Mercedes BENZ GLC Reliability by Year
Best & Worst Years, Problems & Recalls β NHTSA Data
Comparing used Mercedes BENZ GLC options? We analyzed 10 model years (2017β2026) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
Model-year trends show patterns. Run a VIN check for the exact Mercedes BENZ GLC you plan to buy.
MERCEDES BENZ GLC (2017β2026) has 1,234 NHTSA complaints, with engine (366) and electrical system (260) as top concerns. The 2018 model year has the most complaints (291), while 2026 has the fewest (6). Source: NHTSA owner complaints and recall records.
- Make
- Mercedes BENZ
- Model
- GLC
- Model years analyzed
- 2017β2026 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 1,234
- Safety recall campaigns
- 3
- Crash-related complaints
- 63
- Fire-related complaints
- 25
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2025 (32 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- ENGINE
- Reliability signal
- Average
β NHTSA NCAP Crash Test Ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
What the Complaint Data Suggests
AverageBased on NHTSA complaint data, the Mercedes-Benz GLC from 2017β2026 has 1,234 total complaints, with the engine (366) and electrical system (260) being the most reported components. The 2018 model year has the highest complaints (291), while 2026 has the fewest (6). Source: NHTSA owner complaints and recall records.
- Engine complaints total 366, the highest of any component.
- Electrical system complaints total 260, the second most reported.
- The 2018 model year has 291 complaints, the most of any year.
- Engine issues, including stalling and loss of power.
- Electrical system failures, such as battery and wiring problems.
- Fuel/propulsion system complaints (111) may indicate fuel delivery issues.
The 2017β2018 model years have the highest complaints (230 and 291), driven largely by engine and electrical system issues.
The 2024β2026 model years have the fewest complaints (28, 32, and 6 respectively), indicating potentially better reliability.
- Have a mechanic inspect the engine for stalling or performance issues.
- Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Request service records for electrical system repairs.
- Test drive to check for steering or brake abnormalities.
π Problems by Model Year (Best vs. Worst Years)
π NHTSA Safety Recalls
3 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2017β2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
π§ Most-Reported Problem Areas
Based on component keywords extracted from all 1,234 NHTSA complaints.
π NHTSA Complaint Reports
1,234 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
While driving in my neighborhood at 25 MPH, my Mercedes GLC300 suddenly lost power and the check engine light illuminated. My car would no longer exceed 25-30 MPH, but I drove it straight to the dealership and they said it was a faulty cylinder head and will cost $10,000 to fix! After intense negotiations, they agreed to fix it for $4,205.58, which was better, but still, thatβs a lot to pay for a manufacturerβs defect! My car is a 2021 with only 67,540 miles on it.
Getting P06DA trouble code meaning that there is something wrong with the oil pressure solenoid in the oil sump. this is a known issue where the wiring of the solenoid get frayed. cost of repair for the (cheap part) is $7,500 because of 18 hour labor involved. MB knows this is an issue with the wiring in the solenoid. I'm not sure if there is a fire risk because of the frayed wires.
The engine starts shaking, smell of gas car than stops while driving, could caused an accident and severely injured someone on the freeway. This is a major safety issue after further researching this particular issue MB of Canada issue a warranty letter extension for this particular but nothing for US.
Headlight is defective and is filled with condensation which has caused the entire light to fail. The problem has been confirmed by a independent service center. The light has not been inspected by a manufacturer however the manufacturer was contacted and denied that a recall exists however other purchasers have reported the same issue. There have been no apparent issues prior to this problem.
The contact owns a 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC300. The contact stated that the rear-view camera was not functioning properly. After restarting the vehicle, the camera operated as needed; however, several days later, the camera became inoperable. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V354000 (Back Over Prevention, Electrical System); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 96,000.
This is a well-known issue with these engines. See TSB (Service Bulletin) The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 has 42,000 miles and the warranty ran out 2 weeks ago. The vehicle is up-to-date on service. Fault code P06DA00 Engine Oil Pressure Control Circuit/Open. The Yellow Check Engine Light came on and the engine does not run properly and causes engine damage. We had to drive it slowly, under 45 mph, to the nearest dealership. This is a safety issue. To replace the oil pump control valve solenoid and the wire harness for this feature is $5009.00 at Mercedes-Benz. The part cost is about $300 retail, and the rest is all labor fees.
The contact owns a 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC300. The contact stated that the passengerβs side headlight was developing fog, causing the light to be dim. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the headlight needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact learned of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V261000 (Exterior Lighting); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 41,000.
Cylinder head valve seat leak ..vehicle Mia fires and check engine light on
Vehicle Information: Year: 2021 Make: Mercedes-Benz Model: GLC 300 Engine: M264 Mileage at time of failure: Approximately 65,000 miles Complaint Description: While driving, my 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 began experiencing repeated engine misfires and rough running, accompanied by a persistent check engine light. These symptoms began shortly after I purchased the vehicle and progressively worsened over time. The vehicle exhibited reduced engine performance and hesitation while driving. The condition was intermittent at first but became more frequent, indicating a progressive mechanical issue rather than a sudden failure. At approximately 65,000 miles, the vehicle was evaluated by an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealership and diagnosed with a catastrophic cylinder head failure, requiring full cylinder head replacement. The estimated repair cost is approximately $8,000. The vehicle has never been modified and has not undergone prior engine repairs. The failure occurred well before what would be considered normal wear for an engine component of this type. Based on the progression of symptoms, the dealer diagnosis, and similar reports from other owners of the same model and engine, this appears to be a systemic defect involving the cylinder head and valve train, rather than an isolated incident or maintenance-related issue. This condition presents a potential safety concern due to loss of engine performance, drivability issues, and the risk of reduced power while operating the vehicle.
While I was driving on the Garden State Parkway, my vehicle experienced a sudden loss of power and persistent misfires and my check engine light came on. I was put in a position of a significant crash risk due to the fact that the vehicle loss sudden acceleration power while entering the parkway. I was almost rear ended by another vehicle. I drove immediately to a Mercedes-Benz dealer. The dealer confirmed a catastrophic cylinder head engine failure. The vehicle had only 39,000 miles. After some investigating, there have been numerous complaints from vehicle owners with the same issue on the M264 engine (which is what my vehicle has). I request that the NHTSA investigate the premature cylinder head engine failure. Not only was I put at risk for a possible significant accident, the manufacturer has refused to consider some reimbursement for my $10,000 repair. The vehicle was only 3,000 miles out of warranty at the time of the engine failure. A safety issue seems to be warranted and possibly a recall because of the many complaints on the GLC website. Please investigate.
There is a hesitation in or "shuddering" that causes the car to go into limp mode while in operation. I was in traffic and the car just powered down and would not get up to and or maintain speed. I contacted the local dealership and was told that there are other models and or engines in this car that have this issue and that they actually have a recall on this issue. The dealership noted that they have 1 or more that require this exact repair on every single week. The dealer told me what was wrong with it by the code it threw... He didn't have any hesitation because he is so familiar with this issue. The warning lights came on after the car powered decreased... there was no "pre" warning that this was going to happen.
The vehicle lost power and will not operate over 40 mph/2000 rpms
Twice my car slowed down tremendously in traffic because of a bad cylinder head. I drive a 2021 Mercedes GLC 300 4matic with 33,529 miles. In reviewing other complaints, this is a common and known complaint. My check engine light came on and I could not go over 40 mph. This is very dangerous.
Car has experienced rough idling, sluggish to no acceleration, check engine light illuminates and no shifting of gears regardless of speed. It appears to be going into limp mode. This has occurred monthly for the last four months. After pulling over, the car is turned off, wait five seconds and then turn it back on the car operates like nothing has happened. Here is when it has happened: 1.In a drive-thru lane to get some food 2.Waiting in a left-hand turn land 3.Driving through a parking lot at 10 mph 4.Driving on a road at 45 mph The date below is the last occurrence.
Check engine light came on. Code was P219D mixture formation is irregular on cylinder 2. Informed today, the cylinder will need to be replaced entirely for about $10,000. Concerned that although this did not happen to me, others have stated the vehicle completely stalls while driving.
what happened? While driving, all of sudden, engine light was on and shaky with rough vibration consequently loss of power. I pulled over and turned off engine. Engine light disappeared after restarted. It happened again and had diagnostics at the dealership. Software update was given at first solution. However, next day, engine light on again, visited the dealership and it turned out there are leak on cylinder head. It seems a known issue. there are similar cases where vehicle could have been in critical situation. [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The headlights stopped working due to water entering the assembly unit. First one side went out and then eventually the other side went out. The car was brought in to the dealership to fix and they stated it wasnβt covered. Iβm recently learning about a recall of this issue with my type of car and Iβm being told that my vehicle is not included in the recall.
Have been getting condensate inside vehicle headlights inwhich have cause the headlight to completely not work anymore.. There is no damage to headlight which means to be cause due to a problem with the seal. Checked with local and also statewide Mercedes advisors which was told there isnβt a recall for my vehicle inwhich I looked online and found an recall for vehicles just like the one I have.. Recall number 22V261000-Recall Date 04-14-2022. Iβm asking for my vehicle to be inspected and repaired free of charge . Thanks and sorry for the bother - Canβt drive vehicle at night due to headlight malfunction and itβs very unsafe for me and kids and family
Head problems
In September 2024 my vehicle's engine light came off and the car was struggling to accelerate, especially in highway. I took it to Mercedes Benz of Cincinnati and they acknowledged the fault, made some repairs (under warranty) but the mechanic told us he had already seen quite a few of these cars needing the engine to be replaced. The problem keep coming back and took in in May 2025 (4 months after warranty expired) with the same exact issue. Now they said it is a cylinder head that needs replacement and that it will cost me $10K. This problem has now been reported by several drivers for this model car within less than 5 years of being made. In Canada, the same type of engine has seen same problem so Mercedes extended the warranty for 15 years on the cylinder heads. They need to do the same for the GLC engines and cover our repairs.
Showing 20 of 1,234 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Before You Buy, Check the Exact Mercedes BENZ GLC
These pages show model-year patterns across 10years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
π Understanding This Data
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is β but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Mercedes BENZ GLC has 1,234 complaints on record across 10 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Mercedes BENZ GLC has 3 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 63 of the Mercedes BENZ GLC's 1,234 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions β a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Average) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable β simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Mercedes BENZ GLC vehicles on the road β not any specific car. Two Mercedes BENZ GLC vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage β NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Mercedes BENZ GLC has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
Buyers Also Compare
How does the Mercedes BENZ GLC stack up? Compare complaint history with similar vehicles.
π Check a Mercedes BENZ GLC by State
Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used Mercedes BENZ GLC.
Mercedes BENZ GLC reliability β frequently asked questions
Is the Mercedes BENZ GLC reliable?
Average. The Mercedes BENZ GLC has 1,234 NHTSA owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is ENGINE. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Mercedes BENZ GLC years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2025 (32 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common Mercedes BENZ GLC problems?
Top reported issues: ENGINE (366 complaints); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (260 complaints); UNKNOWN OR OTHER (228 complaints).
Does the Mercedes BENZ GLC have recalls?
Yes β 3 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Mercedes BENZ GLC. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.