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Verdict

2021 Mercedes GLA: Complaints, Recalls & Known Issues

What the public record actually says about the 2021 Mercedes GLA — every figure below is a NHTSA or EPA number, not an opinion.

The read

Fewer reported complaints than most SUV.

Owners filed 20 NHTSA complaints — fewer complaints than 71% of 2021 SUVs. Unknown Or Other leads the reports (25%). No safety recalls on record.

Based on NHTSA complaint volume against 2021 SUVs, not adjusted for how many were sold. It describes the model year, not the individual car you are looking at.

Complaints filed

20

Reports to NHTSA, 2021

Safety recalls

0

NHTSA campaigns on record

NHTSA crash test

Not rated

Overall NCAP rating

Combined MPG

No data

EPA estimate

Complaint volume vs. segment peers

Fewer complaints than 71% of 2021 SUVs

The bar is this car's percentile among 2021 SUVs by complaint volume — a full bar means the fewest complaints in its class. Not adjusted for sales.

Known issues

Unknown Or Other issues lead owner complaints (25% of 20 reports), followed by electrical system (20%).

Unknown Or Other25% · 5 reports
Electrical System20% · 4 reports
Engine15% · 3 reports
Service Brakes15% · 3 reports
Tires10% · 2 reports
Power Train5% · 1 report
Structure5% · 1 report
Vehicle Speed Control5% · 1 report

Share of all 20 NHTSA complaints for this model year, grouped by the component owners named. Bars are scaled to the largest category. Examples: ODI 11713295, ODI 11661372, ODI 11585806, ODI 11483717, ODI 11418252.

Recalls

0 recalls — none issued for this model year as of Jul 2026. Recall records can change as NHTSA publishes new campaigns.

A campaign can apply to this model year without being incomplete on a specific vehicle. Check the VIN with NHTSA or a dealer to confirm whether a particular car needs repair.

Investigations

0 NHTSA investigations on record

No investigations are on record as of Jul 2026. An empty record is not a clean bill of health.

Crash-test ratings

2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class SUV 4WD NHTSA source

Overall
Not rated
Frontal
Not rated
Side
Not rated
Rollover
Not rated

2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class SUV FWD NHTSA source

Overall
Not rated
Frontal
Not rated
Side
Not rated
Rollover
Not rated

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).

Fuel economy by trim

No EPA fuel-economy record is available for this model year. Some trims and older vehicles were not tested or are not in the current EPA feed.

Before you buy

Useful next checks

Federal records tell you about patterns. These checks can tell you more about the specific car in front of you.

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Compare model years

"Fewest reports" and "most complained" describe raw NHTSA complaint totals, not vehicle reliability. The last few model years are left unlabelled because they have had less road time.

2021 Mercedes GLA: frequently asked

What does the complaint record show for the 2021 Mercedes GLA?

Owners filed 20 NHTSA complaints about the 2021 Mercedes GLA — fewer complaints than 71% of comparable 2021 SUVs, so it sits toward the stronger end of its class. That's a signal, not a guarantee about any single car.

What are the most common problems on the 2021 Mercedes GLA?

The most-reported problem areas are Unknown Or Other (25% of complaints) and electrical system (20%).

How many recalls does the 2021 Mercedes GLA have?

No safety recalls are on record for the 2021 Mercedes GLA as of Jul 2026.

What gas mileage does the 2021 Mercedes GLA get?

EPA fuel-economy figures for the 2021 Mercedes GLA aren't available yet.