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Emergency

Before you buy a used Mercedes-Benz CLA (C118) / GLA (H247) / GLB.

2019–2026 · Petrol / Diesel / Plug-in hybrid · 5 engines

Taken only from Testigo's sourced sheets. Use it to question the seller and on the test drive: it does not confirm that any particular car is affected.

Mercedes-Benz CLA (C118) / GLA (H247) / GLB, real photo of this generation
Alexander Migl · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Photo source

The essentials.

Typical faults by engine

The period and mileage are those mentioned by each sheet's sources. They are not a maintenance interval and do not predict that any particular car will fail.

All versions

Sheets the catalogue links to all 5 of its engines.

180 / 200 / 250 (M282/M260) · 250 e · 35 AMG (M260, 2.0) · 45 S AMG (M139, 2.0)

180 / 200 / 250 (M282/M260) (Petrol) · 250 e (Plug-in hybrid) · 35 AMG (M260, 2.0) (Petrol) · 45 S AMG (M139, 2.0) (Petrol)

We have no faults specific to this engine, only those common to every version.

180 d / 200 d / 220 d (OM608/OM654)

Diesel

Which engine has the fewest documented faults?

Documented faults and recalls by engine for the Mercedes-Benz CLA (C118) / GLA (H247) / GLB
EngineDocumented faultsRecalls
180 / 200 / 250 (M282/M260)PetrolFewest documented33 with conditions1
180 d / 200 d / 220 d (OM608/OM654)Diesel43 with conditions0
250 ePlug-in hybridFewest documented33 with conditions1
35 AMG (M260, 2.0)PetrolFewest documented33 with conditions1
45 S AMG (M139, 2.0)PetrolFewest documented33 with conditions1

According to the data we have, the engines with the fewest documented faults are: 180 / 200 / 250 (M282/M260) (Petrol), 250 e (Plug-in hybrid), 35 AMG (M260, 2.0) (Petrol), 45 S AMG (M139, 2.0) (Petrol).

By fuel type, the ones with the fewest documented faults are: Petrol, Plug-in hybrid.

We only count the sourced sheets we have. An engine with fewer is not guaranteed to be more reliable: it may have been studied less or sold in smaller numbers.

Official recalls: ask before you pay

A recall existing does not mean this car is affected or that it is still outstanding: it depends on the chassis number, the market and the production date.

  1. Ask the seller for the chassis number (VIN): it has 17 characters, appears in the car's documents and can usually also be seen at the base of the windscreen.
  2. Ask an official Mercedes-Benz dealer, or the brand's official website if it lets you check by chassis number, whether each recall has been done or is still outstanding for that VIN.
  3. Manufacturer recalls are normally carried out free of charge by the official service network. If one is outstanding, ask for it to be done before you close the sale.
Recall: electric steering backup functionSteering

Engines: 180 / 200 / 250 (M282/M260) (Petrol) · 250 e (Plug-in hybrid) · 35 AMG (M260, 2.0) (Petrol) · 45 S AMG (M139, 2.0) (Petrol)

How to check it: Check VIN; update steering software.

View full entry

On the test drive: what to look and listen for

Taken from each sheet's symptoms and checks. You can tick off what you have already looked at: it is saved only in this browser.

0 of 4 checked

Injection / EGR / DPF

  • Look out for: Smoke, hesitation or hard starting (injectors); unstable idle, power loss and engine light (EGR); particulate filter warning in town use; oil consumption.

    Ask them to check: Identify the engine (OM607 until 2018, OM608 after), measure injector balance rates, check the EGR and particulate filter status and watch the oil level.

Gearbox

  • Look out for: Noises from the 7G-DCT (whine, hum, clunks) and jerks when shifting or pulling away; a clutch that wears faster with short trips or towing.

    Ask them to check: Ask for the gearbox software update; check the campaigns by VIN.

Electrical and electronic systems

  • Look out for: Now and then the car will not start, with the engine warning light on and several warning messages on the cluster.

    Ask them to check: Ask the garage to read the gearbox fault memory and, if P24F100 appears, to apply note LI27.19-P-080869 (SCN coding of the EZS) before replacing the gearbox control unit or the battery.

Driver assistance

  • Look out for: Messages on the cluster: "Active Emergency Stop Assist not available", "Active Lane Keeping Assist not available" or "Active steering assist not available".

    Ask them to check: Ask the garage to apply note LI46.10-P-078012: do not replace the HOSWD control unit, update its software and check the steering wheel contacts, wires and ground connections.

OBD codes worth looking for

If they let you read the fault memory with an OBD reader, these are the codes mentioned in this model's sheets:

P24F100U186B29B1E7614B1E7713

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these Testigo sheets and their original sources. Sources are not checked in real time.

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