AI Damage2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC: common problems
Owners of the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC filed 13 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and engine. The maker issued 38 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 13
- involving a crash
- 2
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 38
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 23% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 23% of all complaints
- 3 Structure 15% of all complaints
- 4 Visibility 15% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel/propulsion system 15% of all complaints
- 6 Service brakes 15% of all complaints
- 7 Electrical system 8% of all complaints
- 8 Electronic stability control 8% of all complaints
- Air bags: 3 complaints (23% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine: 3 complaints (23% of all).
- Structure: 2 complaints (15% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 2.
- Visibility: 2 complaints (15% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 2 complaints (15% of all).
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
- 3 L · petrol · turbo · 6 cyl
- automatic, 9-speed
Drive: 4WD, RWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 13 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Engine | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Visibility | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 16 |
| Electronic stability control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Engine and cooling | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Communication | 0 | 0 | 2 |
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.
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.
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.
Similar case found online: https://www.benzworld.org/threads/gasoline-leak.2936569/ "there is a fuel leak where the steel line from the tank connects to a rubber hose near the firewall. There is apparently a revised fuel line connector available, no recall as yet.
The panoramic sunroof exploded outward. I was driving at highway speed. This is the second time that this has happened on this vehicle
When the vehicle is in motion(various speed, 1 time at highway, 2 times local streets), the fasten seatbelt light and audible warning came on. Also, at the same time, the seatbelt tensions (pulls). The driver seatbelt was fastened the whole time while this was happening.
Feed line to high pressure fuel pump leaking to engine compartment causing odor when starting in cold weather (vehicle stationary). Has been happening for a long time but simply did not connect the dots.
The glc300 has been in service on a quarterly bases for the brakes (constant squeaking making feel unsafe) and now a constant check engine light. This is the 4th vehicle I lease and by far the worst. I contacted mercedes usa asking them for a replacement vehicle.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 9,846 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 27% most complained about).
On average one model year of the GLC has 5 complaints (5 years in the data). This year has 13, above average.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- The Mercedes me connect services cannot be activated
The remote status data does not update. Error in N112/9 - control unit for telematics services (HERMES). In the HERMES control unit log, under the "URL" tab, the value DEFAULT is stored for "atpServerUrl" and/or…
- In our continuing efforts to assure the proper performance of Mercedes-Benz products and to enhance the…
In our continuing efforts to assure the proper performance of Mercedes-Benz products and to enhance the satisfaction of our customers, Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (âMBUSAâ) is extending the warranty coverage on the…
- Mercedes-Benz AG (âMBAGâ), the manufacturer of Mercedes-Benz, has determined that on certain Model…
Mercedes-Benz AG (âMBAGâ), the manufacturer of Mercedes-Benz, has determined that on certain Model Year (âMYâ) 2016 â 2021 C-Class (205 platform), E-Class (213 platform) and GLC (253 platform) vehicles, the…
- In the MBUX weather app, the temperature is displayed in the wrong unit (Fahrenheit instead of °C, or…
In the MBUX weather app, the temperature is displayed in the wrong unit (Fahrenheit instead of °C, or vice versa). Temperature setting in Mmc mobile application settings incorrect Remedy Adjust the setting in the…
- Complaint - AIRMATIC fault message in instrument cluster - Compressor inoperative, 40A compressor fuse…
Complaint - AIRMATIC fault message in instrument cluster - Compressor inoperative, 40A compressor fuse possibly triggered. - Vehicle level is not adjusted correctly, the vehicle possibly leans at an angle Cause…
- Complaint Staining on door trim strips and top and bottom trim elements on rear side windows Cause Damage…
Complaint Staining on door trim strips and top and bottom trim elements on rear side windows Cause Damage to protective coating (due to poor original optimization of coating) of door beltline trim strips, door upper…
- Complaint 1
Vibrations noticeable at steering wheel when front axle is excited when driving at a speed between 65 km/h and 130 km/h over an obstacle. ⢠Driving over deeply recessed manhole covers ⢠Driving over cross joints…
- Complaint Staining on door trim strips and top and bottom trim elements on rear side windows Cause Damage…
Complaint Staining on door trim strips and top and bottom trim elements on rear side windows Cause Damage to protective coating of door beltline trim strips, door upper trim strips and side window trim element due to…
- Complaint Customer states after a bus sleep the SiriusXM category changes from "My Favorites" to…
Complaint Customer states after a bus sleep the SiriusXM category changes from "My Favorites" to "All Stations" or a different category. Sometimes, the "My Favorites" category will be…
- Complaint Malfunction of the electric steering column adjustment
The adjustment application by the driver does not correspond to the adjustment direction of the steering column. Cause Polarity reversal of the lines M20/1 (steering column adjustment motor, forward and backward) and…
- Complaint Height adjustment of electric steering column adjustment jammed in the top/bottom adjustment…
Complaint Height adjustment of electric steering column adjustment jammed in the top/bottom adjustment position (e.g. with Easy Entry function). Cause Height adjustment moves to the top/bottom limit stop and jams…
- Complaint In an initial quick test, DTC B238A00 "Fan 2 of the control unit has malfunctioned" may…
Complaint In an initial quick test, DTC B238A00 "Fan 2 of the control unit has malfunctioned" may be active and/or stored in the MBUX Multimedia System (A26/17) Cause Current MBUX Multimedia System (A26/17)…
NHTSA lists 38 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, engine, structure. Total complaints: 13. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: fuel system, fuel smell (15%), warning lights, check engine (15%), windows, sunroof (15%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC?
NHTSA lists 38 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2017 models
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 2026-11-06.