2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 Auto Crash Notification Recall (21V072)
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC · 67 vehicles · Reported February 12, 2021
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC is recalling 67 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250; 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 vehicles. On June 18, 2021, an additional 9 vehicles were added, including certain 2021 GLA250, GLC300, 2018 S450, E400, and 2017 CLA250 vehicles. The communication module might have been inadvertently deactivated during a service visit, which could have disabled the Emergency Call (eCall) function. A disabled eCall system would prevent a vehicle occupant from contacting emergency services through the call center in an emergency, potentially delaying emergency responders and increasing the risk of injury. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 21V072 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V072000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 2021030005 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | February 12, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC |
| Vehicles | 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250; 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 |
| Units affected | 67 |
| Component | Communication > Auto Crash Notification |
| Safety risk | A disabled eCall system would prevent a vehicle occupant from contacting emergency services through the call center in an emergency, potentially delaying emergency responders and increasing the risk of injury. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 in recall 21V072?
On June 18, 2021, an additional 9 vehicles were added, including certain 2021 GLA250, GLC300, 2018 S450, E400, and 2017 CLA250 vehicles.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017-2019 C300, E300, 2018-2020 CLA250, 2020 CLS450, AMG E53, AMG GT53, GLE450, 2018 AMG E63, AMG GTA, 2017-2020 GLA250, GLC300, 2019 GLC350, AMG GLC43, 2017-2018 GLE350, 2019 AMG GLC 43, GLC350, GLE400, 2017 GLS450, S550, C300 Cabrio, and 2018-2019 S560 vehicles. On June 18, 2021, an additional 9 vehicles were added, including certain 2021 GLA250, GLC300, 2018 S450, E400, and 2017 CLA250 vehicles. The communication module might have been inadvertently deactivated during a service visit, which could have disabled the Emergency Call (eCall) function.
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Is it safe to drive a 2021 GLA 250 with recall 21V072?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A disabled eCall system would prevent a vehicle occupant from contacting emergency services through the call center in an emergency, potentially delaying emergency responders and increasing the risk of injury.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A disabled eCall system would prevent a vehicle occupant from contacting emergency services through the call center in an emergency, potentially delaying emergency responders and increasing the risk of injury.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your GLA 250 shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the auto crash notification, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V072?
Recall 21V072 covers 67 vehicles: 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250; 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300.
NHTSA lists 67 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Mercedes-Benz | GLA 250 |
| 2021 | Mercedes-Benz | GLC 300 |
What is the fix for the GLA 250 auto crash notification recall?
Yes. MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the communication module and activate it, if necessary, free of charge.
MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the communication module and activate it, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2021. Letters for the owners of the 9 additional vehicles were mailed July 9, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021030005.
When was recall 21V072 announced?
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC reported recall 21V072 to NHTSA on February 12, 2021.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| February 12, 2021 | Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V072000. |
This recall was filed 68 months ago. If your GLA 250 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my GLA 250 is part of recall 21V072?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V072 is open on your GLA 250, it will be listed there.
Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 21V072000 is open on your GLA 250, it will be listed there, along with Mercedes-Benz recall number 2021030005. You can also ask any Mercedes-Benz dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.
What should GLA 250 owners do about recall 21V072?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V072000 applies to your GLA 250.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Write down when symptoms involving the auto crash notification happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are GLA 250 owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 84 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 11 of them about the other equipment.
Since recall 21V072 was reported on February 12, 2021, owners have filed 11 complaints with NHTSA about the other equipment on these vehicles. 0 of them (0%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the other equipment and were received on or after February 12, 2021, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related other equipment issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 84 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 11 of them involve the other equipment. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300: 66 complaints in total, 7 about the other equipment
- 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250: 18 complaints in total, 4 about the other equipment
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
My vehicle has two separate tire inflation placards. There is a placard inside the drivers door recommending 43 PSI (cold) all tires, and another placard inside the fuel door recommending 38 PSI front and 34 PSI rear (cold). Two different tire service centers have confirmed that my tires are wearing out prematurely because of overinflation.
2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 owner, IL, NHTSA complaint 11585806, filed April 29, 2024
While slowly backing out of the driveway and without contacting anything at all, the rear window completely shattered.
2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 owner, NC, NHTSA complaint 11641925, filed February 11, 2025
While the vehicle was being operated normally, it caught fire. We were driving on a summer day in August. Conditions were humid, with temperatures in the mid-80s. The vehicle was on the return leg of an approximately 30-mile drive. Traffic was somewhat heavy, with speeds generally below 20 mph and occasional stops.
2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 owner, NJ, NHTSA complaint 11760363, filed August 28, 2026
Can recall 21V072 make my GLA 250 a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Recall 21V072000 does not automatically make your GLA 250 a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (Civ. Code 1793.2(d))?
What matters for a lemon law claim is not the recall label but whether the defect substantially impairs the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 and whether the dealer can fix it in a reasonable number of tries.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your GLA 250 been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 21V072
Did the recall 21V072 fix work?
Since recall 21V072 was reported on February 12, 2021, owners have filed 11 complaints with NHTSA about the other equipment on these vehicles. 0 of them (0%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
Is the 21V072000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my GLA 250 is part of recall 21V072000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
What should I keep for a possible lemon law claim?
Keep every repair order, the recall owner letter, your purchase or lease contract, and notes on dates, mileage and symptoms. Make sure each dealer visit is written up, even when the dealer says it cannot find a problem.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 21V072000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Mercedes-Benz. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.