On 03/10/23, I contacted the Mercedes-Benz service department regarding the black screen on the driver's side display. The Mercedes-Benz service personnel informed me that the screen needed to be replaced, with an estimated cost of around $2000. I agreed to their suggestion and authorized the replacement. Later, the Mercedes-Benz service personnel contacted me again, stating that the black screen…
2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class electrical problems
moderate Owners of the 2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class have filed 10 NHTSA complaints about the electrical at roughly $850 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See electrical across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
| Model year | electrical complaints |
|---|---|
| 2019 A-Class (this page) | 10 |
| 2020 A-Class | 6 |
| 2021 A-Class | 3 |
What stands out
Electrical accounts for 23% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 4 categories tracked.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report widespread electrical and mechanical problems across this model year. Display screens—both driver-side and central control—fail to power on, leaving occupants without fuel and speed readiness. Two owners describe scenarios where the dealership caused additional screen damage during repair attempts, then disputed responsibility. Replacement quotes exceed $2000–$7000.
The MBUX hard disk drive (Part# A0009062711) is malfunctioning in ways that compromise safety: rear camera disables mid-reverse, defogger cuts out, and satellite radio blasts at maximum volume with muted controls—one owner barely maintained steering control from shock. A 2021 recall addressed this part on certain models, but this vehicle wasn't included.
Transmission jolting during acceleration and hill climbing is persistent and recurring. One owner made roughly ten service visits over two years without resolution; dealership blamed the battery, but jolting continued after repair. The airbag warning light flickers back on after alleged dealer fix.
Engine issues include cylinder head leaks requiring replacement at 92k miles and again at 108k miles, plus all four ignition coils needing replacement at 112k. Other gripes: air vents ignore settings, windows drop after closing, moonroof shade gets stuck, and odd gurgling sounds come from the entertainment center.
Failure modes owners describe
Driver and central display screens black/non-functional
Driver-side and central control display screens fail to power on or display, leaving occupants without visibility of fuel level, speed, and vehicle controls. Two complaints describe dealership damage during attempted repairs, resulting in disputes over responsibility and liability. Replacement costs quoted at $2000–$7000.
When: Mileage not specified; one incident noted after automatic software update
Symptoms owners cite: Driver display screen goes black; Central control display screen goes black; Unable to see fuel level or speed; Screens fail to turn on; Screen failure after automatic update
Repairs/costs cited: Screen replacement quoted at $2000 for driver display; central control display replacement quoted up to $7000. One owner reports dealership failed to resolve black screen and recommended mainframe replacement for $6500.
MBUX hard disk drive malfunction (Part#: A0009062711)
MBUX system failure triggers cascading safety issues: rear camera disables during active reversing, defogger spontaneously disables, and satellite radio blasts at maximum volume with no user control to mute or power off. Owner notes a 2021 recall for this component on other models but vehicle was not included.
When: Not specified; owner notes issue should have been addressed in 2021 recall
Symptoms owners cite: Rear camera spontaneously disabled while reversing; Defogger spontaneously disabled; Satellite radio blasts at maximum volume without ability to mute; Volume, mute, and power-off controls malfunction for radio; Loss of wheel control due to surprise/distraction from loud audio
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: 2021 recall issued for this component (Part# A0009062711) on specific models; complaining vehicle was not included on recall list
Transmission jolting during acceleration and hill climbing
Persistent jolting when accelerating or climbing hills, similar to a transmission failure. Owner reports bringing vehicle in multiple times; dealership eventually attributed issue to battery, but jolting continues after alleged fix. Owner expresses fear of driving the vehicle and requests deeper investigation.
When: First noticed when vehicle was purchased; reoccurs after claimed repair one month later
Symptoms owners cite: Jolting during acceleration; Jolting when going uphill; Jolting when shifting between gears; Loss of power driving uphill during gear shifts
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership attributed to battery issue; however, jolting persists after repair
Airbag warning light recurrence
Airbag failure light illuminates frequently. Dealership claims repair was completed, but warning light reappears intermittently.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag failure light comes on very often; Airbag failure light reappears after claimed repair
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership stated they fixed the issue, but light continues to appear
Check engine light and ignition coil failure
Check engine light activates at high mileage (112k miles). Dealership diagnosed need to replace all four ignition coils.
When: At 112,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illumination; Multiple ignition coil failures (all 4 coils)
Codes mentioned: Check engine light
Repairs/costs cited: All 4 ignition coils require replacement at 112k miles
Cylinder head leaks and replacement
Cylinder head fails and requires replacement twice within a short mileage interval. First failure at 92k miles for leak; second failure at 108k miles after loss of power during uphill acceleration.
When: 92,000 miles (first failure); 108,000 miles (second failure)
Symptoms owners cite: Cylinder head leak; Loss of power driving uphill during gear shift; Check engine light
Codes mentioned: Cylinder head leak code
Repairs/costs cited: Cylinder head replaced at 92k miles; replaced again at 108k miles
Air vent malfunction
Air vents do not respect user settings. When directed to upper body vents, air sends to feet instead, or other incorrect sections.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Air vents send air to incorrect locations; Air outlets do not match user settings
Entertainment center noises
Strange noises emanate from inside the car near the entertainment center when vehicle is turned off, described as gurgling or stomach-like sounds.
When: Occurs when turning vehicle off
Symptoms owners cite: Gurgling/farting noises from entertainment center area; Noises heard inside car when powered off
Window auto-drop malfunction
Power windows close fully but then drop down approximately half an inch after closure completes.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Windows close fully then drop down partway; Auto-drop after window closure
Engine start failure/reset required
Vehicle fails to restart when engine is powered off at fuel station. Mercedes roadside technician resolves issue by disconnecting and reconnecting battery cable. Issue reported as intermittent.
When: At 738 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle fails to restart after engine shut off; Intermittent restart failure
Repairs/costs cited: Resolved by disconnecting/reconnecting battery cable
Rear-view camera display mirror/reverse image
Rear-view camera displays mirror-reversed image on console—left and right are flipped. Cross-traffic appears to come from opposite side. When backing and turning, camera shows opposite direction of wheel turn. Dealership claims software issue pending upgrade; Mercedes cannot confirm if or when software update will be released.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Camera image displays left-right reversed; Cross traffic appears from wrong side; Camera direction opposite to steering input; Confusion processing reversed directional information
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership states software upgrade pending; Mercedes indicates no confirmation of software availability or timeline
Moonroof shade stuck/malfunction
Moonroof shade gets stuck and will not open completely. Shade bunches up and stops at certain point. Owner reports noticing multiple online complaints from other 2019 A220 owners with the same issue.
When: Not specified; no longer under warranty at time of complaint
Symptoms owners cite: Moonroof shade stuck; Shade will not open completely; Shade bunches up and stops partway
Repairs/costs cited: Out of warranty; diagnostic cost quoted at $265
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
The display screen of the driver's seat was damaged due to the automatic update last month. The dealer told me to replace the display screen for US$2,000. After I agreed to pay, I was told that the central control display screen was broken again and needed to be replaced for nearly US$7,000. I refused the dealer. However, the central control display screen was still good originally. Now the main…
Had electrical trouble with your 2019 Mercedes-Benz A-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 electrical problem on the 2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 10 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $850 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical 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 electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical 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/2019/Mercedes-Benz/A-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.