The Lemon Index

All cars · Mercedes-Benz · SUV

Mercedes-Benz GLA.

The best Mercedes-Benz GLA years are 2016, 2017, 2018, and no year drew much more than the average car's complaints. Across 2015-2021, it has a Lemon Index of 50, where 100 is the average car and lower is better.

Reliability by year, 2015 to 2019.

50Lemon Index · 100 = average car

Better than average. Whole model, 2015-2021: 2× fewer complaints than average.

Best year 2016 · Worst year 2015

Mercedes-Benz GLA
Photo shows a 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA. Vauxford, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · background removed

Years to avoid

None.

No Mercedes-Benz GLA year drew much more than the average car's complaints.

Quick answers.

Is the Mercedes-Benz GLA a good car?

Yes, it draws fewer complaints than the average car, by owner complaints to the government per car sold (2015-2021: Lemon Index 50; 100 is average). Some years are much better than others: the best is 2016 and the worst is 2015.

What are the best Mercedes-Benz GLA years to buy?

By owner complaints per car sold: 2016, 2017, 2018.

What Mercedes-Benz GLA years should you stay away from?

No Mercedes-Benz GLA year drew much more than an average car's complaints.

How many recalls does the Mercedes-Benz GLA have?

27 safety recalls across the 5 model years we track. Most: 2017 (7), 2018 (6), 2019 (6). Each year's page lists them.

What are the most common Mercedes-Benz GLA problems?

Across every year, owners' complaints to the government name airbags, engine and electrical most. Some years are much worse than others: see the chart above.

Every year in one table
YearIndexCompared with averageComplaintsTop complaintRecallsCrash testMPG
2015841.2× fewer complaints than average27airbags (30%)4—27–28
2016333× fewer complaints than average9airbags (33%)4—27–28
2017352.9× fewer complaints than average9electrical (56%)7—26–27
2018372.7× fewer complaints than average9wheels (33%)6—26–27
2019392.6× fewer complaints than average9transmission & drivetrain (44%)6—26–27

Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the government within 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average, lower is better. How it works

Mercedes-Benz GLA transmission problems by year →

Updated

Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com). Get the data