[fh101]

Hi Folks,

Just wondering if anyone's GLA has ever shifted from Drive to Neutral while stopped at a red light and NOT automatically returned to Drive when releasing the brake and attempting to accelerate. It has happened several times to my 2015 GLA 250 and I have had to manually shift back to Drive. Scary and hoping it's not a major transmission issue.

Thanks in advance and sorry if this question has already been asked.

 

[Wayne]

Never. Nor have I heard reports of this. The dash display indicates neutral? I suspect a shifter switch adjustment problem but I'm not sure if there is a speed lockout to ignore the shift switches when not stopped (the 45 shifter is completely different).

 

[AVB]

Yes! My certified 2018 just started doing this and also shifts to neutral while driving! It’s very scary. I am at the dealership now awaiting a diagnostic. I just bought this car a few days ago

 

[Wayne]

Please let us know what the dealer finds.

 

[QueenieRay]

My 2016 has done this twice. Please inform if you've found something...I just purchased 2 weeks ago.

 

[Danne]

I’m having the same issue, and just bought the car a few months ago..

it’s happened while driving and while at a stop light..

interested in what the dealer says.. I’m def gonna need to take mine in, it’s a horrible feeling especially with such an expensive car.

 

[maiko]

This happened to me yesterday after driving perhaps 1 mile as soon as I got on the highway and it was the scariest thing ever.

I just got this car, but I didn't buy it new. We thought we were going to die.

Please let me know if you've found something because I can't fathom how a car that does this hasn't been recalled.

 

[WL531]

I bought a brand new GLA250 in 2016. For the past 5 years it was good. Yesterday it happened twice and today it happened once, exactly like all of you guys experienced---- the car was switched to neutral at red light and/or stop sign. It won't switch back, I had to turn off the car and then started again to drive. I called the dealership and they just set up an appointment with me told me bring in to check. I will post again if I have any results from the service.

 

[maiko]

I bought a brand new GLA250 in 2016. For the past 5 years it was good. Yesterday it happened twice and today it happened once, exactly like all of you guys experienced---- the car was switched to neutral at red light and/or stop sign. It won't switch back, I had to turn off the car and then started again to drive. I called the dealership and they just set up an appointment with me told me bring in to check. I will post again if I have any results from the service.

I called Mercedes and they picked up the car in 30 minutes. They said I should know by tomorrow.

 

[Wayne]

Take your phone and show them this thread so they will know you're not alone with this problem. Let us know what you find.

 

[maiko]

just an update.

I received a call from Mercedes mechanic today that was appalling. He sent me some texts about replacing my front tires. Then called me to constantly repeat my car is out of warranty and that there's no recall on the car (even though there is a recall on the exact same issue for the last rendition of this model 2019).

I said: "something has to be done because its an apparent issue that many of us are experiencing, and this is the scariest thing i ever experienced in my life, I almost died!"

He said: "you almost died because of that bad tire on the front".

I lost it at that point. Couldn't believe after all the proof I showed him he was trying to find a random reason to make this a fault of mine.

 

[maiko]

 

[MeicalNissyen]

Wayne,

how does my fellow florida man get post #12 in front of the MBNA trolls that monitor CS ?

 

[fh101]

Hi Folks,

Just an update since my original post.

For the past 10 months, I have been deactivating the Eco-mode when I start driving so my GLA250 no longer shifted to neutral at red lights. Then recently, the check engine light came on and I was told that my main and auxiliary batteries needed replacement. After replacing both batteries by myself (dealer wanted $900+), the problem seemed to have fixed itself. I'm not sure if this will work with others', but just wanted to share my experience.

*** Tip: Make sure to plug in an auxiliary battery backup before changing the main battery under the hood (in case auxiliary battery is dead as well).

Good luck!

 

[JustMe]

My 2016 has done this twice. Please inform if you've found something...I just purchased 2 weeks ago.

Any update? mine is doing this now.

 

[Margo Caruso]

Hi Folks,

Just wondering if anyone's GLA has ever shifted from Drive to Neutral while stopped at a red light and NOT automatically returned to Drive when releasing the brake and attempting to accelerate. It has happened several times to my 2015 GLA 250 and I have had to manually shift back to Drive. Scary and hoping it's not a major transmission issue.

Thanks in advance and sorry if this question has already been asked.

Hi Folks,

Just an update since my original post.

For the past 10 months, I have been deactivating the Eco-mode when I start driving so my GLA250 no longer shifted to neutral at red lights. Then recently, the check engine light came on and I was told that my main and auxiliary batteries needed replacement. After replacing both batteries by myself (dealer wanted $900+), the problem seemed to have fixed itself. I'm not sure if this will work with others', but just wanted to share my experience.

*** Tip: Make sure to plug in an auxiliary battery backup before changing the main battery under the hood (in case auxiliary battery is dead as well).

Good luck!

My 2016 GLA just started doing that today. I turned off the eco mode. I replaced my battery a few months ago. I hope it doesn’t continue and I guess I can’t use the eco mode anymore.

 

[mauvettrattigan66]

Had the same problem with my 2016 GLA 250 prior to receiving a message statung "auxiliary battery malfunction". I just replaced the auxiliary battery so I am hoping that this will fix the issue. I will provide an update later. Please stay safe.

 

[mauvettrattigan66]

I bought a brand new GLA250 in 2016. For the past 5 years it was good. Yesterday it happened twice and today it happened once, exactly like all of you guys experienced---- the car was switched to neutral at red light and/or stop sign. It won't switch back, I had to turn off the car and then started again to drive. I called the dealership and they just set up an appointment with me told me bring in to check. I will post again if I have any results from the service.

Did you find out what the issue was?

 

[MCLong11]

We just leased a 2022 GLA250 with 7 miles on it and around mile 280 the car shifted itself from reverse into neutral and then it happened again while in drive. I Googled the issue & there is a class action lawsuit from GLA owners of the 2019 model year who experienced the same problem and filed suit. Seems to be an issue for multiple years of manufacture.

 

[Supertav]

Hi All - Same thing happened yesterday (August 13, 2022) to my in-laws 2016 GLA250. It happened twice I was told. The car shifted from Drive to Neutral while sitting at a stop light and the only way to get the transmission back to drive is to turn the ignition off and on. I’ve been searching the Internet for solution and found this site. I replaced the Auxiliary battery as some of you suggested and drove the car all afternoon today with ECO mode on. Went and sat through several stop lights and I can’t duplicate the problem. So maybe replacing the auxiliary battery is the fixed??? Question to the couple of folks on this thread that replaced auxiliary battery has the issue re-occurred since replacing auxiliary battery? Please let me know as I am a bit skeptical how an auxiliary battery controls transmission shifting from Drive to neutral. Anybody know what is happening to the transmission control module recall? I read lot of folks have experienced the same problem on their GLA250. I even went to NHTSB website and didn’t find recall or service bulletin for transmission inadvertently shifting from Drive to neutral. I also read about self voluntary recall? Is that mean I can bring the car to the dealership and have them replace the transmission control module simply by mentioning it? I’m afraid MB dealer service writers will try to upsell to my elderly in-laws and play with their safety emotions without addressing the problem.