Known APK problem

Mercedes-Benz CLA C117: warning lights

On the Mercedes-Benz CLA C117 the APK inspector finds warning lights problems 2.6× as often as on cars of the same age: at 11–12 years 6.3%, against about 2.4% nationally.

Window: Oct 2025 – Sep 2026 · Updated: 16 Oct 2026

What is it?

A warning light that stays on (for example ABS, airbag or engine fault) points to a fault that has to be read out first.

Repair indication: mediuma targeted repair at the garage.

How to check it at the viewing

Switch on the ignition: all lights come on briefly and go out after starting. If one stays on, ask about the cause.

Ask the seller: Does a warning light ever come on, and has the fault been read out?

By age

Share of inspected Mercedes-Benz CLA C117s with this defect, compared with all cars of the same age.

Age	Type	CLA C117	95%-CI	National	Difference	n
7 – 8 years	B	0.4%	0.2 – 0.7%	0.4%	1.0×	3,062
7 – 8 years	C	1.7%	1.3 – 2.2%	0.9%	1.8×	3,062
9 – 10 years	A	0.2%	0.1 – 0.4%	0.0%	6.0×	3,862
9 – 10 years	B	0.4%	0.3 – 0.7%	0.2%	2.3×	3,862
9 – 10 years	C	6.7%	6.0 – 7.5%	3.2%	2.1×	3,862
11 – 12 years	C	6.3%	5.5 – 7.3%	2.4%	2.6×	2,652
13 – 15 years	C	3.9%	2.3 – 6.5%	2.4%	1.6×	334

A = structure, safety or costly mechanics; B = fail, usually simple; C = advisory. An age is missing when this defect is not among the most common there.

Comparable cars at 11–12 years

Model	Warning lights	Vs. national
Mercedes-Benz CLA C117	6.3%	2.6×
Mazda Mazda6 (GJ/GL)	1.2%	0.5×
Audi A5 (8T)	1.1%	0.5×
BMW 5-serie F11	1.9%	0.8×
Tesla Model S	10.3%	4.2×
Peugeot 508 I	1.1%	0.4×

Looking at a Mercedes-Benz CLA C117? Check that car

Enter the plate and see the APK history, open recalls and how this car compares with other Mercedes-Benz CLA C117s of the same age.

All weak spots of the Mercedes-Benz CLA C117 · Warning lights: which models more often · Checklist for this model

Frequently asked questions

Does the Mercedes-Benz CLA C117 often have warning lights problems?

Yes, more often than average at the APK. At 11–12 years the inspector found a warning lights defect on 6.3% of inspected Mercedes-Benz CLA C117s, against about 2.4% of all cars of the same age (2.6×). Source: RDW Open Data, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026.

How do you check the warning lights on a used Mercedes-Benz CLA C117?

Switch on the ignition: all lights come on briefly and go out after starting. If one stays on, ask about the cause.

Repair indication: small, medium or large. An indication of the usual repair, not a quote: the real cost depends on the car, the cause and the garage.

Source: RDW Open Data (CC0), analysis CarXray.nl. 6,857,004 inspected passenger cars aged 3 years and older, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026. Each car counts once. How we know