Mercedes BENZ GLC Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used Mercedes BENZ GLC options? We analyzed 10 model years (2017–2026) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Mercedes BENZ GLC has 1,244 owner complaints and 3 safety recalls across model years 2017–2026. The most reported issue area is ENGINE.
- Make
- Mercedes BENZ
- Model
- GLC
- Model years analyzed
- 2017–2026 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 1,244
- Safety recall campaigns
- 3
- Crash-related complaints
- 63
- Fire-related complaints
- 25
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2025 (34 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- ENGINE
- Reliability signal
- Poor
Crash test ratings
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.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings
What the complaint data suggests
PoorThe MERCEDES BENZ GLC has 1,244 NHTSA complaints and 3 recalls on record. 63 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 1,244 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 3 federal recall campaigns
- 63 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Jul 2026
Safety recalls
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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
STEERING:CRITICAL FASTENERS
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2017–2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 1,244 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
1,244 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.
The contact owns a 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4MATIC. The contact stated that her instrumental panel was not working, which caused her to be unable to see the gas level, oil, thermostat, and any warning lights. The vehicle was taken to a dealer twice. The first occasion the vehicle's instrumental panel was repaired. The failure reoccurred. The vehicle went back a second time, but was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 5,769.
I was parked for a few minutes and I suddenly noticed a strong oder coming into my vehicle. I could not pinpoint what the smell was, but I knew that whatever was coming into the SUV was not safe. My screen started flashing warnings "Service Required: Do Not Drive" “Do Not Shift Gears”. After the warning, white smoke started to roll out from under the hood and into the vehicle. I immediately ran back to get my baby out of her car seat and to safety. I was at my local YMCA and staff ran out to I assist me and had a fire extinguisher. YMCA called the police and fire department. Both were dispatched to the scene. I called my husband for help while we waited for police & fire to arrive. My husband popped the hood and we saw large blue flames coming out from the transmission or the engine and we notice that transmission fluid started to leak under the vehicle. My husband put the fire out with the fire extinguisher. A police report was made. I contacted the dealership immediately. I contacted my auto insurance agent the next morning. The fire dept. used heat guns to test the heat level in the engine area. Prior to this, I did not have any issues with the vehicle. I believe this to be some type of mechanical or electrical malfunction or failure, based on the white smoke and blue flames. My daughter and I were put at extreme safety risk. If my husband and the YMCA staff did not assist, I feel that we would have lost our lives. With the large amount of smoke rolling into the air, children entering & leaving the YMCA were exposed to smoke/oder. Police had the vehicle towed to a tow lot near by to await Mercedes to pick up the vehicle and tow it to the dealership that I got the car from, so that it can be inspected. That was on 06/01/26. It is now 06/11/26 and Mercedes has not picked up the vehicle from the tow lot as they had confirmed that would be taking care of it.
I bought a 2026 GLC300 4matic SUV a month ago. I am very disappointed and scared of serious bodily damage due to the trunk door closing by itself while my upper body is loading/unloading the trunk. My wife and I were hit on the shoulder, back, arms, or head over a dozen times for 1 month. We took the car to the dealership for the problem but did not hear back from them for 3 days. The loaner car the dealership provided which is also 2026 GLC300 SUV also closes on me in the trunk. When the trunk shuts by tself while part of my upper body is in the trunk, it is impossible for me to stop it. It requires the 2nd person to stop the trunk door by forcefully pushing up. If I am alone, I don't know what could happen to me when tailgate closes on me. I have never had this problem with my old 2018 GLC300 4matic SUV for 8 years that has been traded-in to purchase this 2026 GLC300 4matic SUV. It turned out that the same problem has been discussed in the Mercedes GLC Forum with 19 participants, as shown in the link below: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The breaks on these vehicles are extremely dangerous . Before I leased this vehicle test drove 3 vehicles. The salesman said the breaks will adjust as you drive. They have not. ITS all over the internet that this vehicle has very unresponsive breaks. It takes 75 precent of pressure pushing down on the break pad distance before the car breaks engage. I already almost had an accident as the distance it takes for the car to respond is a significant distance before the car comes to a full stop. I have brought back the car to my dealership three times expressing my displeasure and each time I m told there is nothing they can do unless a fix comes from the manufacture. They said I'm not the first to complain about these dangerous breaks. What will it take for Mercedes to address this issue before someone gets killed. I hope there is someone at the NHTSA that will take the initiative to contact Mercedes and get them to address this very unsafe defect on these model cars. I thank you in advance.
While at a stop with foot on brake, the vehicle surges forward powerfully making a loud noise despite having foot on brake. Forcefully pushing on brake pedal harder eventually stops the car. Most recent time the display screen showed "Transmission Deactivated". Dealership drove car once but did not perform service inspection. Dealership to pick up/tow vehicle for service inspection. This happened four times in the eight weeks since pick up of vehicle as brand new. This could have cause a crash or caused vehicle to strike an object or person. Vehicle accelerated on its own and was difficult to stop.
Backup camera keeps opening and closing constantly while driving in slow speeds. While driving, backup camera keeps opening and closing, creating a noise and distraction to the driver and might cause accidents. The issue has been confirmed by the Mercedes Benz dealership service manager, describing as a recurrent in specific models with no current action plan or solution on near future. The car and component has been checked by the manufacturer. There are no warning lamps or symptoms prior to the problem occurrence and appeared at the first couple of days driving the car out of the dealership.
Read 14 more owner reports
Brand new car Engine light also went on and off 3 or more times in one day, car had a charging failure wouldn't charge - Sold me an unsafe vehicle to drive - shaking tires, steering wheel, Car also has 13 codes including engine and transmission failure communication codes - multiple attempts to resolve the matter and the service team wanted me to sign a release of liability and were refusing to change the tires or make the vehicle safe. took the car to a 3rd party to get an accurate assessment - also for the record this was the second unsafe car they sold me the first car needed new axles and apparently was in the service line and someone closed the tickets out and i was sold a different vehicle. Then we could hear extra sounds when driving the car and not able to accelerate well on the highway - after bringing the car back in they found out it needed new tires, axles and a lot of work. They reversed the sale but I was not expecting to have any more problems therefore I opted for a brand new car. The car started alerting uneven tires and road traction on day 1-3 i brought the car back and they said it just needed a reset of tire pressure etc. the problems persisted and the tires and steering wheel were shaking while driving - it started off worse at higher speeds but now can happen at all speeds even as low as 45 mph and 35 miles per hour. made multiple attempts with a case with MBUSA and This Littleton location kept denying there was anything wrong with the car until it was proven with a 3rd party company. Mercedes benz endangered my life and my family's life with this situation and we are fortunate that. We want to be treated fairly as they treat all their customers despite their race, color and origin. they have continued to make things difficult and failing to address the issues. I have been back and forth to the dealer 8 times in the past 3 months for a brand new vehicle this is unacceptable. They also were refusing to put new tires on the car to see if the
The contact owns a 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC350E 4MATIC. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V281000 (Electrical System); but the recall repair failed to prevent a failure. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the instrument panel display was inoperable. The failure was a recurring failure. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 12,540.
Suspension exhibits excessive bounce/instability over road irregularities, unsafe on uneven pavement, affects steering control. Car available for inspection. Checked by two authorized dealerships, both closed as "operating as designed" without resolving it. Also inspected by manufacturer's Field Service Engineer, same result. Issue began after a phantom braking event — vehicle braked suddenly and unexpectedly on its own while changing lanes at highway speed, no obstruction present, no driver error — also damaged the steering column, since replaced.
The contact owns a 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at 5 to 10 MPH attempting to park the vehilce lunged forward traveling 20 feet and crashed into the house. The air bags deployed. No warning lights were illuminated , There was no injuries or fire. A police report was filed. The gas company was on the scene due to a gas leak. Additionally the vehilce was serviced for electrical issues. While reversing in the snow the vehilce lunged 20 feet and crashed into a unknown vehicle causing a scratch. The local dealer was contacted where the EDR was requested. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehilce was towed to a towing lot. The manufacturer was not contacted The failure mileage was approximately 17,107. The vehicle was deemed a total lost.
The instrument cluster display went dark and has not been able to display any information such as speed in miles per hour, fuel gauge, and other important information needed to maintain safe driving.
All screens on dash were black and a clicking sound could be heard I side the vehicle. This has happened four times. Towed vehicle to MB dealer and they did a software update but it keeps happening anyway.
In multiple incidents, the tailgate has begun to close while I am loading or unloading items from the trunk, hitting me in the head. My natural reaction is to lift up, causing injury to my neck. The dealer unsuccessfully "fixed" the problem. Additionally, and unrelated to the closing problem, on multiple occasions, upon pushing the close button on the tailgate when it was in an open position, the tailgate reaches the floor of the trunk, then without locking, opens about one (1) foot. The dealer "could not duplicate" the problem. I have to manually close the tailgate. You ask when did this happen, the latest incident is the date reported below, but the two issues/problems have reoccurred time and time again since we bought the vehicle new.
The contact owns a 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC 350E. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle began decelerating, losing drive power till the vehicle stalled. The contact turned on their hazards and had the vehicle towed to the dealer. The Check Engine, Blind Assist, Exit Warning Inoperative, Towing Not permitted, with several other warning or failure lights illuminated. The failure occurred twice. The dealer diagnosed that the ignition unit had failed. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure occurred again. The vehicle was returned to the dealer diagnosed that the motor for the instrument panel had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the contact was not sure if the failure was resolved. The manufacturer was informed of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000.
All of the screens in the car failed to start. They remained black while the car was running. Turning the car off did nothing. Drove to a parking lot, turned the car off, got out, locked the car, waited 5 minutes and it still didn't come back. Had to do a reboot by holding the system power button for 10 seconds. This has occurred 3x in 9,200 miles.
The contact leased a 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC300. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the instrument panel and the infotainment system screen turned black, and the vehicle made abnormal electrical snapping sounds. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where two software resets were performed days apart; however, the failure persisted. The dealer informed the contact that upon performing a third software reset and replacing the circuit breaker fuse, the vehicle would be repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were contacted and informed the contact that it was a common failure. The failure mileage was approximately 4,700.
See attached document for complaint.
To the Office of Defects Investigation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration I am submitting this complaint to formally report a serious and recurring safety defect involving the automatic braking and collision detection systems in our Mercedes-Benz GLC. License Plate: 9RHN710 Dealer Servicing Vehicle: Mercedes-Benz of Stevens Creek (AutoNation), San Jose, California The vehicle has repeatedly experienced unexpected and unprovoked braking events, including situations where the automatic braking system engages despite there being no vehicles, pedestrians, or visible obstructions present. The issues observed include: • Sudden automatic braking activation without obstruction • Unexpected vehicle deceleration during normal driving conditions • Repeated dashboard alerts indicating “Speed Severely Restricted” • Repeated Attention Assist / “Coffee Break” warnings during normal local driving • Sudden brake engagement when parking, accompanied by a loud mechanical noise These events create a dangerous driving condition, as unexpected braking could lead to a rear-end collision from vehicles traveling behind the driver. During one incident, the abrupt braking caused a severe jolt to the driver, resulting in whiplash symptoms that required medical evaluation and MRI imaging, which identified cervical strain. The vehicle has been brought to the authorized dealership multiple times for inspection and repair attempts. However: • The dealership has not been able to diagnose or repair the issue • Service visits have largely been documented as general inspections • No ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) diagnostic or calibration report has been provided, despite the fact that the malfunction appears directly related to radar, camera, or collision prevention systems. We respectfully request that the Office of Defects Investigation review this complaint and determine whether further investigation into this issue is warranted.
The component that repeatedly fails is the vehicle’s electronic display/infotainment system (dual digital screens/MBUX system) and potentially related electrical components in my 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4MATIC. The system has malfunctioned six (6) separate times since I purchased the vehicle new in May 2025. When the malfunction occurs, both display screens suddenly go completely black and become inoperable while the vehicle is running. During these failures, the vehicle also produces a repetitive clicking sound from the dashboard area while the screens are off. The most serious incident occurred on February 17, 2026, when the screens shut down while I was driving and I detected a burning electrical smell inside the vehicle. This raised significant concerns about a possible electrical malfunction or fire risk. The digital display system provides critical driving information, including vehicle settings, safety alerts, and operational controls. When the screens shut down, the driver loses access to important vehicle information and control functions, which creates a potential safety hazard while operating the vehicle. This issue has been reproduced multiple times and the vehicle has been taken to Mercedes-Benz of Jackson, Mississippi for inspection and repair attempts on several occasions. The dealership has attempted repairs and indicated that they have opened a case with the Mercedes-Benz manufacturing department regarding the recurring electrical issue. Due to the repeated electrical failures, clicking sounds from the dashboard area, and the burning electrical odor detected while the vehicle was in operation, I am concerned that this issue may indicate a serious electrical defect that could potentially lead to overheating or fire. The malfunction occurs while the vehicle is being driven, which places the driver and passengers at risk. Because the display system repeatedly shuts down and the issue has occurred multiple times despite dealer inspections and repair
The contact owns a 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC350E 4Matic. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the sunroof made an exploding sound and shattered. The contact stated that the shattered glass fell inside the vehicle, on the contact's head wrap, neck, and body. There was no injury sustained. The contact temporarily pulled over to the side of the road. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that debris might have caused the sunroof to shatter; however, the contact stated that the vehicle was being driven on a smooth road surface during the failure, and that the sunroof had shattered due to an internal failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 6,000.
Showing 20 of 1,244 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Mercedes BENZ GLC
These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Mercedes BENZ GLC, in plain English.
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 — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Mercedes BENZ GLC has 1,244 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 1,244 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Poor) 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 — 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 — 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 — 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.
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Mercedes BENZ GLC reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the Mercedes BENZ GLC reliable?
Poor. The Mercedes BENZ GLC has 1,244 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 (34 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 (371 complaints); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (264 complaints); UNKNOWN OR OTHER (228 complaints).
Does the Mercedes BENZ GLC have recalls?
Yes — 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.