Is the Acura Integra more reliable than the Mercedes-Benz CLA?

Yes, by a large margin. The Integra has 28 owner complaints per 10,000 sold, while the CLA has 46. It also has far fewer recalls. The CLA's complaints cover engine, transmission, electrical and sunroof failures, while the Integra's center on steering.

Which has more recalls, the Integra or the CLA?

The CLA, by a wide gap. Federal recall records list 606 recalls across seven CLA model years and 9 across the Integra's four. Some CLA owners also report recall repairs delayed because parts were unavailable, so confirm any open recall is completed before buying.

Which costs less to repair?

Independent repair-cost data puts the Integra at about $801 a year, with 0.7 unscheduled shop visits annually. No comparable repair-cost figure is available for the CLA here, so a direct dollar comparison is not possible. Owners do report CLA repairs such as a roughly $2,000 emissions-related fix.

What is the main problem with the Acura Integra?

Steering. Of 268 complaints, 237 involve a wheel that sticks or catches at highway speeds, then releases suddenly, leading to swerving in the lane. Reports typically begin between about 2,800 and 5,700 miles. Test the steering on a highway drive before buying.

Are Mercedes-Benz CLA transmission problems common?

Transmission slipping into neutral is the most common power train complaint, with 117 power train complaints overall. Some happened at 70 mph, and the car coasted until restarted. Dealers often could not reproduce the fault. Eight of these complaints are crash-linked.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Acura Integra vs Mercedes-Benz CLA: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Acura Integra

Good

Mercedes-Benz CLA

Mixed

Reliability favors the Acura Integra over the Mercedes-Benz CLA by a wide margin. The CLA has 606 recalls and reports of fires and stalls. The Integra's main complaint is steering that sticks at highway speeds, which is worth checking before you buy.

How Do the Acura Integra and Mercedes-Benz CLA Generations Compare?

Second-generation cars (C118) make up the CLA's US model years 2019 to 2023, with a facelift in 2023. The first generation (C117) ran 2013 to 2019 and was facelifted in 2017. A 2018 CLA is therefore the end of the first generation, while 2019 through 2023 are second-generation cars. Within that span, 2022 ranks among the weakest years and 2020 among the strongest. The 2024 model year falls outside the generation dates given, and it is also among the weakest. The Integra covers only model years 2023 to 2026, so its newest years have had the least time to collect complaints.

Verdict

The Acura Integra is more reliable than the Mercedes-Benz CLA, scoring 70/100 vs 48/100.

Reliability favors the Acura by a large margin. Federal recall records show 9 recalls across its four model years, against 606 for the CLA across seven. Owner complaints run lower per car sold, too. The CLA's record includes engine failures, transmission slips into neutral, and fires. The Integra's record is dominated by one problem, steering that sticks at highway speeds. That is a real safety issue, but it is narrower and easier to test for than the CLA's spread of faults.

Key Differences

1Acura Integra has 597 fewer total recalls
2Acura Integra scores 22 points higher in reliability
3Acura Integra has 18.0 fewer complaints per 10k sold

Category Scoreboard

3Acura Integra

—

0Mercedes-Benz CLA

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint Rate

Acura Integra vs Mercedes-Benz CLA: Which Is More Reliable?

Acura Integra vs Mercedes-Benz CLA at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Acura Integra	Mercedes-Benz CLA
Reliability Score	70/100	48/100
Years Tracked	4	7
Total Recalls	9	606
Complaints per 10k Sold	28	46
Year Wins	2	0

What Are the Common Problems With the Acura Integra and Mercedes-Benz CLA?

Steering dominates the Integra's complaints. The wheel catches or hangs near center at highway speed, then breaks free, and drivers describe swerving in the lane. Unwanted emergency braking and air bags that failed to deploy in two crashes round out its list. The CLA's trouble is broader. Owners report crankcase ventilation code P052E, cracked pistons, transmission slips into neutral at 70 mph, locked steering, and shattering panoramic sunroofs. The CLA's electrical and power train areas are crash-linked, and electrical reports include fires. The Integra's crash links sit only in steering and air bags.

Acura Integra vs Mercedes-Benz CLA common problem areas comparison
Component	Acura Integra	Mercedes-Benz CLA
STEERING	24.8High	2.2Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	0.3Very Low	6.2Average
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.7Very Low	4.1Average
ENGINE	—None	4.5Average
POWER TRAIN	0.2Very Low	3Low
STRUCTURE	—None	1.4Low
AIR BAGS	0.2Very Low	1Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	0.2Very Low	0.9Very Low
FUEL SYSTEM	—None	1Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	—None	0.9Very Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	0.4Very Low	0.4Very Low
WHEELS	—None	0.6Very Low
TIRES	—None	0.6Very Low
VISIBILITY	—None	0.3Very Low
SUSPENSION	—None	0.2Very Low
BACK OVER PREVENTION	—None	0.2Very Low
SEAT BELTS	—None	0.1Very Low
SEATS	—None	0.1Very Low

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

How Does Acura Integra vs Mercedes-Benz CLA Reliability Compare by Year?

Acura Integra vs Mercedes-Benz CLA year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Acura Integra	Mercedes-Benz CLA	Edge
2026	76/1000R / 1C	64/1000R / 0C	Acura Integra
2024	68/1005R / 61C	44/1008R / 23C	Acura Integra

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Acura Integra scored 68/100 and the 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLA scored 44/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Acura Integra vs the Mercedes-Benz CLA?

Pick the Integra if you want the lower-risk used car. Its recall count is small and its owner complaints per car sold are well below the CLA's. Independent repair-cost data puts it at about $801 a year. Target 2025 or 2026, which rank strongest, but remember those years have had less time to collect complaints. Be cautious with 2023 and 2024, the weakest years. On a test drive, hold highway speed and make small steering corrections to check for sticking. Consider the CLA only if you are willing to buy with eyes open. Its weakest years are 2022 and 2024, so lean toward 2020 or 2026 if you shop one. Before you sign, confirm every open recall is done, since some owners waited on parts. Ask whether the sunroof glass and the crankcase ventilation system have been addressed, and set aside money for out-of-pocket repairs, such as the roughly $2,000 quote owners report for the P052E fault.

Acura Integra vs Mercedes-Benz CLA: Common Questions

Is the Acura Integra more reliable than the Mercedes-Benz CLA?: Yes, by a large margin. The Integra has 28 owner complaints per 10,000 sold, while the CLA has 46. It also has far fewer recalls. The CLA's complaints cover engine, transmission, electrical and sunroof failures, while the Integra's center on steering.
Which has more recalls, the Integra or the CLA?: The CLA, by a wide gap. Federal recall records list 606 recalls across seven CLA model years and 9 across the Integra's four. Some CLA owners also report recall repairs delayed because parts were unavailable, so confirm any open recall is completed before buying.
Which costs less to repair?: Independent repair-cost data puts the Integra at about $801 a year, with 0.7 unscheduled shop visits annually. No comparable repair-cost figure is available for the CLA here, so a direct dollar comparison is not possible. Owners do report CLA repairs such as a roughly $2,000 emissions-related fix.
What is the main problem with the Acura Integra?: Steering. Of 268 complaints, 237 involve a wheel that sticks or catches at highway speeds, then releases suddenly, leading to swerving in the lane. Reports typically begin between about 2,800 and 5,700 miles. Test the steering on a highway drive before buying.
Are Mercedes-Benz CLA transmission problems common?: Transmission slipping into neutral is the most common power train complaint, with 117 power train complaints overall. Some happened at 70 mph, and the car coasted until restarted. Dealers often could not reproduce the fault. Eight of these complaints are crash-linked.

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How we score the Acura Integra and Mercedes-Benz CLA

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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