Short answer
Among Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class model years through 2024, 2023 has the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (1) and 2018 has the most (12). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 12 (2015–2026)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 28
- Fewest recalls
- 2023 (1)
- Most recalls
- 2018 (12)
- Most recalled system
- Communication (17)
Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Recent: still collecting recalls | 1 | Not rated | Latches/locks/linkages |
| 2025 Recent: still collecting recalls | 1 | Not rated | Latches/locks/linkages |
| 2024 | 2 | Not rated | Exterior lighting, Latches/locks/linkages |
| 2023 | 1 | Not rated | Latches/locks/linkages |
| 2022 | 2 | Not rated | Exterior lighting, Latches/locks/linkages |
| 2021 | 9 | Not rated | Communication, Back over prevention, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2020 | 5 | Not rated | Communication, Fuel system, gasoline, Structure |
| 2019 | 11 | Not rated | Communication, Structure, Air bags |
| 2018 | 12 | Not rated | Communication, Air bags, Structure |
| 2017 | 9 | Not rated | Communication, Air bags, Structure |
| 2016 | 4 | Not rated | Structure, Air bags, Communication |
| 2015 | 5 | Not rated | Structure, Air bags, Communication |
No model years match your search.
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.
- 20261 recall
- 20251 recall
- 20242 recalls
- 20231 recall
- 20222 recalls
- 20219 recalls
- 20205 recalls
- 201911 recalls
- 201812 recalls
- 20179 recalls
- 20164 recalls
- 20155 recalls
Mercedes-Benz GLA-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 GLA-Class recalls are communication (17), structure (11), air bags (8), latches/locks/linkages (6) and exterior lighting (3). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
FAQ: Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2023 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 1 each.
Which Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class model years have the most recalls?
2018 has the most, with 12 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 "GLA-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 Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy