Mercedes-Benz CLA VIN Number Check

A free NHTSA vPIC decode tells you which Mercedes-Benz CLA you are looking at. Then check its model year against 32 NHTSA recall campaigns and what owners have reported.

VIN prefixWDDW1K

Free decode plus the NHTSA recalls for its model year. 17 characters, no I, O or Q.

Mercedes-Benz CLA

About the Mercedes-Benz CLA

Mercedes-Benz has sold the CLA in the US since the 2014 model year, and there have been three generations. C117 first (2014–2019), then C118 (2020–2025), and the C174 took over for 2026. Across those years NHTSA lists 32 vehicle recall campaigns and 470 owner complaints. Complaints pile up on the C117. Its 2014 and 2016 model years alone account for 262 of them, with owners bringing up engine and cooling most often and the electrical system after that. EPA rates the C117 at 26–30 mpg combined, while the C174, whose lineup includes hybrid versions, gets 23–30 mpg. A free VIN decode gives you NHTSA vPIC’s record for the car (model year, engine, plant) and the NHTSA recalls for its model year. It won’t show theft, flood or lemon-law history.

US model years2014–2026

GenerationsC117 · C118 · C174

NHTSA recall campaigns32

Owner complaints470 at NHTSA

Mercedes-Benz CLA photographed at a US vehicle auction — Auction lot photo, for illustration

Generations

Mercedes-Benz CLA generations

Three generations since the 2014 model year. The C117 (2014–2019) has both the most owner complaints and the most recall campaigns (19).

3 / 3

C174

20263rd generation

Photo: Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

201420202025

2026· Generation 3 of 3

C174 · 3rd generation

EPA classCompact Cars

EPA combined mpg23–30

NHTSA recalls1

Engines (EPA)

2.0 L 4-cyl (turbo) · 2026
2.0 L 4-cyl (turbo, mild hybrid) · 2026
Electric · 2026

Drive & transmission (EPA)

AWD/4WD, FWD, RWD
automated manual/dual-clutch (2026), automatic (2026)

Sample VIN pattern · C174W1KFJ1DB?TJ······NHTSA vPIC decodes it as a 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class CLA250+, built in Rastatt, Germany

Check a CLA VIN

Sources: EPA · NHTSA · vPIC

NHTSA campaign data

Which CLA model years each recall covers

NHTSA data

NHTSA has 32 campaigns on file for CLA model years 2014–2026, and the 2020 shows up in more of them than any other year (13), ahead of the 2017 (10). Move the line to your model year to see which apply.

Pick a row

What to ask

Source: NHTSA recall database, vehicle campaigns only; row text is NHTSA’s summary. A listed year does not mean every car is covered, so check the VIN.

Canada rows: Transport Canada recalls database. Transport Canada recalls that match an NHTSA campaign are folded into that row by VinNumber.net; rows with the Canadian flag have no NHTSA match. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada · Transport Canada.

Owner reports · NHTSA complaints

What Mercedes-Benz CLA owners report

Owner summaries + NHTSA data

Between them, the 2014 and 2016 hold 262 of the 470 complaints, or 56%. Tap any bar or generation.

470NHTSA complaints, 2014–2026

26mention a crash

5mention a fire

27injuries reported

Owner complaints by model yearC174: 1 complaints · most for the 2026 (1)

Top complaint areas · C174

Owner complaints on file for these model years: 1. That is too few to show patterns.

What CLA owners report across recent generations

Owner summary

2014–2019 (1st generation, C117)

Complaint counts are modest and spread across many issues, so the data is thin. The 2014 draws the most NHTSA complaints, and the most common one is the engine stalling while driving, which some owners tie to a crankcase vent valve fault code. Owners of the 2015 more often report sunroof problems and check engine lights. CarComplaints lists water pump failure, a blown engine and limp mode for the 2014 CLA250, and difficult refueling and a sunroof that exploded for 2015. Recalls cover a brake booster vacuum fitting on 2014 models and the driver air bag clockspring on 2014–2018 models. [1] [2] [3] [4]

What to check before buying

Run the VIN through the NHTSA recall lookup, including the brake booster and air bag clockspring recalls.
Ask for water pump, crankcase vent valve and engine repair records.
Inspect the sunroof glass for cracks.
On the drive, watch for stalling, limp mode and a check engine light, and try refueling if possible.

Sources (4) and method

Sources:

Counts: NHTSA complaints file, records to October 1, 2026, one count per complaint; areas are NHTSA component groups.

Owner summary updated September 25, 2026.

Owner complaints · by model year

CLA complaint breakdown by model year

NHTSA data

Hybrid and electric CLA versions count alongside gas ones. Tap a year to see its top systems.

470complaints, 2014–2026

26mention a crash

5mention a fire

27injuries reported

1complaint reports a death

Most complaints: 2014 (195), 2016 (67), 2015 (64)

2014 · 195 complaints

Crashes 5 · fires 3 · injuries 6

Engine68

Electrical system47

Vehicle speed control36

Power train23

Unknown or other23

Systems as NHTSA names them; a complaint can list several. Source: NHTSA complaints data, records to October 1, 2026.

EPA fuel economy & emissions

CLA CO₂, smog rating and yearly fuel cost

EPA data

EPA lists 54 CLA versions for model years 2014–2026 (gas, hybrid and electric). The lowest tailpipe CO₂ is 296 g/mi, for the 2024 hybrid. Electric versions have none at the tailpipe. Pick a model year and powertrain to see each version.

C1172014–2019

26–30 mpg · CO₂ 299–348 g/mi

C1182020–2025

23–30 mpg · CO₂ 296–392 g/mi

C1742026

23–30 mpg · 109–126 MPGe electric · CO₂ 0–379 g/mi

Model year2026

23combined MPG

379CO₂ grams per mile (tailpipe)

$3,550EPA yearly fuel cost

—/10Smog rating

1 = worst · 10 = cleanest

5/10Greenhouse gas rating

—Emission standard

Cleanest gas version of 2026: AMG CLA45 S 4matic · Auto (AM8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo — 23 MPG · 379 g/mi

Best (lowest) CO₂ by model year

GasHybridElectric

Annual fuel cost is EPA’s estimate at its current fuel-price assumptions (15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving), so older years are priced at today’s fuel prices. Smog rating and emission standard can differ by sales area (federal vs. California); both are shown. Source: fueleconomy.gov.

Compare rivals

CLA vs BMW 4 Series vs Lexus IS

NHTSA + EPA data

Take 2020–2025. NHTSA lists 15 recall campaigns for the CLA, against 13 for the BMW 4 Series and 1 for the Lexus IS. Pick a range to compare.

Mercedes-Benz CLAC174

Model years 2026

NHTSA recall campaigns: 1
NHTSA owner complaints: 1
EPA combined mpg: 23–30
Engines (EPA): 4-cyl 2.0 L · Electric
Also listed: turbo, mild hybrid
Drive (EPA): AWD/4WD, FWD, RWD

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

Forward collision avoidance 3

BMW 4 Series

Model years 2026

NHTSA recall campaigns: 1
NHTSA owner complaints: 2
EPA combined mpg: 27–31
Engines (EPA): 4-cyl 2.0 L · 6-cyl 3.0 L
Also listed: turbo, mild hybrid
Drive (EPA): AWD/4WD, RWD

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

Electrical system 1
Powertrain (transmission, driveline) 1
Tires 1

Lexus IS

Model years 2026

NHTSA recall campaigns: 0
NHTSA owner complaints: 1
EPA combined mpg: 22–22
Engines (EPA): 6-cyl 3.5 L
Drive (EPA): AWD/4WD, RWD

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

Speed control / acceleration 1

NHTSA recalls (vehicle campaigns for all powertrain versions; equipment and tire campaigns left out), complaints (not sales-adjusted) and 5-Star overall ratings for the latest year rated for all three; EPA mpg, engines and drive. Rivals: same EPA class, picked by VinNumber.net.

Mercedes-Benz CLA VIN number location

Where to find the VIN on a CLA

Tap a spot. Every location should show the same 17 characters.

White Mercedes-Benz CLA (second generation) four-door coupe, front three-quarter view, with the VIN locations marked

Photo: Hans Haase, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped

Illustration: VinNumber.net

Photo: Cutlass, CC0; edited and VIN pins added by VinNumber.net

The CLA carries its VIN on a plate at the base of the driver's side windshield, with a door jamb sticker and a trunk lid label as secondary locations. A B-pillar label is also present. The C174 generation starts with the 2026 model year; the VIN’s 10th character (T for 2026) shows which side of that line a car falls on.

Windshield plateRead it through the glass at the base of the driver's side windshield.
Source: 49 CFR 565.13(f) (NHTSA): VIN inside the passenger compartment, readable through the glazing next to the left windshield pillar
Door jamb labelOpen the driver's door: the certification label on the B-pillar lists the VIN.
Source: 49 CFR 567.4 (NHTSA): certification label with VIN at the driver door hinge pillar, latch post or door edge

The title, registration and insurance card show the VIN as well. All locations should match.

FAQ

Common Mercedes-Benz CLA VIN questions

Which Mercedes-Benz CLA model years have the most owner complaints?

The 2014 leads with 195, ahead of the 2016 (67) and 2015 (64). Those first two alone make up 56% of the 470 CLA complaints filed with NHTSA, not adjusted for sales.

How many recalls has the Mercedes-Benz CLA had?

NHTSA’s recall records show 32 vehicle campaigns for model years 2014–2026, leaving out equipment and tire campaigns. By generation, C117 leads with 19. Then come the C118 (15) and C174 (1), and a campaign can span two generations.

Which Mercedes-Benz CLA recalls are high risk?

17V-080 and 19V-685 cover air bag inflator modules and how they deploy. NHTSA’s record names a fire risk in 17V-114 and 21V-961. Each should show as closed on a VIN check.

Which CLA generation am I looking at?

By US model year, the C117 is 2014–2019 and the C118 2020–2025. C174 spans 2026. Read the year off the VIN’s 10th character (T is 2026).

What fuel economy does the Mercedes-Benz CLA get?

It varies. EPA rates the 2026 C174 at 23–30 mpg combined, depending on engine and drive, up from 26–30 mpg for the 2014–2019 C117 (fueleconomy.gov).

How does the Mercedes-Benz CLA compare with the BMW 4 Series and Lexus IS on recalls?

For 2026 models the CLA has 1 NHTSA recall campaign. The BMW 4 Series has 1, the Lexus IS 0. Complaints run 1, 2 and 1 in that order, with no sales adjustment.

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Mercedes-Benz CLA VIN Number Check

About the Mercedes-Benz CLA

Mercedes-Benz CLA generations