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Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class Best and Worst Years

Recalls and crash-test ratings for every model year from 2014 to 2023, from official NHTSA data.

Model yearsData retrieved By Sources & methodology

Short answer

Among Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class model years through 2024, 2022 has the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (0) and 2020 has the most (13). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.

Quick read

Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class: Key Facts

Model years with data
10 (2014–2023)
Distinct recall campaigns
31
Fewest recalls
2022 (0)
Most recalls
2020 (13)
Most recalled system
Communication (18)

Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class Recalls and Ratings by Model Year

Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class — NHTSA recall campaigns and overall crash rating, model years 2014–2023
Model yearRecall campaignsOverall crash ratingMost recalled systems
2023 1 Not rated Tires
2022 0 Not rated None on record
2021 6 Not rated Back over prevention, Communication, Child seat
2020 13 Not rated Communication, Back over prevention, Electrical system
2019 6 Not rated Communication, Structure, Latches/locks/linkages
2018 10 Not rated Air bags, Communication, Structure
2017 10 Not rated Air bags, Communication, Structure
2016 9 Not rated Air bags, Communication, Electrical system
2015 7 Not rated Air bags, Structure, Communication
2014 6 Not rated Air bags, Structure, Communication

The scale of the difference

Recall Campaigns by Model Year

Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.

  1. 20231 recall
  2. 20220 recalls
  3. 20216 recalls
  4. 202013 recalls
  5. 20196 recalls
  6. 201810 recalls
  7. 201710 recalls
  8. 20169 recalls
  9. 20157 recalls
  10. 20146 recalls

Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class: Analysis

How to read recall counts

A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.

What the recalls were about

Across all model years, the systems named most often in Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class recalls are communication (18), air bags (13), structure (12), electrical system (6) and back over prevention (4). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.

FAQ: Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class Best and Worst Years

What are the best years for the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class?

By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2022 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 0 each.

Which Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class model years have the most recalls?

2020 has the most, with 13 recall campaigns each.

Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?

No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.

Sources & methodology

Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "CLA-Class", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.

NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by . Editorial policy