2021 MERCEDES-BENZ GLA-Class
Recalls, Specs & Safety Report
This 2021 model shows good reliability, primarily driven by a below-average recall rate for the MERCEDES-BENZ brand.
Why This Matters
A clean recall record is a positive signal for both safety and ownership costs. Vehicles with no known defects typically qualify for lower insurance premiums and face fewer unexpected repair expenses.
When negotiating insurance rates, a documented history of zero manufacturer recalls can support your case for preferred pricing.
Expert Analysis
- Recall Trend:No Change in recalls
- Primary Risk Area:Warning
- Vs Brand: Better than avg (0.4)Summary:
Safety & Reliability Score
Score Breakdown
Technical Specifications
Key specifications for the 2021 MERCEDES-BENZ GLA-Class
Safety History Timeline
Consumer Complaint Analysis
Most Reported Issue
Complaint Trend
Safety Incidents
Complaint Severity Distribution
Breakdown of 16 consumer complaints by severity level.
Mileage Failure Analysis
Based on consumer reports, issues for this vehicle tend to peak around the 0-20k mileage range. The average reported failure mileage is 27,688 miles.
No Recalls Found
Clean Safety Record Verified
2021 MERCEDES-BENZ GLA-Class
Safety Milestone: The 2021 MERCEDES-BENZ GLA-Class maintains a perfect record. As of January 2026, there are 0 official recalls.
Compared to other 2021 models which average multiple safety campaigns, this vehicle's clean sheet is a testament to its engineering integrity.
🛡️ Proactive Safety Maintenance Guide
Even with a perfect recall record, regular maintenance safeguards your vehicle's reliability. Our experts recommend monitoring these systems:
No active investigations for this vehicle.
Consumer-reported issues submitted to NHTSA for 2021 GLA-Class.
Common Reported SymptomsAI Analysis
When coming to a full stop at a red light (or any need to idle at a stop), the car frequently begins to hesitate as if it is about to cut off. I assume it has something to do with the ‘fuel saving feature’ which comes on in the form of a green symbol in the lower left of the odometer display (the engine is still running the AC) . When you start to drive again the car always jerks before moving , on at least 3 occasions it has actually cut off completely and must be restarted (everything goes off) - it is big problem, especially in heavy traffic (horns blaring & angry drivers are encountered) I almost had a car hit me from behind; my car had jerked slightly when I began to accelerate and then shut off completely. It is definitely a dangerous defect. The Dealership emphasizes 93 Octane gas or higher to help with this issue- but I Always use the highest Octane gas I can find ! It has happened VERY often - I dread stopping at red lights and stop signs, one day it will cause an accident.
I am reporting a potential safety and mechanical defect involving the cylinder head in the Mercedes-Benz GLA 250. Many owners, including myself, have experienced premature cylinder head failure, often without warning, leading to loss of power, engine misfires, rough idling, and in some cases, sudden engine shutdown while driving. This issue appears to be widespread among GLA models equipped with the M260/M270 engine, often occurring well before 100,000 miles. It raises serious concerns about the design, durability, and safety of the engine’s top-end components. Given the frequency and severity of this failure — and the high cost of repairs — I believe this warrants an official investigation and potential manufacturer recall. I urge the NHTSA to review similar complaints and initiate a formal inquiry into Mercedes-Benz’s awareness and handling of this defect. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Twice now, my husband is putting groceries in the back of the vehicle and the top closes on him and this last time, hit him hard in the head. This is a safety issue, what can we do??
My vehicle has two separate tire inflation placards. There is a placard inside the drivers door recommending 43 PSI (cold) all tires, and another placard inside the fuel door recommending 38 PSI front and 34 PSI rear (cold). Two different tire service centers have confirmed that my tires are wearing out prematurely because of overinflation. My telephone calls to Mercedes USA have been handled poorly because their representatives are poorly training and do not understand the nature of my issue.
Engine misfired in operation requiring an emergency stop while on a mountain road. Severe check engine light turned on (Mercedes has a two stage check engine light). Vehicle was parked for 20 minutes and battery was disconnected. This appeared to fix the issue. Vehicle was brought to dealer. Dealer stated the cylinder head for early 2021 GLA 250 engines had a casting flaw that result in hot gases escaping and damaging engine. Engine and turbo rebuilt under warranty at 17000 miles.
The entire circuit board was short circuited immobilizing the car in the middle of the highway. It was determined that the condensation of the air conditioning was unable to drain due to the drainage tubing being clogged with insects, causing water to back up and short circuited the electrical system.
I purchased this car approx 3 months after real issues began. My car would have issues idling where it would sometimes turn off at stop lights and require multiple reignition attempts before proceeding. This would also happen when the auto-start feature (anti-idle/gas saving) was engaged (which is the default in the system) and this posed major safety concerns. The unstable idling of the car would result in an initial acceleration after being stopped, shortly followed by the engine dying. There were multiple times I was at an intersection yielding before turning where this happened and it resulted in my being in the path of oncoming traffic without the ability to accelerate until the car restarted. I contacted my local Mercedes dealer who acted like this wasn't a big deal, but it is related to a known issue with a faulty cylinder head. They covered the repair under the manufacturer warranty, but told me to keep driving my car and promised it was safe until they could get the part in (because the didn't have a loaner car to provide). I found this very troubling. In conversations throughout the repair being completed, the dealer admitted that they know the part that was used for the year and model is bad, but they didn't want to do a recall and would wait for issues to come up. This is unacceptable because this absolutely is a safety concern as demonstrated by the example I shared. They should be required to do a full recall to address the safety concerns and I believe not disclosing this information was unfair to me as a consumer who did not have the information I needed to be informed on the reliability of this vehicle prior to purchase.
The contact owns a 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA250. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V354000 (Back Over Prevention, Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
I consider this issue a SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE that could be LIFE-THREATENING and all Mercedes-Benz service departments should be alerted to the problem. Mercedes-Benz should issue a revised, more user-friendly label so independent tire shops will not misread the label and over-inflate customers' tires. The tire inflation specifications provided for this vehicle, located both on the B-pillar and gas filler flap, are configured poorly and lead techs, both at Mercedes service departments and independent tire shops, to grossly over-inflate the tires. Please see the attached photo of the gas filler flap sticker on our AMG GLA 45. Our car has 20" tires and the techs incorrectly read the tire inflation pressures as 42 psi front / 46 psi rear. These are the correct pressures for a fully loaded vehicle, a situation that we seldom see. This represents over-inflation of 8 psi (22%) front and 13 psi (39%) rear, creating the potential for blowouts, compromised handling, and loss of control. Technicians read the label as 19" tires receiving the day-to-day tire pressures and 20" tires receiving fully loaded pressures creating a life-threatening safety issue. I have tried to address this problem with W.I. Simonson in Santa Monica, trying to contact our service rep, their tire "guru", and the GM. I've left two voicemails for each of them and have received no response whatsoever. I tried to alert Mercedes-Benz North America (800/367-6372) with the following results: 1) Called 15 August 2022, explained the problem and receiving case #2-31456230028, was told that a rep would contact me within 48 hours. 2) Called 23 August 2022, was told that a rep had tried my wife's number once. She has no record of a call. 3) Called 11 September 2022, provided the case number and after 40 minutes the call was dropped. 4) Called back immediately on 11 September 2022, provided the case number and after 27 minutes the call was dropped. I am available anytime if you have questions.
The contact called on behalf of his client who owns a 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA250 equipped with Continual tires, Tire Line: Procontact GXSSR, Tire Size: 235/55r/18, and DOT 6y3lwxx43220. The contact stated while driving at 30 MPH on a local road and attempting to get into the right lane, the driver crashed into a pole where the vehicle came to a stop. The contact suffered injuries to the face from the air bag deploying and hurt her leg. No medical attention was needed. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 11,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any recalls for the 2021 MERCEDES-BENZ GLA-Class?
No, the 2021 MERCEDES-BENZ GLA-Class currently has no recorded recalls from NHTSA.
Is the 2021 MERCEDES-BENZ GLA-Class safe to drive?
The 2021 MERCEDES-BENZ GLA-Class has no active recalls, which is a positive safety indicator. Always maintain regular service intervals for optimal safety.
Where can I check if my 2021 MERCEDES-BENZ GLA-Class has open recalls?
You can check for open recalls by visiting NHTSA.gov and entering your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), or by contacting your local MERCEDES-BENZ dealer.
Year-over-Year Context
Compared to earlier years, the 2021 model shows stable reliability patterns. No meaningful structural change detected in recall frequency between adjacent model years.
What This Means for You
Both current owners and prospective buyers benefit from reviewing this safety analysis before making decisions.
If you're unsure, we recommend starting with a VIN check or consulting a certified mechanic.
If You Own This Vehicle
- No active recalls are recorded, but maintain regular service intervals and report any unusual symptoms to NHTSA.
- Consider setting up VIN-specific alerts to receive notification of future recalls.
If You're Buying Used
- Request the VIN before purchase and verify recall status at NHTSA.gov.
- This model year shows favorable reliability metrics compared to alternatives.
This page is designed to help you decide, not alarm you.