AI DamageMercedes-Benz GLC: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Mercedes-Benz GLC across 5 model years: 24 owner complaints and 76 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 21% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 21% of all complaints
- 3 Air bags 21% of all complaints
- 4 Structure 13% of all complaints
- 5 Electrical system 8% of all complaints
- 6 Powertrain 8% of all complaints
- 7 Visibility 8% of all complaints
- 8 Electronic stability control 8% of all complaints
- Engine: 5 complaints (21% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
- Service brakes: 5 complaints (21% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
- Air bags: 5 complaints (21% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Structure: 3 complaints (13% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 9.
- Electrical system: 2 complaints (8% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 40.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl 2016–2023
- 3 L · petrol · turbo · 6 cyl 2017–2023
- 4 L · petrol · turbo · 8 cyl 2018–2021
- electric 2027
- 2 L · hybrid · turbo · 4 cyl 2023–2027
- 2 L · plug-in hybrid · turbo · 4 cyl 2018–2025
- 3 L · hybrid · turbo · 6 cyl 2027
- automatic, 1-speed 2027
- automatic, 7-speed 2018–2019
- automatic, 9-speed 2016–2027
Drive: 4WD, AWD, RWD, FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 24 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| Service brakes | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| Air bags | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Structure | 3 | 0 | 9 |
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 | 40 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| Visibility | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| Electronic stability control | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 1 | 9 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 30 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
I had an accident and rearendead another ca. However my airbags didn't deployed.
Putting this car into park will normally automatically set the parking brake. Earlier that day, it did not set the brake. I assumed I must have hit some button or something on my dash to cause that.
Vehicle had frontal impact with other car on local road. The vehicle airbags on passenger side inflated and deflated completely different compared to the driver side airbag. We believe mb glc passenger side airbag has factory defect in our car. Please see attached photo on page 2.
No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer informed the contact that the failure was not under recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure.
The contact stated that while the vehicle was in for routine maintenance, the mechanic discovered severe rusting and corrosion to the rear subframe of the vehicle, near the rear axle area. The cause of the failure was not yet determined, and the vehicle was not repaired.
The contact stated while driving approximately 55 mph, suddenly there was a loud sound and vibration coming from the vehicle. After stopping the vehicle, it was discovered that sections of the panoramic roof had separated and dislodged from the vehicle.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Complaint Clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors
- Complaint Repeat workshop visit for vehicle vibration while braking from 60MPH. NOTE
- Complaint Clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors
- Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end)
- Complaint There are several types of complaint about noises or poor windshield wiper wiping performance
- Dear Mercedes-Benz Owner
- Dear Mercedes-Benz Owner
- In our continuing efforts to assure the proper performance of Mercedes-Benz products and to enhance the…
- Complaint Headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged
- Complaint Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the…
- Complaint MBUX head unit display with red text box "System Inoperative"
- Complaint Load compartment cover generates a creaking noise during driving when pulled out to covering…
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.