2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 Brake Pads Recall (23V732)

Recall 23V732 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 in recall 23V732?

The vehicles may not be equipped with an inspection gauge to check the wear of the rear brake pads.

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2020 A220, 2020 CLA250, GLB250, AMG A35, AMG CLA45, AMG CLA35, and 2021 GLA250 vehicles. The vehicles may not be equipped with an inspection gauge to check the wear of the rear brake pads. In addition, information for using this inspection gauge might not be included in the owner's manual. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."

Is it safe to drive a 2021 GLA 250 with recall 23V732?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Driving with worn brake pads can reduce braking ability, increasing the risk of a crash.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: Driving with worn brake pads can reduce braking ability, increasing the risk of a crash.

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 pads, have it checked before driving further.

Which vehicles are included in recall 23V732?

Recall 23V732 covers 42,742 vehicles: 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250.

NHTSA lists 42,742 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the GLA 250 brake pads recall?

Yes. Dealers will install an inspection gauge and provide supplemental owner's manual information, free of charge.

Dealers will install an inspection gauge and provide supplemental owner's manual information, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 29, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

When was recall 23V732 announced?

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC reported recall 23V732 to NHTSA on November 1, 2023.

This recall was filed 35 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 23V732?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 23V732 is open on your GLA 250, it will be listed there.

Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 23V732000 is open on your GLA 250, it will be listed there. 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 23V732?

Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 23V732000 applies to your GLA 250.
2. Call a Mercedes-Benz dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
3. Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
4. Keep a simple log of any pads symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
5. Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
6. 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 18 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 1 of them about the brakes.

Too few NHTSA complaints about the brakes have been filed since recall 23V732 was reported (0) to say whether the fix is holding.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 18 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 1 of them involve the brakes. 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 GLA 250: 18 complaints in total, 1 about the brakes

Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):

Car's brake system slammed on in light traffic with no nearby obstacles. Clear night, light traffic, road dry, moderate temperature. If there had been more traffic, or if the road had been slick, high probability of risk. Dealer has been notified, will not be able to pick up vehicle for a day or two.

2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 owner, OH, NHTSA complaint 11432715, filed September 13, 2021

Can recall 23V732 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.

Owners often ask whether this pads recall means their GLA 250 qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).

If the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 brakes have needed more than one trip to the dealer, keep every repair order. Brake defects are treated as serious safety problems under California law.

A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.

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.

Frequently asked questions about recall 23V732