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2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
48% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 60% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 7 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 41%).
Does the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 21 of 44 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (48%), and the largest group is filed under engine (10). For comparison, the 2017 scores 47% and the 2019 scores 56%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2018 compares with other Mercedes-Benz GLA years
Of the 5 Mercedes-Benz GLA years with enough complaints to score, the 2018 is the 2nd-best on engine and transmission share (48%). The worst is the 2019 (56%), the best the 2017 (47%). By volume, the 2018 drew 51 complaints (21 drivetrain), against 34 for the 2017 and 30 for the 2019.
Mercedes-Benz GLA years to avoid and best years →
2015 GLA problems · 2016 GLA problems · 2017 GLA problems · 2018 · 2019 GLA problems
The rest of the picture on the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 21 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Checking one particular 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 21 of 44 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (48%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA is electrical system: 11 of 51 complaints (22%) name it, followed by engine (10) and air bags (6). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 48% of the relevant total.
Is the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 48% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 60% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 5 Mercedes-Benz GLA years we score, it ranks 2nd-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns on the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA.
Which Mercedes-Benz GLA years are better?
Among the Mercedes-Benz GLA years we track, the 2017 (47%) has a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2018 (48%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/mercedes-benz-gla
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.