2021 Mercedes-Benz A 220 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Electrical System (3) · Visibility/Wiper (1) · Vehicle Speed Control (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Mercedes-Benz A 220 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (4)
Latches/Locks/Linkages:doors:lock 2026-07-24 · campaign 26V481000 · 310,667 vehicles
Defect: Mercedes-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.
Risk: A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: Dealers 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.
Communication: Auto Crash Notification 2022-05-20 · campaign 22V365000 · 242,722 vehicles
Defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017-2022 CLA-Class, GLA-Class, GLE-Class, GLS-Class, SLC-Class, A-Class, AMG GT-Class, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, SL-Class, GLC-Class, CLS-Class, GLB-Class, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. An error in the communication module's SIM card software can cause a mobile network connection failure, disabling the emergency call (eCall) system.
Risk: A disabled eCall system would prevent a vehicle occupant from contacting the emergency services call center in an emergency, potentially delaying emergency responders and increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: The communication module software will be updated through an Over-the-Air (OTA) update or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 8, 2022. Owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, on July 8, 2022, May 17, 2024, July 29, 2024, and September 27, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's numbers are for this recall is 2022060005 and 2023110006.
Electrical System:software 2021-05-14 · campaign 21V354000 · 343,191 vehicles
Defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2021 CLA-Class, GLE/GLS-Class, A-Class, E-Class, E-Class Coupe and Convertible, GLA/GLB-Class, GLC-Class, CLS-Class, and AMG GT-Class 4-door Coupe vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. The MBUX multimedia system software may cause the display to remain black, or reboot after startup. This could result in the rearview camera image not displaying properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comp
Risk: A backup camera that displays a blank image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: The multimedia system software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning June 28, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6373. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021050012.
Child Seat:vehicle Latch Anchor 2021-01-29 · campaign 21V034000 · 231 vehicles
Defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021 A220, A35 AMG, and CLA250 vehicles. The child seat anchoring system (ISOFIX) may be missing the right-side anchoring bar from the ISOFIX bracket on the right-rear seat.
Risk: If the anchoring bar is missing from the ISOFIX bracket, the child restraint cannot be properly secured to the seat using the ISOFIX securing system, increasing the risk of injury for a child in that seat.
Fix: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the right-rear ISOFIX bracket and replace the bracket, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 16, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021020004.
Service bulletins (219)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Steering 2026-09-26 · LI46.10-P-080896 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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.
Service Brakes 2026-09-22 · LI42.10-P-078779 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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 vibra
Electrical System 2026-09-15 · LI82.60-P-080383 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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 pr
Structure:body 2026-09-14 · LI82.62-P-078631 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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,
Power Train 2026-08-29 · LI 27.10-P-080851 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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 tran
Power Train 2026-08-25 · LI27.19-P-080823 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint customers may report one or more of the following: • transmission malfunction message • check engine light illuminated • shifts into n • concern disappears after ignition cycle when performing a quick test, the following fault code is stored in y3/14 ‑ transmission control for 8‑speed dual
Showing the 6 most recent of 219 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-22 · Visibility/Wiper“safety complaint: windshield wipers would not turn off – mercedes-benz in october 2025, at approximately 12,000 miles, the windshield wipers on my mercedes-benz malfunctioned and would not turn off using the vehicle’s controls. the issue occurred both while driving and while the vehicle was stationary, under normal weather conditions. the malfun…”
2026-01-28 · Unknown Or Other“ this is a formal notification regarding my vehicle that i purchased at house of imports on february 27, 2021. a mercedes benz a-class 220 year 2021, vin #w1k3g4eb7mj290124. shortly after purchase i experienced several safety concerns about the vehicle. the first and main concern are while driving vehicle the accelerator stopped working ,vehicle…”
2025-05-10 · Power Train“while driving my lease vehicle on two separate days, it completely shut down while in motion with no prior warning. the first incident occurred while crossing a max train intersection in downtown portland. the engine stopped mid intersection, emitted a strong mechanical odor, ticking noises began, and dashboard alerts appeared. i could not restart …”
2024-05-28 · Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera“rear view camera says it is inoperative when i put it in reverse. i understand that a number of mercedes models have been recalled due to a software issue but the dealer tells me my car is not on the list. the problem i have is identical to the other models. my car should be on the list…”
2023-01-07 · Unknown Or Other“there’s a recall, and i need it fixed asap, i called mercedes and they said they don’t know when they’ll be able to do it, that it could take “years” ??????…”
2022-11-23 · Seat Belts · 💥 crash“ the driver’s seatbelt failed to properly engage during a high-speed rear-end collision allowing his head and face to strike the steering wheel causing a loss of consciousness and other symptoms of traumatic brain injury. thus far the problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer but it is believed the seat belt was inspected by emts res…”
2022-02-20 · Vehicle Speed Control“traveling at 65 mph in the right-hand lane * driving assistance on * traffic sign assist on * speed limit adoption on staying in the right-hand lane, i pass by an offramp sudden deceleration to 20 mph – phantom braking this has happened twice traveling past the same offramp. since, i have turned the speed limit adoption off note that this particu…”
2021-09-09 · Electrical System · 10,000 mi“the contact owns a 2021 mercedes benz a220. the contact stated while reversing the vehicle, the rearview camera screen was blank. the contact stated that there was no warning light illuminated. the contact took the vehicle to the local dealer and was made aware that nhtsa campaign number: 21v354000 (back over prevention, electrical system) was asso…”
2021-09-07 · Electrical System“the contact owns a 2021 mercedes benz a220. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 21v354000 (electrical system) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reaso…”
2021-08-05 · Electrical System“the contact owns a 2021 mercedes-benz a220. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 21v354000 (back over prevention, electrical system). the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the dealer was made aware of the recall but referred the contact to the manufacturer. th…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.