The Lemon Index
Transmission complaints owners filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) for each model year, per 100,000 cars sold. A complaint counts when it's filed under the transmission, or under the power train and the owner describes the transmission (shifting, slipping, gears, CVT). It's an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and older years have had longer to collect complaints.
What owners describe
Share of this model's transmission complaints that mention each symptom. One complaint can mention several.
In owners' words
While driving the transmission slips into neutral. Must come to a complete stop and turn off the car then turn it on again to shift into gear.
2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA owner · NHTSA complaint
I just got the vehicle itâs losing power already, I was driving up a hill as a school bus was behind me, and my car started losing power and rolling back. I have a transmission issue they sold it this way also electrical.
2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA owner · NHTSA complaint
Quick answers
Which Mercedes-Benz CLA years have transmission problems?
By transmission complaints filed with NHTSA per car sold, the worst Mercedes-Benz CLA years are 2014, 2015, 2016.
What are common Mercedes-Benz CLA transmission problems?
Owners most often describe hard or jerky shifting, slipping, stuck in gear or limp mode.
Which Mercedes-Benz CLA years have the fewest transmission complaints?
Since 2010, the Mercedes-Benz CLA years with the fewest transmission complaints per car sold are 2017, 2016, 2015.
See every problem, not just the transmission: Mercedes-Benz CLA reliability by year. How we count