The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid compact SUV with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the GLA250, is EPA-rated at 29 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of A. Owners have filed 4 complaints, most often about the service brakes.
2025 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class
Specs & fuel economy
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
Configuration
Powertrain
Drive
Engine / motor
City
Hwy
Comb
Annual fuel*
GLA250
Hybrid
FWD
2.0L 4-cyl turbo + 48V Li-Ion
26
34
29
$2,850
GLA250 4matic
Hybrid
AWD
2.0L 4-cyl turbo + 48V Li-Ion
25
33
28
$2,950
AMG GLA35 4matic
Hybrid
AWD
2.0L 4-cyl turbo + 48V Li-Ion
22
28
24
$3,400
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 47947, 47963, 47944.
Emissions & certification
Source: EPA emission certificates
Configuration
Smog rating
Emission standard
Where it can be sold new
SmartWay
GLA250, GLA250 4matic
6 / 10
Federal Tier 3 Bin 30 / California LEV-III SULEV30
All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards
—
AMG GLA35 4matic
5 / 10
Federal Tier 3 Bin 50 / California LEV-III ULEV50
All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards
—
Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.
The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.
Specifications filed with NHTSA
Source: NHTSA vPIC
Dimensions Exterior
Body style
Sport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV]
Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: GLA 250, GLC300 4MATIC). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.
Dimensions & weight
Source: Transport Canada
Length
173.6–174.4 in
Width (body, without mirrors)
72.0 in
Height
62.6–63.4 in
Wheelbase
107.5 in
Track, front
63.4 in
Track, rear
63.4 in
Curb weight
3,671–3,869 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear
60/40
Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 2 configurations: AMG 35 4Matic 4-door SUV AWD, Gla 250 4Matic 4-door SUV AWD. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.
Insurers price the 2025 GLA-Class very differently, and the gap between the best and worst quote on the same car and driver is usually larger than any option you are weighing on this page.
Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.
Recalls (1)
Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high
Latches/Locks/Linkages
310,667 vehicles
ProblemMercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2020-2021 CLA, 2019-2022 A-Class, 2022-2023 C-Class, 2024 CLE, 2020-2026 GLA/GLB, and 2023-2024 GLC vehicles.Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific model information. The micro-switch in the driver's door lock may corrode and fail to detect an open door, preventing the electronic parking brake or "Auto-Park" feature from engaging automatically. This may result in a vehicle rollaway.RiskA vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash or injury.FixDealers will replace the driver's door lock, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 18, 2026. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning July 31, 2026.
These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.
Whether any of this applies to one specific GLA-Class
A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2025 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Mercedes-Benz publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.
The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.
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Parts & accessories for the 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class
Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.
2 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 2 injuries · 0 deaths reported
2.0 per 10,000 built · Mercedes-Benz reported 20,226 GLA-Class built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)
Filed per year: 2024: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2026: 2
Most-cited components
Service Brakes2
Power Train2
Air Bags1
Unspecified1
Electrical System1
In owners' own words
Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.
The contact owns a 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLA250. The contact stated that while his wife was stopped at a traffic light and attempting to depress the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as intended. The vehicle shut off unexpectedly, and the gear shifter ceased. A dealer was contacted.
Power Trainat 18,500 milesMar 26, 2026NHTSA owner report · ODI 11727233
I pulled into a parking space, cars on each side of me and car in front of me had pulled through the space to park. As I eased into the space, foot on brake, the car violently shook and surged forward, smashing into the rear of the car in front of me.
Service BrakesMar 6, 2026NHTSA owner report · ODI 11722491
The contact owns a 2025 Mercedes Benz AMG GLA 35. The contact stated while driving at 35 MPH on a green light, the contact noticed another driver speeding over the limit on her left side which caused the other driver to collide with the contact's vehicle.
Air Bagsat 1,500 milesNov 8, 2024NHTSA owner report · ODI 11624261
Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.
Reported by Mercedes-Benz itself: 1 death-or-injury claim on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 2 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 4.9 per 100,000 built. Every GLA-Class model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.
Crash ratings
Source: NHTSA NCAP
NHTSA has not published 5-Star crash ratings for this model year.
Service bulletins & campaigns
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Communicationsfiled with NHTSA316
Most recentmanufacturer date2026-09-26
Kindsas classified by NHTSA290 service bulletins, 12 over-the-air updates, 8 service campaigns
Most often about: Electrical System, Structure, Visibility/Wiper, Power Train, Exterior Lighting.
Complaint Slight creaking noises when steering. Cause Noises may come from one or more sleeves of the horn contact plate. Remedy Remove the horn contact plate and check the sleeves for noise; see attached video. If necessary, apply lubricant to the sleeves.
Complaint Repeat workshop visit for vehicle vibration while braking from 60MPH. NOTE: Although the symptom is similar to a tire or wheel vibration, it is usually readily noticeable that it is distinctly different if it happens at all times or only while braking. Cause Although the cause of the vibration is most likely due to excessive lateral runout on the rotor or hub/wheel bearing, the system as
Complaint Radio station cover art does not refresh when switching stations. The UI continues to show the old station’s artwork instead of updating to the new one. Cause When a new station change request is triggered, a temporary glitch is causing the Head Unit application to fail to overwrite the previous request. This glitch is causing the cover art mismatch in the Radio application. Remedy Pleas
Complaint Clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors. Cause Under analysis. Remedy To narrow down the cause, first of all remove the door trim. • If the noise continues to occur even with the door trim removed, then continue the diagnosis working towards the speaker and if necessary, create a TIPS case with an informative video as an attachment. Note: Please refer to this document i
Complaint Noises/ squealing from the service brake in various driving situations and ambient conditions. Cause Frictional vibrations Remedy The intent of this document is to reduce noise from high performance AMG brakes. AMG brakes are designed for performance under high load and in certain scenarios, can emit noise. Some scenarios are normal and some are induced by driving style like those listed
Complaint Intermittent shift feel or thud/clunk noise perceived, such as a brief jerk or transmission reaction during certain driving situations. May be most noticeable when transitioning from a coasting condition to accelerator pedal application. May occur in all drive modes. Cause Dual‑clutch transmissions (DCT) inherently exhibit more dynamic shifting behavior compared to other types of transmi
Complaint Temporary no start condition with check engine light and multiple warning messages. When performing a quick test, the following fault code is stored in Y3/14 ‑ Transmission control for 8‑speed dual‑clutch transmission (DKG): P24F100 The wake‑up line of the control unit has a short circuit to positive. Cause Possible signal timing between EZS control unit and Transmission Control Unit (DK
Complaint Frequent rear view camera flap actuations and/or noise associated. NOTE: Rear view camera functions are NOT affected and still perform in accordance with regulatory requirements. Cause Calibration of the reversing camera is in progress. This is not a malfunction, but an intended system behavior. Remedy An optimization has been implemented to reduce the quantity of rearview camera flap ac
A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.
At the New York inspection station
Source: New York State DMV
In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class failed the safety inspection on 0.16% of first inspections — lower than the 0.36% for every 2025 model-year vehicle inspected.
New York inspections0.16%
failed the safety inspection
1,279 initial inspections of 1,261 vehicles.
Measure
The 2025 GLA-Class
Every 2025 vehicle
Behind it
Failed the safety inspection
0.16%
0.36%
1,279
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit
0.16%
0.16%
1,279
Miles driven a year
7,007
8,354
odometer at inspection
Average odometer
10,100
12,194
odometer at inspection
New York does not emissions-test model years this new, so the safety inspection is the record here. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2025 vehicle” is every 2025 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).
Does the 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class have any recalls?
NHTSA has posted 1 recall campaign for the 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class. The most serious on file is 26V481000, covering Latches/Locks/Linkages. 1 campaign is phased, so the repair reached some model years before others. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.
How safe is the 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class?
NHTSA has not published a crash-test rating for the 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class yet. On the recall record WhichTrim grades it A (92/100), which measures open and severe recalls rather than crash protection.
What is the fuel economy of the 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class?
Across the 3 EPA-rated configurations of the 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class, the best EPA combined figure is 29 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.
What are the dimensions of the 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class?
Transport Canada measured it at 173.6–174.4 in long, 72.0 in wide (body, without mirrors), 62.6–63.4 in tall, on a 107.5 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,671–3,869 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.
What do owners complain about on the 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class?
Owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA about the 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class, most often about service brakes, power train, air bags. Of those, 2 involved a crash, 2 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.
How clean is the 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class?
The EPA smog rating for the 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class runs 5 to 6 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-III SULEV30, California LEV-III ULEV50, Federal Tier 3 Bin 30, Federal Tier 3 Bin 50 — which the table above lists per configuration.
Are there service bulletins for the 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class?
The manufacturer has filed 316 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class, most often covering electrical system, structure, visibility/wiper. The most recent is dated 2026-09-26. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.
How does the 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class do at state inspection?
In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class failed the safety inspection on 0.16% of first inspections — lower than the 0.36% for every 2025 model-year vehicle inspected. The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.
What we hold, and what an empty row means
Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.
Data
Held
Source
What it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations
3 configurations
EPA certification records
Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates
3 configurations
EPA emission certificates
Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls
1
NHTSA recall campaigns
A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints
4
NHTSA complaint database
Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings
none
NHTSA NCAP
NHTSA has not tested this model year. Cars are selected for testing, so untested is not unsafe.
Service bulletins
316
NHTSA manufacturer communications
Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations
none
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
No defect investigation has been opened.
Driver-assist crash reports
none
NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01
No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA
13 fields
NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns
What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions
7 fields
Transport Canada, Canadian Vehicle Specifications
Length, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipment
none
Manufacturer press kit
We have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.
Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.
Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.
EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.