2015 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class Visibility & Wipers Problems

The contact owns a 2015 Mercedes-Benz CLA250. The contact stated that after the vehicle was washed at the Car Wash, the contact opened the sunroof; however, moments later while attempting to close the sunroof, the sunroof failed to close properly. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 69,080.

The contact owns a 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA250. The contact stated that the sunroof failed to close completely as needed. Upon inspection, the contact discovered that a plastic part of the roof panel had detached. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who replaced the right and left roof guides, motor glass, and headliners. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V854000 (Structure); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

The contact owns a 2015 Mercedes-Benz CLA250. The contact stated that the sunroof panel was not working properly and failed to close. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 32,610.

The contact owns a 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA250. The contact stated that the sunroof panel was tilted on one side and fractured. There were no warning lights illuminated. Upon researching the failure, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V918000 (Visibility); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who confirmed there was no recall coverage on the VIN for the failure. The dealer provided an unknown diagnosis. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.

The contact owns a 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA250. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, she heard an abnormal gunshot-like sound coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact then heard glass cracking and realized that the panoramic sunroof had shattered without incident. The contact was able to drive home despite the failure. The contact then contacted the dealer and was informed that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and informed her that a claim would be filed. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES-BENZ CLA250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE FRONT COVER OF THE SUN ROOF DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING AND DAMAGED THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO GAVE HER AN ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIR. THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER HAD YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

WAS DIVING ON A LOCAL INTERSTATE AT POSTED SPEED LEVEL AND THE FRONT HALF OF THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF SHATTERED WITHOUT ANY VISIBLE/OBVIOUS REASON (NO IMPACT, PRIOR DAMAGE, ROAD CONDITIONS, ETC.). TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT, WEATHER WAS SUNNY (HIGH 80'S), ROAD CONDITIONS NORMAL/GOOD.

WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ON A FREEWAY I SUDDENLY HEARD A BLASTING SOUND AND NEXT THING WHAT I SAW WAS THERE WERE GLASS PIECES EVERYWHERE ON MY BODY AND IN THE CAR. THE PANORAMIC MOON ROOF OF MY CAR EXPLODED OUT OF NO REASON. I AM VERY SURE THAT NOTHING HIT THE ROOF OR FALL ON THE ROOF. THE FREEWAY WAS WIDE OPEN AND FORTUNATELY I WAS WEARING SUNGLASSES SO MY EYES DIDN'T HURT BY THE EXPLOSION. HOWEVER, AFTER TAKING A MEDICAL LEAVE FROM WORK AND HAVING CHECKED UP AT THE HOSPITAL I DECIDED TO TAKE THE CAR TO MBENZ DEALERSHIP TO REPORT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CAR AND KNOW WHY IT HAPPENED. SURPRISINGLY INSTEAD OF LOOKING INTO THE INCIDENT THEY DECIDED TO AVOID THE ISSUE AND INDIRECTLY ACCUSED ME OF CAUSING IT BY MYSELF. I WAS VERY SHOCKED AND DISAPPOINTED BY THE WAY A SITUATION AND THE CUSTOMER WAS HANDLED. I'D URGE NHTSA TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION TO MAKE SURE SUCH INCIDENTS DO NOT HAPPEN TO OTHER MBENZ CAR OWNERS. WHILE DOING RESEARCH ON INTERNET I FOUND OUT THAT MY INCIDENT IS NOT THE ONLY INCIDENT , THERE ARE MANY OTHER MBENZ OWNERS REPORTED THE SAME COMPLAINT ABOUT SUDDEN SHATTERING OF THEIR GLASS ROOF.

I PURCHASED A NEW GLA250 IN AUGUST 2015. A FEW DAYS AFTER THE PURCHASE I NOTICED THAT THE CAR HAD A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW RESULTING IN A SAFETY ISSUE. DEPENDING ON THE POSITION OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT THE LEFT SIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR CANNOT BE ADJUSTED TO ELIMINATE THE LARGE BLIND SPOT. TALLER DRIVERS WHO REQUIRE THAT THE SEAT BE POSITIONED FURTHER BACK CANNOT ADJUST THE LEFT SIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR TO ELIMINATE THE BLIND SPOT. I HAVE CONTACTED MBUSA AND THEY WILL NOT ADMIT THAT THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW OR SAFETY ISSUE. THE MBUSA REPRESENTATIVE WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO SPEAK WITH ANYONE KNOWLEDGEABLE OF MIRROR OPERATION OR DESIGN. SHE TOLD ME THAT NOT ALL PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO ELIMINATE THE BLIND SPOT ON ALL CARS. THE SAFETY ISSUE RESULTING FROM THE INABILITY TO ELIMINATE THE BLIND SPOT IS EXASPERATED BY THE LARGE 'B' PILLAR WHICH GREATLY RESTRICTS PERIPHERAL VISION. MY THEORY, AND IT IS JUST A THEORY, IS THAT MERCEDES BENZ DESIGNED THE GLA (AND ALSO THE CLA) TO EUROPEAN MARKET MIRROR STANDARDS, ANTICIPATING THAT THE USA WOULD COME IN LINE BEFORE THE GLA WAS SOLD IN THE USA MARKET. IN EUROPE, CONVEX MIRRORS ARE ALLOWED FOR BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE REAR VIEW MIRRORS AND FOR THE MOST PART ONLY CONVEX MIRRORS ARE USED.. THE NHTSA HAS BEEN CONSIDERING, BUT WITHHOLDING APPROVAL OF CONVEX LEFT SIDE REAR VIEW MIRRORS FOR AT LEAST THE LAST 5 YEARS. GENERAL MOTORS AND MERCEDES BENZ HAVE BEEN THE PRIMARY PETITIONER'S FOR THE APPROVAL. MERCEDES BENZ ANTICIPATING THE APPROVAL, DESIGNED THE GLA FOR CONVEX OUTSIDE REAR VIEW MIRRORS. SINCE CONVEX LEFT SIDE MIRRORS WERE NOT APPROVED IN THE USA, MERCEDES BENZ INSTALLED A PLANAR MIRROR IN THE SAME LEFT SIDE MIRROR ENCLOSURE AND FRAME FOR USA MARKET CARS. THE PLANAR HAS A REDUCED FIELD OF VIEW AND RSULTS IN THE BLIND SPOT SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE HAD MAY CLOSE CALLS ON MULTIILANE HIGH SPEED HIGHWAYS.