The contact owns a 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA250. The contact stated while his mother was driving 45 MPH, the message that reverse was not available was displayed. The contact stated that the vehicle shifted into neutral independently and the ABS inadvertently engaged. The contact diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the wheel center and transmission needed to be replaced. The wheel center was…
2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class powertrain problems
moderate 6 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Complaints
6
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
When does it fail?
Of the 6 powertrain complaints filed for the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
I was driving on the freeway and the transmission shifted into neutral and the car lost power. The Red malfunction lights came on and said transmission malfunction, DO NOT SHIFT, STOP driving immediately, contact dealer. There is a class action lawsuit and a RECALL on the 2019 GLA 250 transmission of this car (mine is 2018 GLA 250) Mercedes customer service is telling me that my VIN is not…
The contact owns a 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA250. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the transmission unintendedly shifted to neutral. No warning light was illuminated; however, the message "Transmission Error" was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken back to the residence. A dealer was not contacted, and the vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 6 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Based on the 6 complaints filed, powertrain issues most often appear around 48,254 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2018/Mercedes-Benz/GLA-Class.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.