2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class Complaint Log

During an inspection, an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealership discovered severe corrosion and perforation, including holes, in the rear subframe of my 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA. There were no warning lights or messages alerting us to the condition before it was discovered. The dealership confirmed that the subframe requires replacement and estimated the repair at approximately $6,000. The vehicle has approximately 140,000 miles. The rear subframe is a structural component that supports suspension components. Its advanced corrosion and perforation create concern that it could weaken or fail while the vehicle is being driven, potentially affecting vehicle stability and control. The vehicle and affected component are available for inspection upon request, and photographs of the corrosion and holes are available. Mercedes-Benz USA was notified of the problem but has not agreed to cover the repair. Mercedes-Benz has issued a 20-year/unlimited-mile extended warranty for corrosion with perforation of rear subframes on several other Mercedes-Benz models, but the GLA is not currently included. I am reporting this because the same type of premature structural subframe corrosion appears to be occurring in this vehicle and may present a safety defect affecting other GLA owners.

On the morning of April 28, 2026, at approximately 7:30 AM, I discovered that the front panel of the panoramic sunroof on my 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA45 AMG had spontaneously shattered while the vehicle was parked at my residence in Meridian, Idaho. When I went out to the vehicle in the morning, I found glass fragments distributed across the rear seat area, the rear floor, and my child's car seat. Looking up, I saw that the front panoramic glass panel had shattered. My husband and I conducted a complete walk-around inspection of the vehicle exterior. We found no evidence of any external impact: no damage to the roof surface, body panels, surrounding trim, or any other glass on the vehicle. There was no debris (rocks, branches, hailstones, construction materials, or any other potential impact source) on top of, beneath, in or around the vehicle. The rear panoramic glass panel was intact. Glass fragments were present both inside the cabin and on the exterior surface of the roof and a few fragments were found on the roadway. The car seat where glass fragments fell is regularly occupied by my [XXX] daughter. On this particular morning, she was not in the vehicle only because of a coincidental change in our family's schedule that day, but typically she gets into her carseat independently, buckles herself, and I check her buckles. Thankfully, she was not injured but her car seat now has glass fragments in the seat. I am filing this complaint to document the incident in support of NHTSA's ongoing collection of safety data for consumers. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

2015 AMG GLA-45. Sunroof violently broke, opening from front (normal is back) and sticking up 3-4 inches. Luckily this happened in our garage not moving, while simply pushing Close Sunroof button. If this had happened on the highway, it could have ripped off and killed somebody. Dealer says common problem, as soon as I brought the car in they said “sunroof warranty job” but the car is actually out of warranty. MB Natick Mass dealer is charging $3000 to replace motor, track, hinges, wind deflector. Can’t be closed manually even by dealer so car useless for two weeks while waiting for MB Corporate to review case for recall or complimentary repair due to liability. Today they refused to cover the repair cost or add car to recall list. NHTSA should know this car has ~26,000 miles on it and we’ve only opened/closed the sunroof perhaps ten times since buying it new. The sunroof assembly is obviously defective from the factory and was a “timebomb.” If it broke on the highway, lifting up from the front, it could have flown off and caused an accident and/or killed somebody behind us. Scary.

I was driving and my car randomly changed to neutral on the highway in traffic. I could not changed the gear and was almost hit by several cars that swirved around me. There is a recall for the 2019 version of the car for this very same issue but it exists in all years prior and Mercedes has not addressed it. This is happening to many of us and is being reported at glaowners.com

ON SEPTEMBER 3RD, SUNDAY 2019, WE WERE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 60 WESTBOUND AT THE SPEED OF AROUND 65 MILES/HOUR. THE ENGINE OF MY CAR STOPPED WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING, AND WE COULD MOVE THE CAR 20~30 YARDS BEFORE COMPLETE STOP. THE ONTARIO(CALIFORNIA) MERCEDES BENZ SERVICE CENTER TOLD US THE CAUSE OF THE CAR FAILURE WAS A HIGH PRESSURE OIL PUMP RELATED PROBLEMS. ON DECEMBER 7, 2019, THE SAME CAR PROBLEM OCCURRED. WE WERE DRIVING AT THE SPEED OF 20 MILES/HOUR ON A ROAD IN THE CITY OF TORRENCE, AND THE CAR ENGINE STOPPED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE LA SERVICE CENTER SAID THE CAUSE OF FAILURE RELATED TO THE MECHANICAL/ELECTRICAL CONTROL SYSTEM THAT GOVERNS HYDRAULIC PUMP AND ENGINE, AND THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE FIXED AT THE CENTER, AND THEY HAVE TO CONTACT THE FACTORY. THE 3RD CAR FAILURE OCCURRED ON SATURDAY, 2020.7.12. ON 2020.7.11., ONE DAY BEFORE THE CAR FAILURE, THE CAR FRONT PANEL SHOWED A LIGHT INDICATING AN ENGINE CHECK IS REQUIRED. HOWEVER, THE WARNING SIGNAL FOR ENGINE CHECK DISAPPEARED AND USED VISIT SON'S HOUSE. AFTER VISIT, WE STARTED THE CAR, AND THE ENGINE DID NOT START WITH A SYMPTOM SIMILAR TO. PREVIOUS TWO CASES.

I BOUGHT THE MERCEDES GLA 250 IN SEPTEMBER 2018 AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON FOR A DAY OR TWO AND GO BACK OFF. THE CHECK ENGINE DID THE SAME THING AS BEFORE AND TOOK IT TO AUTO ZONE AND STATED IT WAS A POSITIVE CRANKCASE VENTILATION ISSUE. I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND THE CAR CUT OFF AND HAD TO RESTART THE CAR THEN A FEW MINUTES LATER I STOPPED AT ANOTHER LIGHT AND THE CAR STOPPED AND HAD TO RESTART AGAIN. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MERCEDES OF BEDFORD ON JUNE 25 AND THE YOUNG LADY NEVER COMMUNICATED THAT I WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY OR HAD TO PAY FOR DIAGNOSTIC FEE. I WENT TO MERCEDES ON JUNE 29TH AND STATED I HAD TO PAY FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC FEE BUT WAS NOT MADE AWARE PREVIOUSLY ON JUNE 29TH. THE WARRANTY ON ON THE VEHICLE WAS UP ON MARCH 30TH. I LEFT AND DID SOME RESEARCH AND SEEMS THE POSITIVE CRANKCASE IS A COMMON ISSUE PLUS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON FOR SOMETIME NOW. THE DEALERSHIP STATED IT WOULD TAKE UP TO 3 WEEKS TO A MONTH FOR THE PART TO COME IN FROM GERMANY. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE. I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE AND SEE HOW MANY CARS ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE. *TR

NEEDING TO FIX THE RECALL FOR SAFETY

DRIVING AT APPROX. 30MPH AND SUDDENLY THE ENTIRE DASH LIT UP, ALL RED AND YELLOW SYMBOLS ALONG WITH A MSG IN THE DISPLAY TO THE EFFECT OF COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM INOPERATIVE, STOP IMMEDIATELY. THIS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN THE EXACT MSG. AT THE SAME TIME THE CAR DECELERATED TO A STOP ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. OBVIOUSLY I DID NOT NEED TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. IT FELT LIKE THE DECELERATION OF THE ENGINE BEING OFF BUT THE CAR STILL IN GEAR WITH THAT STOPPING THE CAR. DID NOT USE BRAKES TO STOP CAR. THIS WAS VERY SUDDEN. THE ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING AFTER STOPPING BECAUSE THE TACH WAS AT ZERO. THE DASH STAYED LIT AND THE CAR WAS STILL IN DRIVE GEAR ON THE INDICATOR. I PRESSED THE BUTTON TO PUT IT IN PARK AND THEN WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PRESSED TO START THE ENGINE. IT RESTARTED EXCEPT NOW ONLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS LIT. I DROVE TO THE DEALER. HAD THIS HAPPENED A FEW MOMENTS EARLIER ON THE FREEWAY IT COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS. CAR IS NOW AT THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY'VE NEVER HEARD OF THIS. THIS HAPPENED ON A 3 LANE EACH WAY LOCAL ROAD. WAITING FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT STILL VERY DANGEROUS IN MY OPINION.