BumperScan
Powered byNHTSA|EPA|Community Reports|Updated
Your report: 3 of 4 steps complete75%
Car identifiedData collectedBasic analysisFull AI analysis

Free Preview

#BS-2018-MERGLA-67C3

2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 74 owners and 12 recalls for this exact model.

Data updated ·NHTSA complaints through October 19, 2026

Complaints
74
Crashes
4
Fires
1
Recalls
12
TSBs
106
🟡

Preliminary Verdict

Think Twice

Based on 74 complaints, 4 crashes, 1 fires, and 12 recalls.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

paint chips off

1 complaints • Severity 4/10

$X,XXX
2

sunroof exploded for no reason

1 complaints • Severity 10/10

$X,XXX

Preview: What's in your full report

Each card shows a real sample from your report — unlock all 10 sections from $2.00

Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the EngineHIGH

11 owners reported engine issues — failures commonly reported around 40K miles.

!Inspect the ElectricalMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

10
0–30K
8
30–60K
2
60–90K
2
90–120K
120–150K
1
150K+

Peak failure range: 0–30K miles (10 reports) • Median: 40K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Engine (11 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Engine11 (15%)
Electrical10 (14%)
Other10 (14%)
Fuel System7 (9%)
Airbags6 (8%)
Drivetrain6 (8%)
Wheels & Tires5 (7%)
Structure:body4 (5%)

2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Engine Issues

Engine complaints account for 15% of all reports filed for the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250, with 11 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 40,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 40K-mile mark.

Electrical Issues

Electrical complaints account for 14% of all reports filed for the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250, with 10 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Fuel System Issues

Fuel System complaints account for 9% of all reports filed for the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250, with 7 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to fuel system-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Airbags Issues

Airbags complaints account for 8% of all reports filed for the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250, with 6 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to airbags-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

3
17
6
18
1
19
3
20
1
21
6
22
10
23
10
24
21
25
13
26

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250. Recent trend: decreasing.

Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own

Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

Get Report — From $2.00

Recall History (12 recalls)

17V627000Dec 2017

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling these vehicles: 2014-2018 CLA250, CLA250 4Matic, CLA45 AMG 4Matic, 2015-2018 GLA250, GLA250 4Matic, GLA45 AMG 4Matic, C300 4Matic, C63S AMG, 2012-2014 C250, C350, C300 4Matic, E550 4Matic, 2013-2014 C63 AMG, 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2013-2015 C350 4Matic Coupe, GLK250 4Matic BlueTec, GLK350, GLK350 4Matic, 2016-2017 C350e, C43 AMG, 2015 C400 4Matic, 2016-2018 C63 AMG, GLC300, GLC300 4Matic, 2017-2018 C300 Coupe, C300 4Matic Coupe, C43 AMG, C63 AMG Coupe, C63S AMG Coupe, C300 Cabriolet, C300 4Matic Cabriolet, C43 AMG Cabriolet, C63 AMG Cabriolet, C63S AMG Cabriolet, GLC300 4Matic Coupe, GLC43 AMG, GLC43 AMG Coupe, 2014 E350 Coupe, E350 4Matic Coupe, E350 Cabriolet, E400 Hybrid, 2015-2017 E400 Coupe, E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabriolet, 2014-2017 E550 Coupe, E550 Cabriolet, B250e, 2014-2016 E250 BlueTec, E63 AMG 4Matic Wagon, 2012-2013 E350 BlueTec, 2012-2016 E350, E350 4Matic, 2015-2016 E400, E400 4Matic, 2012 E63 AMG, 2014-2015 E250 4Matic BlueTec, 2013-2016 E350 Wagon, 2017 GLC300d 4Matic, and 2018 GLC350e 4Matic. The driver's air bag may unexpectedly deploy due to insufficient grounding of the steering components if an electrostatic discharge occurs and the air bag clockspring is broken.

17V653000Oct 2017

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2018 GLA250 4Matic vehicles. The low beam headlight settings on these vehicles may deviate from the required specification, reducing the range of light. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

18V405000Aug 2018

CHILD SEAT:TETHER: CONNECTOR/CLIP

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA250 and GLA250 4Matic vehicles. The child seat top tether anchorage point on the center position of the rear seat may not have been installed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems."

18V912000Apr 2019

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (Mercedes) is recalling certain 2018-2019 GLA250 and GLA250 4MATIC vehicles. The sunroof bonding may allow water to leak into the vehicle.

19V132000Apr 2019

SEATS

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (Mercedes) is recalling certain 2018-2019 GLA-250 and GLA250 4MATIC vehicles. An incorrect rear seat back covering carpet could have been installed on the split-rear seat back. As a result, the child seat anchorage point (top tether) on the center positon of the rear seat may be covered and inaccessible for use. As such, these vehicles fail to comply to Federal Motor Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems."

+ 7 more recalls in the full report

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

Unlock

NHTSA Defect Investigations (2)

1 investigation still open: NHTSA is examining whether a defect warrants a recall.

EA21002OpenOpened Sep 2021

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

PE21001ClosedOpened Jan 2021 · closed Oct 2021

Front Roof Panel Detachment

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

The worst model year for the Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 is the 2022 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is electrical.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 74 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 12 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated . NHTSA complaints received through October 19, 2026.

Other Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 Model Years

202620252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
View all Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 years →

2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 is related to the engine, with 11 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 reliable?
The 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 has 74 complaints, 4 crash reports, and 1 fire reports filed with NHTSA. The full report analyzes whether these numbers indicate real risk or are proportional to the vehicle’s popularity.
How much does it cost to fix 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 have any recalls?
Yes, the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 has 12 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 problems start?
Based on 23 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 40,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 0–30K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 21, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 19, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
RaccoonEagleRoverCat

Get the Full 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 Report

10 sections of AI analysis based on 74 owner reports. Know before you buy.

Get Full Report — From $2.00Money-back guarantee
Instant delivery|One-time purchase|No hidden fees