7 Most Frequent Problems of Mercedes CLA You Better Know!

Mercedes CLA was manufactured by the re-known brand Mercedes Benz back in 2013. It is a series of cars that are executive, sporty, and luxurious compacts in the form of a 4-door Sedan during the model years of its first generation. It is known as the first driven automobile in North America, having a wheel at the front. But does it have any problems; that are so frequent that it annoys its drivers? Above all, this article will cover everything you want to know about the most frequent problems of the Mercedes CLA.

Precise Overview!

Before proceeding, a precise overview of this article is here.

To summarize, frequent Problems with Mercedes CLA all generations have to deal with include; a gearbox with leakages of oil, cabin having a burnt-oil-like odour, problems, and complications with the proper alignment of the car, sticking up of debris in the fuel injectors of the car. Indeed, this has to be the most frequently occurring problem, with the most registered complaints among the Mercedes CLA 2016 to 2020 models. The expense of its maintenance is, however, counted as one of the issues its drivers face since the vehicle itself is so expensive. The quality of the ride of the model 2013 is known as the worst one, whereas model 2014 has few issues with the driving experience. However, its cramped interior still makes drivers uncomfortable during extended trips. 

7 Most Frequent Problems of Mercedes CLA (Explained)

Below are given detailed answers to all of your queries regarding the most frequent problems of the Mercedes CLA.

Subsequent are the most frequently occurring problems of a Mercedes CLA;

1. Leakage of Oil from Gear-Box

Leakage of the oil from the gearbox is indeed the most common issue registered regarding the Mercedes CLA. If on the ground, which is beneath your vehicle, you find oil stains or spots/puddles of oil; then it is crucial to check your CLA for any leakage of the oil from the gearbox. After checking if the leakage is from the transmission, it is from the gearbox’s sum or other areas in the surroundings.

However, the main culprits include a gear-box’s cap, which is not screwed correctly, the oil sump of the transmission being damaged or cracked, and torque converters having faults. To avoid such issues, the oils of the gearbox should be changed regularly, and the use of additives for the seals of the gearbox should be.

2. Cabin Having a Burnt-Oil-Like Odor (More Like a Burnt-Plastic)

Any burnt plastic-like or rubber-like odour could undoubtedly mean a dysfunctional internal part of your Mercedes CLA.

Origins that can result in a burnt-plastic-like odour include the followings;

• Oil of transmission; undoubtedly, transmission is a primary source of burnt oil odour. With time, the oil of transmission loses its performance, thus resulting in an excessive burning of the oil that leads to a burnt-plastic-like odor in your Mercedes CLA. Transmission shuddering is also one the major issues of Cadillac ATS.
•  Accessory Belt; indeed, wearing and tearing can lead to the exploitation of Mercedes CLA’s accessory belt, leading to friction (accidental). As a result of which, the belt’s plastic will be heated and burnt out.
•  Components of the Body; following are the components of the body; rear and front wheels, arches, bumpers, and other plastic parts; which can cause a burnt-plastic-like smell; when rubbed off in contradiction of the wheels. This mostly happens if, in the past, your Mercedes CLA went through an accident, causing disorientation in the original posture of these components.
•  Hoses of the Car; when a Mercedes CLA has been kept for extended periods; without being rolled, leakage of the oils from the hoses takes place.

3. Alignment Problems; Car Dragging to the Left or Right

If you observe that your CLA has been pulling in one direction only, either right or left; so this is a result of alignment problems in your Mercedes CLA.

The following are the reasons for it;

• The wrong Pressure of the Tire leads to an increased wearing of tires, dragging your CLA in one direction.
•  Silent Blocks of Your Mercedes CLA, which adds comfort to the quality of the ride because of the rubber’s elasticity, serves as a damper between the parts of the suspension. When these silent blocks are dead, this results in your Mercedes CLA being pulled in either the right or left direction.
•  Faults in the Bearings lead to trajectory issues.
•  Faults in the Suspension lead to alignment issues to due faults in the shock absorber. Faults in the system of suspension and related components lead to trajectory issues. Suspension issues lead to the production of strange noises from the engine as well.

4. Leaking-Injectors Issues

The issue with the leakage of the injector is not that common, but it does need attention, and if it occurs, it is crucial to resolve it timely. Hence, the Symptoms include;

• firstly, the black/oily drops along your engine’s sides
•  secondly, the black colour smoke, which is not normal
•  An ideal being troubled

Injectors on the diesel & petrol-based engines are dissimilar on your Mercedes CLA. The reason for this is the variance in the combustion between diesel and petrol-based engines. Any problem with the leakage of injectors can cause harm to the engines of your Mercedes CLA. That is needed to be resolved beforehand.

Mercedes CLA includes 2 types of injectors based on the type of engine;

• Leakage of Injector on Mercedes CLA’s Petrol Engine

Leakage occurs in the Injector of the petrol-based engine of the Mercedes CLA because of the intake of the petrol system’s low pressure. This further includes leakage from the injector’s top and bottom.

• Leakage of Injector on Mercedes CLA’s Diesel Engine

Diesel engines, unlike petrol ones, function by burning the fuel through the process of combustion, leading to the production of greater pressure in the engine, as well as the injectors, which is 10 times greater than the petrol-based engines.

The other three kinds of injector-leaks include;

Fuel Return Injector Leakage; when the fuel is returned to the injectors, this kind of fuel return leakage is a concern. The tip made of plastic, the O ring and the O ring itself is the main perpetrator behind this problem.

Leakage from the Inlet of the Injector; this kind of leakage takes place due to the deformation of the pipe of the inlet.

Injector’s Base Leaks; this leak leads to loss of compression along with the noise of air due to the leak at the seal of the copper present by the junction between the engine and the nose.

5. Cramped Interior; Making it Uncomfortable

The Interior of the CLA is quite beautiful and luxurious and looks like most of the interiors of the Mercedes classics. Unlike the front seating, the rear seating is known to be uncomfortable. However, the headroom at the rear has been sacrificed by the roofline (sloped). This is an issue, especially for taller passengers, causing a poor leg-room. It also has a blaring cabin, with an uneven delivery of power by the engine.

6. Airbags Not Deploying

Airbags not deploying properly has to be one of the recurrent safety recall issues for the Mercedes CLA. Consequently making it unsafe for its drivers. This one has been seen to disturb the cars manufactured between 2016 and 2017.

7. Inadequate Grounding of the Electrical Components of Airbags

Inadequate grounding of the electric components of airbags inside the column of the steering, indeed, has to be one of the most concerning Mercedes CLA recalls. This one causes severe injury to the drivers because the airbags would turn off. This mostly occurs in the cars made between 2013 and 2017.

Likely Cause for Problems in Mercedes CLA

Some frequent problems of Mercedes CLA are due to the functioning of this vehicle for many years; the rest of them are due to some technical issues and the users not taking care of it or not considering the manufacturer’s advice regarding the issues. When dealt with before time, these issues cannot affect the reliability of the car. This will lead to the issuance of a recall by the manufacturers. The only key to keeping it protected is the preventive-maintenance. BMW X5 issues are almost similar to CLA you can also check them as well for more help.

However, some problems in the car remain unresolved. This is due to the previous possessors of the Mercedes CLA not issuing any recalls or ignoring the letter of the manufacturer.

Strategies to Avoid Problems in Mercedes CLA

The Good News! You can avoid the above problems in your Mercedes CLA with a bit of homework and due attentiveness. For instance, problems like leakage of the oil. This one is critical to locate and cannot be suspected when purchasing a vehicle or even through drive testing. The best way is to get your vehicle first checked by a certified mechanic (local) before making a purchase, offering pre-purchase automobile examination services in your area.

The other way is to give calls to Mercedes Benz’s Customer Service. If the problems have already been addressed, it would be a lesser thing for you to get concerned about.

But there are factors that one can control, i.e. the maintenance of the engine, keeping up the reliability of the engine. Get it checked properly, and keep it safe. Oil should be changed timely. Utilize oils of good quality and fix the problems beforehand or on time when they occur.

Buying a Second-hand Mercedes CLA; What You Should Keep in Mind?

Before think of purchasing a Used, second-hand Mercedes CLA, you should keep in mind the things such as;

• Above all, all the electrical things are working properly
•  Secondly, the cold air is blown out of the air-conditioner.
•  Take the car on a rough, bumpy road so that any unwanted noises, such as rattling, can be exposed from the interior.
•  Lastly, check for the damage signs in the alloy wheels and body-work of the car.

Reliability of the Mercedes CLA; Are They Reliable?

Indeed, for some, the Mercedes CLA is a reliable vehicle. But considering the researched based data drawn from surveys filled by various owners around the globe, issues such as; gearbox with leakages of oil, cabin having a burnt-oil-like odour, problems, and complications with the proper alignment of the car, sticking up of the debris in the fuel-injectors of the vehicle.

Moreover, the expense of its maintenance is one of the issues its drivers face since the vehicle is so expensive. The quality of the ride of the model 2013 is the worst. Whereas model 2014 does not have many issues with driving experience. But it still has a cramped interior, making drivers uncomfortable during extended trips, affecting its reliability.

Conclusion:

To conclude, frequent Problems with Mercedes CLA all generations have to deal with include; gearbox with leakages of oil. Cabin having a burnt-oil-like odour, problems and complications with the proper alignment of the car.

On the other hand, the quality of the ride of the model 2013 is known as the worst one. Whereas model 2014 does not have many issues with the driving experience, it still has a cramped interior. This makes its drivers uncomfortable during extended trips, affecting its reliability.