As a new owner of a pre-owned 2016 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 with approximately 32,000 kilometers, I’m reaching out to the community for some insight into a concerning issue I’ve been experiencing with the transmission. From what I’ve gathered, it seems my initial excitement about this vehicle is quickly turning into regret due to a rather unsettling transmission behavior.
The primary issue manifests when decelerating to a stop. Specifically, during the downshift from 2nd to 1st gear, the car exhibits a noticeable “hop” or “nudge.” It feels akin to being lightly bumped from behind by another vehicle. This isn’t a subtle sensation; it’s quite pronounced and occurs consistently when coming to a halt at traffic lights, stop signs, or in stop-and-go traffic situations. Interestingly, this issue persists regardless of the driving mode. Whether in Sport mode, where the gear changes are generally more aggressive, or in Comfort mode, the 2nd to 1st gear downshift remains jarring. It’s important to note that the ECO start/stop function is consistently disabled, so this isn’t related to engine restarts at stops.
Image alt text: Front view of a 2016 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250, showcasing the vehicle model discussed in the article regarding transmission concerns.
Further compounding the problem is a distinct jolt felt through the brake pedal during these downshifts. While the transmission operates smoothly during acceleration and upshifts, the deceleration and subsequent downshifting, particularly from 2nd to 1st, is far from refined. It’s quite disappointing and detracts significantly from the otherwise expected Mercedes-Benz driving experience.
Naturally, given that the vehicle is still under warranty, I addressed this concern with the Mercedes-Benz dealership. However, their response was dismissive, stating that this behavior is “normal” for this model and that all 2016 CLA 250s drive similarly. They performed a transmission reset, but unfortunately, this seems to have exacerbated the issue rather than resolving it.
Seeking further clarification, I escalated the matter to Mercedes-Benz Canada. They conducted a data analysis of the transmission but concluded that everything was within acceptable parameters and functioning as designed. This response is incredibly frustrating, as the driving experience is far from acceptable. In fact, the transmission performance is so unrefined that it feels inferior to even basic automatic transmissions, and certainly less smooth than any manual transmission vehicle I’ve operated.
At this point, I’m genuinely seeking advice from other 2016 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 owners. Has anyone else encountered this “hop” or jerky downshift from 2nd to 1st gear? Is this truly considered normal operation for this model, or is there potentially a more serious underlying issue that needs to be addressed? Any insights or guidance would be greatly appreciated, as I’m currently contemplating selling the vehicle and absorbing the financial loss if this is indeed deemed “normal” behavior.
