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2013 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2013 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class has been recalled for, how often it fails the UK MOT and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 0safety recalls
- 9owner complaints
- 0crash reports
- 0fire reports
- 29%fail the UK MOT
9 complaints, against an average of 46 for the other 13 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class model years.
Every Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2013 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class?
The components named most often in the 9 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
Has the 2013 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class been recalled?
NHTSA lists no safety recalls for the 2013 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class as of October 25, 2026. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check your VIN before you rely on this.
Is the 2013 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class recalled in the UK or Europe?
Recalls issued by the UK's DVSA and through the EU's Safety Gate system that cover this model and build period. European models can differ from U.S. ones, and "years estimated" means the recall gave no build dates, so confirm your own car with your registration or VIN.
UK DVSAOn affected vehicles the panel located between the windshield and the panoramic sunroof might not have been bonded correctly during a…On affected vehicles the panel located between the windshield and the panoramic sunroof might not have been bonded correctly during a prior service repair.
Risk: On affected vehicles the panel located between the windshield and the panoramic sunroof might not have been bonded correctly during a prior service repair.
Fix: Check the front fixed element of the panoramic sliding sunroof and replace if necessary.
UK DVSAVehicles with a panoramic sunroofthe polycarbonate panel may not have been bonded correctly during a prior service repair
Risk: The polycarbonate panel located between the windshield and the panoramic sunroof may not have been bonded correctly during a prior service repair.
Fix: Remove the bonded panel and install a new polycarbonate panel if required.
UK DVSAThe refrigerant used in the air condition system does not meet legal requirements
Risk: The refrigerant used in the air conditioning system does not meet legal requirements.
Fix: Adapt the air conditioning system for usage of the new refrigerant.
UK DVSAThe refrigerant used in the air conditioning system may not meet legal requirements
Risk: The refrigerant used in the air conditioning system does not meet legal requirements
Fix: The air conditioning system will be adapted for the usage of the new refrigerant.
UK DVSAThe refrigerant used in the air condition system does not meet legal requirements
Risk: The refrigerant used in the air conditioning system does not meet legal requirements.
Fix: The air conditioning system will be adapted for the usage of the new refrigerant.
UK DVSAElectrical wiring in steering assembly may be insufficiently grounded
Risk: The steering column clock spring may break. This will cause warning messages to illuminate in the instrument cluster but in extreme instances it may cause the driver's airbag to deploy.
Fix: Affected vehicles will be recalled to establish sufficient grounding of the steering components
UK DVSASteering components may be insufficiently grounded
Risk: It has been determined that the steering airbag electrical components are insufficiently grounded. Failure of the steering column module clock spring could result in an inadvertent deployment of the driver airbag which may cause risk of injury to the driver and an increased risk of a potential collision.
Fix: On affected vehicles the manufacturer will fit a contact bridge to the outer race of the steering column top bearing which will provide correct grounding.
UK DVSAElectrical wiring in steering assembly may be insufficiently grounded
Risk: The steering column clock spring may break. This will cause warning messages to illuminate in the instrument cluster but in extreme instances it may cause the driver's airbag to deploy.
Fix: Affected vehicles will be recalled to establish sufficient grounding of the steering components.
UK DVSAElectrical wiring in steering assembly may be insufficiently grounded
Risk: The steering column clock spring may break. This will cause warning messages to illuminate in the instrument cluster but in extreme instances it may cause the driver's airbag to deploy.
Fix: Affected vehicles will be recalled to establish sufficient grounding of the steering components.
UK DVSAVacuum line brake booster may break
Risk: The connection fitting of the vacuum line to the brake booster is not to specification and my not be durable. If the connection fails the brake booster will no longer be supplied with vacuum. After a few brake applications the driver will have to apply additional pressure to the brake pedal to gain the appropriate braking effect.
Fix: Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected and replace the vacuum line on the brake booster with a quality assured component.
UK DVSAFaulty control unit may cause vehicle to perform outside specification
Risk: Where a control unit coding was updated in a workshop between 3 December 2016 and 5 December 2016 the coding may not correspond to the specification and may trigger unplanned action in the vehicle. The safety and emissions systems may not react as design intent.
Fix: Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected and update the software in the corresponding control units.
UK DVSAPossibility of loss of drive
Risk: The drive shaft and the hub of the outer joint may separate. In very rare cases it cannot be excluded that the vehicle stops. The steering and braking system remain fully available to the driver.
Fix: Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected to replace the snap ring both sides together with the respective outboard boots on the affected vehicles.
EU Safety GateThe polycarbonate roof panel located between the windscreen and the panoramic roof may not have been bonded correctly to the vehicle…The polycarbonate roof panel located between the windscreen and the panoramic roof may not have been bonded correctly to the vehicle during a prior repair. In such cases, the adhesive bonding could gradually deteriorate and the panel could become detached from the vehicle, posing a risk to other road users.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateRefrigerant of type R134a is used in the air conditioning system.As a result, the affected vehicles do not meet the requirements for type approval.
Measures: Type of economic operator to whom the measure(s) were ordered: Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateThe steering column is not sufficiently earthed.As a result, in the event of an electrostatic discharge, the driver's airbag may be triggered when not required. This could cause an accident.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateFollowing the update of the control unit coding, the coding parameters of the control unit could be defective.This could give rise to various unplanned reactions in the vehicle: the wrong airbag could be triggered in the event of an accident, the airbag control unit may not recognise the belt buckle status, the engine control unit could be coded with a false maximum speed or various assistance systems may not function.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateIncorrect software was installed in the Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) control device of the vehicles affected.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
How often does the 2013 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class fail its MOT?
Why they failed: the share of failed tests with at least one fault in each area (a test can fail on several). Cars first registered in 2013, tested in Great Britain in 2023; first registration is usually, but not always, the model year. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, Open Government Licence v3.0.
What do 2013 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class owners report?
9 of the 9 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
THE SUNROOF SOUNDS LIKE ITS COMING OUT AND LEAKING WATER
I HAVE 2 MERCEDES, 2013 E350 CONVERTIBLE AND A 2017 E400 COUPE. BOTH PURCHASED NEW. BOTH HAVE HAD AIRBAG RECALLS FOR YEARS. DEALER SAYS THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THEY WILL GET PARTS TO REPLACE. I WOULD THINK THAT MERCEDES WOULD HAVE A SOLUTION BY NOW.
MY VEHICLE HAS HAD A RECALL SINCE JANUARY 2018 WITH A REMEDY SCHEDULED FOR FIX APRIL 2020. THERE HAS BEEN NO UPDATE AT ALL AS TO WHAT IS GOING ON OR WHEN MY VEHICLE WILL BE FIXED. IT IS NOW MID JUNE 2020 WITH NO FIX IN SIGHT. THIS IS NOT A TIMELY MANNER AND IS THE WORST EXPERIENCE I HAVE EVER HAD OWNING A CAR. OVER TWO YEARS THAT THE RECALL ISN'T FIXED AND NOW OVER 2 MONTHS SINCE THE FIX WAS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND I AM TIRED OF WAITING WITHOUT ANY UPDATES OR REMEDY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES BENZ CLA250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING INTO THE GARAGE, THE STEERING CEASED, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO RBM OF ALPHARETTA LOCATED AT 345 MCFARLAND PKWY, ALPHARETTA, GA 30004, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR WAS STILL PENDING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS…
THE PURPOSE OF THIS CORRESPONDENCE IS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO LOSE ITS BREAKING POWER AND HAVE ME ALMOST HAVE A NEAR FATAL ACCIDENT. IF I WAS NOT AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER, I MIGHT NOT BE SENDING THIS LETTER AT THIS TIME. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED ON THURSDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 27, 2020. I COMMUTE FROM NEWNAN, GA TO MIDTOWN ATLANTA DAILY. MY COMMUTE CAN RANGE FROM 40-45 MILES AND 50 MINUTES TO MORE THAN AN HOUR ON ANY GIVEN DAY. THE FIRST 30 MILES OF MY COMMUTE IS USUALLY SPENT ON CRUISE CONTROL. I CAN CRUISE INTO DOWNTOWN ATLANTA WITHOUT HAVING TO RELEASE THE CRUISE CONTROL. ON…
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ CLA250. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V043000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. MERCEDES-BENZ OF FAIRFIELD (2950 AUTO MALL PKWY, FAIRFIELD, CA 94533, 707-430-0131 WAS CONTACTED AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT…
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES BENZ CLA250. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V043000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
I HAVE BEEN WAITING TO HAVE MY AIRBAGS REPLACED FOR OVER 1 TO 2 YEARS NOW. THE AIRBAGS ARE EXTREMELY A SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO THE FACT THAT THEY CAN DEPLOY AT ANY GIVEN TIME. I HAVE A GRAND CHILD THAT I TRANSPORT AND I AM SCORED FOR HER SAFETY IN THAT VEHICLE. THIS IS SAD HOW LONG THIS HAS BEEN UNREMEDIED. PLEASE HELP!
PRE SAFE FUNCTIONS LIMITED ERROR MESSAGE REPEATEDLY COMES ON AND LOSES ACCELERATION.
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2013 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class: questions owners ask
Is the 2013 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 9 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class; the most common categories were air bags (5, 55.6%), electrical system (1, 11.1%), electronic stability control (esc) (1, 11.1%). There are no safety recalls listed for this model year.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class?
Across 9 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are air bags (55.6% of complaints), electrical system (11.1% of complaints), electronic stability control (esc) (11.1% of complaints), engine (11.1% of complaints), service brakes (11.1% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2013 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class have any recalls?
As of October 2026, NHTSA lists no safety recalls for the 2013 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Check your own CLA-Class
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), DVSA anonymised MOT results (Open Government Licence v3.0), DVSA vehicle recalls (Open Government Licence v3.0), EU Safety Gate alerts (© European Union), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2013 only.