Injector wear
usually 150,000–250,000 km · Medium risk
Signs: Rough idle, smoke
Fix: Replace injectors
€600–1,400
Common faults, service intervals and costs
Mercedes-Benz GLA (X156)
2013–2020
3
engines covered
9
known faults
78,025
roadworthiness tests in the statistics
43
official recalls
Enter your VIN and mileage and get a plan built for your exact engine and gearbox.
The Mercedes-Benz GLA (X156) was built from 2013 to 2020.
For this generation we cover 3 engines and 9 known faults, each with the mileage range where it usually appears.
The most expensive known risk is Crankshaft bearing wear: it usually appears at 180,000–280,000 km and costs €1,500–3,000 to fix.
In UK roadworthiness tests in 2024, at 50–100 thousand km this model most often failed on: tyres and wheels (5.7 %), lights, wipers and visibility (4.5 %), brakes (2.6 %). It fails more often than an average car of the same age and mileage on: body and corrosion. It fails less often than average on: brakes, lights, wipers and visibility.
Engines
| Engine | Fuel | Timing drive | Oil |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 dCi (K9K) | Diesel | Belt · 120,000 km / every 72 mo | 5W-30 · Renault RN0720 (DPF) / RN0710 · ~4.5 L · every 10,000 km |
| 2.1 CDI (Mercedes OM651) | Diesel | Chain | 5W-30 · MB 229.51 / 229.52 · ~6.5 L · every 15,000 km |
| 1.6 / 2.0 petrol (Mercedes M270) | Petrol | Chain | 5W-30 · MB 229.5 · ~5.8 L · every 15,000 km |
Faults by engine
1.5 dCi (K9K)
Crankshaft bearing wear
usually 180,000–280,000 km · High risk
Signs: Knock under load; worse on older engines
Fix: Keep oil changes at 10,000 km
€1,500–3,000
EGR / DPF
usually 120,000–200,000 km · Medium risk
Signs: Limp mode
Fix: Clean or replace
€250–1,200
2.1 CDI (Mercedes OM651)
Piezo injectors (2009–2011)
usually 60,000–140,000 km · High risk
Signs: Rough running, knocking, no-start
Fix: Replace injectors (check campaign)
€1,000–2,500
Timing chain stretch
usually 200,000–280,000 km · Medium risk
Signs: Correlation codes, rattle
Fix: Replace chain
€1,200–2,200
EGR / DPF
usually 150,000–220,000 km · Medium risk
Signs: Limp mode, DPF light
Fix: Clean or replace
€300–1,500
1.6 / 2.0 petrol (Mercedes M270)
Camshaft adjuster solenoid oil leak
usually 60,000–140,000 km · Medium risk
Signs: Oil in the wiring plug, check-engine light
Fix: Replace solenoids, check the harness
€200–500
Timing chain stretch
usually 150,000–250,000 km · High risk
Signs: Cold-start rattle
Fix: Replace chain and adjusters
€1,500–3,000
Gearboxes
Manual
Clutch wear
usually 120,000–200,000 km · Medium risk
Signs: Slipping, high bite point
Fix: Replace clutch kit
€500–900
Dual-mass flywheel
usually 150,000–220,000 km · Medium risk
Signs: Rattle at idle, vibration pulling away
Fix: Replace with clutch
€700–1,400
7G-DCT (A / B / CLA / GLA)
7G-DCT jerky low-speed shifts / mechatronic
usually 60,000–160,000 km · Medium risk
Signs: Jerks in traffic, delayed engagement
Fix: Software update; fluid change; mechatronic
€200–2,000
Scheduled service
Intervals and typical prices for the 1.5 dCi (K9K) engine. Other engines differ in oil, timing drive and some filters; the app gives the exact plan.
| Item | Interval | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| Engine oil + oil filterEngine | every 10,000 km or every 12 months | €70–150 |
| DPF health check (soot / ash load)Emissions | every 20,000 km | €0–60 |
| Cabin (pollen) filterClimate | every 15,000 km or every 12 months | €15–40 |
| Brake fluidBrakes | every 24 months | €50–95 |
| A/C service (regas + desiccant)Climate | every 24 months | €70–150 |
| Air filterEngine | every 30,000 km or every 24 months | €15–45 |
| Fuel filterFuel | every 30,000 km or every 24 months | €40–110 |
| Glow plugsEngine | every 100,000 km | €120–300 |
| Auxiliary (serpentine) beltEngine | every 120,000 km | €70–180 |
| Timing belt kit + water pumpEngine | every 120,000 km or every 72 months | €450–900 |
| Coolant replacementCooling | every 150,000 km or every 96 months | €70–150 |
| Manual gearbox oilTransmission | every 150,000 km | €60–130 |
| Front brake padsBrakes | usually at 30,000–60,000 km | €60–150 |
| Front brake discs + padsBrakes | usually at 60,000–120,000 km | €150–320 |
| Rear brake padsBrakes | usually at 50,000–90,000 km | €50–130 |
| Tyres (set of 4)Wheels | usually at 40,000–60,000 km | €320–700 |
| Wiper bladesBody | checked at service | €20–50 |
| 12V batteryElectrical | checked at service | €100–220 |
Roadworthiness tests by mileage
Share of tests in the United Kingdom (DVSA MOT, 2024) that this model failed because of each system. Bold red means more often and green less often than an average car of the same age and mileage. Sample: 78,025 tests.
| thousand km | 0–50 | 50–100 | 100–150 | 150–200 | 200–250 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 1.5 % | 2.6 % | 3.5 % | 3.9 % | 4.6 % |
| Suspension | 0.6 % | 2.5 % | 6.5 % | 9.2 % | 9.1 % |
| Steering | 0.0 % | 0.1 % | 0.1 % | 0.1 % | 0.2 % |
| Tyres and wheels | 4.0 % | 5.7 % | 6.7 % | 7.9 % | 7.4 % |
| Lights, wipers and visibility | 3.1 % | 4.5 % | 6.2 % | 8.0 % | 7.3 % |
| Body and corrosion | 0.5 % | 1.7 % | 2.3 % | 2.6 % | 2.5 % |
| Exhaust, emissions and leaks | 0.4 % | 1.2 % | 2.7 % | 5.7 % | 7.6 % |
Owner complaints in the US
Which systems owners reported to the US agency NHTSA and at what mileage. Complaints are not confirmed faults and some relate to recalls. Sample: 119 complaints.
Official recalls
Recalls the manufacturer published in the United Kingdom for this model (43). The same recalls usually apply across Europe. Ask an authorised dealer to check by VIN whether your car is affected and whether the work has been done.
- Steering SRPC2404 – Backup function of steering software06/05/2024 · R/2024/166
- Doors / locks / lids On affected vehicles the panel located between the windshield and the panoramic sunroof might not have been bonded correctly during a prior service repair.07/02/2024 · R/2024/024
- Suspension / axles Locking pawl spring of the left hand side door locks might not be greased correctly14/01/2022 · R/2021/437
- Other The behaviour of the emergency call system might not meet specifications01/12/2021 · R/2021/106
- Other The behaviour of the emergency call system might not meet specifications01/12/2021 · R/2021/107
- Other The behaviour of the emergency call system might not meet specifications01/12/2021 · R/2021/130
- Other The behaviour of the emergency call system might not meet specifications29/11/2021 · R/2021/376
- Doors / locks / lids Vehicles with a panoramic sunroofthe polycarbonate panel may not have been bonded correctly during a prior service repair20/08/2021 · R/2021/274
The other recalls (35) are listed in the app.
Other generations
Sources and notes
Faults, intervals and prices are indicative and collected from public sources and owner experience; always rely on the service book and a qualified workshop. Test statistics: DVSA – Anonymised MOT tests and results, Open Government Licence v3.0. Owner complaints: NHTSA ODI (public domain). Recalls: DVSA Vehicle Safety Branch Recalls Database, OGL v3.0. Brand and model names are trademarks of their owners and are used only to describe the vehicles.
Updated 07/10/2026