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ProblemsByVin Model / MERCEDES-BENZ GLA-CLASS
8 model years · 2015–2023

Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class reliability by year

0 recalls and 172 owner complaints across 8 model years. Best year to buy: 2017. Year to avoid: 2018.

Best year to buy
2017
8.4/10
0 recalls · 32 complaints
See the 2017 GLA-Class →
Year to avoid
2018
8.2/10
0 recalls · 46 complaints
See the 2018 GLA-Class →

Worst model years to avoid → — the single year to avoid for every model line we track, ranked side by side.

At-a-glance: every year color-coded

Each cell shows the last two digits of the model year and its 0–10 reliability score from NHTSA data. Click any year to see the full record. best year · year to avoid.

Year-by-year reliability 8 model years · newest first

2023
9.2/10
0 recalls · 5 complaints
2022
9.2/10
0 recalls · 4 complaints
2021
8.6/10
0 recalls · 19 complaints
OK
2020
9.0/10
0 recalls · 8 complaints
2018
8.2/10
0 recalls · 46 complaints
OK
2017
8.4/10
0 recalls · 32 complaints
OK
2016
8.2/10
0 recalls · 51 complaints
OK
2015
9.0/10
0 recalls · 7 complaints

Common trouble spots across the GLA-Class aggregated across 8 model years

electrical
25 complaints across 4 years · avg $850
engine
24 complaints across 3 years · avg $3,100
powertrain
14 complaints across 3 years · avg $2,500
airbags
9 complaints across 3 years · avg $1,100
visibility
4 complaints across 1 year · avg $350
cruise control
3 complaints across 1 year · avg $600

Common questions

What's the best year to buy a Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume and severity weighting, the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class scores 8.4/10 — the strongest in the 2015–2023 range. 32 complaints on file, 0 active recalls. Reliability scores reflect the federal complaint record, not subjective owner reviews.

Which Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class year should I avoid?

The 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class scores 8.2/10 — the weakest in the lineup. 46 owner complaints with NHTSA, 0 active recalls. That doesn't mean every 2018 is a problem — it means failure rates run higher than peer model years on the same platform.

Which years of the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class should I avoid?

No Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class model year currently rises to an "avoid" or "high-risk" verdict on the NHTSA data — either the record is clean or sample sizes are still too thin for a confident call. The year-by-year breakdown below shows what's on file regardless.

How many years of the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class are tracked?

8 model years (2015 through 2023) with NHTSA records on file. Total across the lineup: 0 recalls and 172 owner complaints.

What's the most-reported problem on the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class?

electrical is the most-reported category — 25 complaints across 4 model years. Average shop repair runs about $850.

Year-over-year reliability scores derived from NHTSA recall and owner complaint volume, severity weighted by reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Best/worst year calls require a minimum complaint sample per year so single-data-point years aren't crowned by chance. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with Mercedes-Benz.
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