What goes wrong with Mercedes a-Class?
James Stevens
Updated on February 27, 2026
A poor weld of a component inside the gearbox of cars that were built between 1 October 2015 and 19 November 2015 and came equipped with a dual-clutch automatic gearbox can either crack or fail. This can lead to the car going into limp home mode or losing drive completely.
What is Mercedes W169?
The Mercedes-Benz A-Class is a subcompact car produced by the German automobile manufacturer Mercedes-Benz as the brand’s entry-level vehicle. The first generation (internally coded W168) was introduced in 1997, the second generation (W169) in late 2004 and the third generation (W176) in 2012.
Are Mercedes a160 reliable?
The A-Class appears to be solid in terms of reliability, and finished 36th out of 75 cars in our 2020 Driver Power customer satisfaction survey, but Mercedes as a brand finished a disappointing 28th out of 30 manufacturers.
How do you start a Mercedes a180?
How to start a Mercedes with dead key battery
- To get inside the car, remove the metal key from your Mercedes key fob.
- Insert your smart key into the ignition.
- Press the brake pedal and make sure the transmission is in Park position.
- Turn the KEYLESS-GO key in the ignition to start the engine.
How many miles can a Mercedes A-Class last?
With proper maintenance, Mercedes can last 13-17 years on average. Considering an average yearly mileage of around 15,000, that means that Mercedes can last anywhere from 200,000 to 250,000 miles before major repairs are needed.
What happens when Mercedes battery dies?
If your Mercedes-Benz key fob battery died, starting your vehicle is still a snap. Use it to manually unlock your Mercedes-Benz. Fair warning, the alarm will go off when you manually open the driver’s door, but there’s no need to worry. Once the key is in the ignition, the alarm should stop.
Can you drive Mercedes without key?
Mercedes KEYLESS START®: With KEYLESS START®, you can step on the brake or press the Start/Stop button on the dashboard to start your car—no key required. This feature comes standard across the Mercedes-Benz lineup.
