Owners have filed 26 complaints on the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, covering 2019–2022. The system named most often is Power Train (5 reports). Worst years by volume: 2020, 2019, 2021; cleanest: 2022, 2021, 2019. 0 reports describe a crash, 1 a fire. On average the car was 4.5 years old when the problem happened.
What breaks on Mercedes-Benz A-Class
Grouped by the system owners named — percentages are shares of all 26 A-Class complaints. Open any row for the full reports in owners' own words.
Power Train 5 Read
This is a formal notification regarding my vehicle that I purchased at House Of Imports on February 27, 2021. A Mercedes Benz A-Class 220 year 2021, VIN #W1K3G4EB7MJ290124. Shortly after purchase I experienced several safety concerns about the vehicle. The first and main concern are while driving vehicle the…
While driving my lease vehicle on two separate days, it completely shut down while in motion with no prior warning. The first incident occurred while crossing a MAX train intersection in downtown Portland. The engine stopped mid intersection, emitted a strong mechanical odor, ticking noises began, and dashboard alerts…
I was driving and I got coolant error on my dashboard. It came and then off. I pulled over and nothing seemed wrong with my engine. I restarted and headed home. The error was still on but the car was driving fine. I was trying to make it home. The car suddenly had all sorts of errors. It told me that my car was…
Engine 4 Read
The car shakes above 60mph
While driving at highway speed, I experienced a sudden loss of engine power with no warning. This created an immediate safety hazard for myself and other drivers. The vehicle was diagnosed by Mercedes-Benz of Georgetown as requiring a full engine replacement (~$19,000). This failure is consistent with a known defect…
My 2020 Mercedes-Benz A220 experienced the same defect described in NHTSA Recall 21V961000 (fuel injector leakage and potential fire hazard). In March 2023, my vehicle was diagnosed with leaking fuel injectors that were causing fuel to leak back through electrical connections, creating circuit issues and a fire risk.…
Electrical System 3 Read
I used the factory installed remote start via the Mercedes me app, and within a couple of minutes the car was in flames
My screens have gone black and will no longer turn on. I cannot see how much gas I have or how fast I am driving
I have had numerous issues with my 2019 A220. At 92k mi my cylinder head had to be replaced. My check engine light came on and they said there was a cylinder head leak. At 108k miles I had to have it replaced yet again because my car lost power driving uphill when shifting between 4th and 5th gear. Now at 112k mi the…
Fuel/propulsion System 3 Read
The car shakes, vibrates and has rough idling. My engines stalls when it is at low rpm. I am afraid that if this is not fixed a fuel leak could occur in the presence of an ignition source, such as hot engine or exhaust components, which could increase the risk of a fire
The car shakes, vibrates and has rough idling. My engines stalls when it is at low rpm. I am afraid that if this is not fixed a fuel leak could occur in the presence of an ignition source, such as hot engine or exhaust components, which could increase the risk of a fire
While driving the car shuts off and unable to restart. It will turn over but not remain started enough to move the vehicle. I did notice it jerk when speed was increased a few times before. Fuel pump was replaced less than a year ago according to Mercedes in Tuscaloosa Alabama. . After a certified Mercedes mechanic…
Back Over Prevention 2 Read
Rear view camera says it is inoperative when I put it in reverse. I understand that a number of Mercedes models have been recalled due to a software issue but the dealer tells me my car is not on the list. The problem I have is identical to the other models. My car should be on the list
There was a rear camera recall in 2022 which I had fixed they did a software upgrade. The EXACT same issue has returned . It’s really dangerous when backing out of spaces and I can’t see. I took to dealership and they claim my license plate cover is the issue however even without the cover the exact problem with…
Steering 1 Read
Vehicle makes popping/clicking noise when turning the steering wheel. Is worse when vehicle is cold. Causes rough driving
Suspension 1 Read
August 2024 Engine mount broke and almost crashed my car the dealership did this: Rear engine support replace Remove/install complete wheel Engine compartment paneling, bottom Centre remove/install The torque struts were replaced N torque strut fasteners It had 38,195 miles I had engine trouble while driving on June…
Service Brakes 1 Read
Vehicle: 2019 Mercedes-Benz A220 VIN: [XXX] Dealer: Mercedes-Benz of Walnut Creek (Walnut Creek, CA) I am reporting multiple safety defects involving federally regulated systems. The vehicle has repeatedly activated emergency braking at freeway speeds without reason, posing a significant risk of collision. The brake…
A-Class years to avoid — and the clean ones
Complaints per model year. More reports usually means more cars on the road as well as more trouble, so read the crash and fire columns alongside the count.
| Model year | Complaints | Top system | Crashes | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Unknown Or Other | — | — | |
| 2021 | Back Over Prevention | — | — | |
| 2020 | Back Over Prevention | — | 1 | |
| 2019 | Air Bags | — | — |
The same model year, different builds
Every complaint carries the first 11 characters of the VIN — plant, year, body and engine. That is a production series, and complaints are spread across them very unevenly.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Distinct production series | 21 |
| Average complaints per series | 1.2 |
| Worst single series | 3 complaints |
| Average age at failure | 4.5 years |
A model average of 1.2 hides a worst series at 3. Enter a VIN above to see the numbers for that exact build instead of the model as a whole.
Owners reported these. Find out if yours is one of them.
- Complaints matched to the exact production run, not just the model
- What the car is worth given what tends to fail on it
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How we count
Every figure here comes from complaints owners filed with NHTSA — 1,100,006 of them, covering 1,982 models built between 1981 and 2026.
A complaint is an unverified report: someone wrote down what happened to their car. It is not a confirmed defect and not a recall. What makes the volume useful is the pattern — when thousands of owners of the same build describe the same failure, that is a signal no marketing brochure will give you.
Two things we do that the source does not. First, we compute the age of the car at the moment of failure from the incident date and the model year. Second, we group complaints by the first 11 characters of the VIN — the production series — so a bad plant run does not disappear into a model-wide average.
Frequently asked questions
What are the worst years for the A-Class?
By complaint volume, 2020, 2019, 2021 drew the most owner reports. Bear in mind that popular years put more cars on the road, so check the crash and fire columns too.
Which A-Class years are the cleanest?
2022, 2021, 2019 have the fewest complaints on file. For recent years that can simply mean the cars are young.
How many complaints does the Mercedes-Benz A-Class have?
26 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, covering 2019–2022. Of those, 0 describe a crash and 1 a fire.
Are these complaints verified?
No. They are unverified reports from owners. NHTSA publishes them as filed and investigates only a fraction. The value is in the pattern, not in any single report.
Can I check complaints for one specific car?
Yes — enter its VIN above. We match the first 11 characters, which identify the plant, year, body and engine, so you get complaints on that exact production series rather than the whole model.