my car began roughly idling with a blinking check engine light, and soon after the engine began misfiring. This also cause loss of power when attempting to accelerate creating dangerous conditions in high traffic/fast paced areas. After lots of research I found several reports of owners with cylinder failures. The dealership only responded to fixing the issue after calling them out directly on the issue.
- Engine · Service brakes
Component/System: Engine cooling and lubrication system. Coolant was found mixing with engine oil (milky oil), indicating internal engine failure (I was informed it could be oil cooler/housing, thermostat, head gasket, or related components). Vehicle is currently at an authorized Mercedes-Benz…
Component/System: Engine cooling and lubrication system. Coolant was found mixing with engine oil (milky oil), indicating internal engine failure (I was informed it could be oil cooler/housing, thermostat, head gasket, or related components). Vehicle is currently at an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealership and available for inspection. The front left inner lining of my front break pad also "failed" inspection and the other 3 front break pads say "caution" and I never received a notification or warning about my breaks. Safety Risk: Coolant contamination of engine oil can cause sudden engine failure or loss of power without warning, creating a serious safety risk while driving, especially at highway speeds. There was no indication that engine oil was mixing with coolant, check engine light failed to illuminate/ no diagnostic warning illuminated. The condition was discovered incidentally during routine maintenance, which prevented any opportunity for corrective action prior to the failure. Confirmation: The condition was confirmed by an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealership during routine maintenance. The dealership stated the failure was not caused by owner misuse.Inspection: Vehicle has been inspected by an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealership (manufacturer representative). No police or insurance inspection occurred, as there was no accident or external event. Warnings/Symptoms: No check engine light or diagnostic warning ever illuminated. The issue was discovered incidentally after I received a low battery voltage notification and a routine maintenance reminder indicating service was due in approximately 1,000 miles, which I arranged promptly. The manufacturer will not perform full diagnostic teardown to determine the root cause unless I pay approximately $3,000 out of pocket. Link to video: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Every Mercedes-Benz Gla 250 4MATIC model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.