Mercedes BENZ GLC Class Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data

See attached document for complaint.

The contact owns a 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLC300. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, the check engine warning light was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle lost power and was pulled over and restarted. The contact was almost involved in several crashes due to the failure. The vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V445000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the vehicle was repaired, and the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on several occasions, where the fuel pump, charcoal filter, and other various parts of the fuel pump were repaired; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was informed that the cylinder head would be replaced free of charge. The contact believed that the vehicle was unsafe to drive due to the failures. The vehicle was not repaired, and a loaner vehicle was provided. The failure mileage was unknown.

My vehicle had check engine lights on throughout the last couple of years. Every time I bought it to the dealer, they ignored it and said the light went off. The machine doesn't pick up anything. Now the check engine light is on and the cylinder head and diagnostic head, something is wrong. They will fix the diagnostic head but not the cylinder head. The dealership knew there was ongoing issues but did nothing to correct it. The sales department already screwed me as well. The older models are recalled for the same issues and now the the newer vehicles like mine are having the same EXACT problem.

The contact owns a 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLC300. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. There was a misfire coming from the engine, and the vehicle lost motive power. In addition, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with spark plug failures, coils, and the transmission needed to be flushed. The vehicle was taken to an alternate dealer where the spark plugs and coils were replaced, and the transmission fluid was flushed. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic who was a Mercedes mechanic, where it was diagnosed with misfire codes in cylinders #1 and #4, leakage coming from exhaust valves in cylinders #1 and #4, low compression in cylinders #1 and #4, and there was a 75 percent leak in cylinders #1 and #4. The contact was informed that the complete head assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V445000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) on 11/2025. The contact stated that the failure began shortly after the recall repair was performed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

On Saturday 12/6/25, I put my 15 year old cat in his carrier in the back seat and closed the door. I got into my car and opened my garage door. I started my MBGLC300 and began backing my car out of my garage. As soon as the car rear end cleared the garage, I heard an explosion "BOOM", and the sound of breaking glass. I pulled back into my garage only to find the entire back window had exploded... all the glass was gone, and the back windshield wiper was dangling out of its housing from the pane (trim). I hit nothing! Nothing hit me! I got back into my car and drove the 10 minutes down the street to my vet's where he got his shot and I had him combed out (for any glass - thank goodness there wasn't any). While there, I phoned Dick Dyer Mercedes Benz (803.828.6952) at 8:57 AM,and spoke with Ryan Smith and told him I'd be down after the vet appointment. I pulled in at Dick Dyer service department shortly after 9:00AM. He said, "I've never seen anything like this." The whole glass was shattered into millions of tiny pieces. Smith got me into a Sedan and I drove home. On Monday Smith called to tell me Mercedes would not honor either my factory warranty (my car is a 2022) nor would my Extended Warranty (purchased at the time I bought my car) cover the $4,201.00 charge to repair. I'm a school teacher. I don't have that amount of cash. He said, "Ms. [XXX] , I want to believe you that you didn't hit anything, but I have to have proof." Therefore my only way to get the car repaired is to go through my insurance company. What a rip off! I totally thought Mercedes was a company that would stand by their products, especially those under not just 1 factory warranty, but a 2nd extended warranty. And, I got called a liar to boot. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The rearview camera on my vehicle intermittently fails to function for unknown reasons, and the problem has recently become more frequent. For example, it may work normally when I first start the car in the morning and back out of my parking spot, but later the same day—such as when I arrive at work—the camera stops working completely. The display stays black and does not recover even after shifting between gears or restarting the system. After parking and locking the car for a while, the camera may start working again without any clear reason. Although I cannot recall the exact dates of the first occurrence, I have noticed a consistent pattern over time: the issue tends to appear during hot weather, particularly in summer. In recent months, the camera has almost completely stopped functioning. This unpredictable failure creates a potential safety hazard when reversing, as I cannot get help on the backup camera to provide visibility behind the vehicle.

I was driving home on a 4 Lane Expressway on a Saturday afternoon, it was mildly raining with the roads a little wet. I suddenly lost control of the car and could not control the steering wheel, the car ended up hydroplaning and I lost control it ping-ponged across four expressway lanes back-and-forth about 20 to 25 times with zero control of the steering wheel, barely missing the medians and other cars. It should have been a massive catastrophe. Cars around me you had to stop and swerve around me to avoid hitting me all while driving on the expressway. Had someone accidentally hit me in the process it would’ve certainly flipped the car and I would’ve either ended up dead or in the ICU. After several minutes somehow without moving the steering wheel, I managed to just go straight and pull over. And waited for help to get back safely slowly. I thought the incident was isolated because the roads might have been the cause. But I went out out of the country and upon coming back, drove my car again on the expressway coming back home and the exact same thing happened with my minor child in the car across two expressway lanes in the evening time With the roads perfectly dry. Lost control of the steering wheel could not steer or direct the car and had to jerk it from to prevent it from driving off the highway. It seemed to have occurred both times at a higher velocity on expressways when the steering wheel needed to be engaged. I had it towed to the Mercedes Benz Of Coral Gables dealership, but they cannot find anything wrong with the car, even though the exact same model of my car has an active recall for 2023 and 2024 models. For the same problem, I later learned. Mine is a 2022. I have been in a loaner vehicle for three weeks while they investigate and I need Assistance to make sure that something gets done because nothing has been found and I do not want to risk driving with my child in the car.

Loss of Steering Control at Highway Speeds – 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLC300 Vehicle: 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLC300, VIN [XXX] Dates of Incident: September 13th and October 4th Mileage at Time of Incident: 39,500 While driving on a four-lane expressway at highway speeds, my vehicle suddenly and completely lost steering control, resulting in a total inability to steer. First Incident The first event occurred during light rain with mildly wet road conditions. Without warning, the vehicle hydroplaned and violently crossed all four lanes approximately 20–25 times, narrowly avoiding collisions with other vehicles and medians. The steering wheel was completely unresponsive. After several minutes, the car inexplicably corrected its course. Second Incident The second incident occurred weeks later under clear, dry conditions with my minor child in the car. Once again, the steering wheel locked, leaving me unable to direct the vehicle. I had to physically force the wheel to prevent the car from leaving the highway. Investigation The car was towed to Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables, where technicians were unable to find any fault despite multiple diagnostic attempts. I have since discovered that 2023 and 2024 models of this same vehicle are under active recall for a similar steering malfunction, which may indicate that 2022 models are also affected. Safety Concern This defect poses an imminent risk of fatal accidents, both to occupants and to other drivers. The failure occurs without warning, at high speeds, and results in total loss of steering control. Requested Action I request that the NHTSA investigate whether 2022 models should be included in the existing recall related to steering control failure in Mercedes-Benz vehicles. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The transmission intermittently shifts hard. When accelerating the car hesitates badly then lurches forward. The Dealer verified the concern, the transmission as a hard shift from 1-2nd. They performed various procedures to the hardware, but ultimately determined the problem is the software and that this is a known issue to Mercedes since early in the year. They have not been able to resolve the software issue. This creates a major safety hazard: 1. When changing lanes, the hesitation does not allow for proper acceleration creating a timing issue which could result in a collision 2. When crossing over lanes on a turn, the vehicle has stopped at a time, not accelerated and left me in the middle of oncoming traffic.

Multiple loss of power incidents while driving both on surface streets and highways. Causes vehicle to loss acceleration power, vehicle must be pulled over, shut down and restarted to regain power.

The contact owns a 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLC300. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that there were several unknown warning lights illuminated before the engine seized. The vehicle was restarted; however, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the failure reoccurred. The contact started the vehicle again, and the vehicle was slowly driven to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 51,519.

Defect Summary: Since 2024, my 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLC300 has had a persistent, abnormal engine noise consistent with the sound of a 4-cylinder diesel engine, despite being gasoline-powered. The noise occurs both while idling and in motion. On several occasions, the coolant warning light illuminated while the noise persisted. The defect has worsened over time, becoming louder and more frequent. Events & Safety Risks: The dealership repeatedly claimed “no problem found” because no warning lights appeared and no scanner codes were present, ignoring my time-stamped video evidence. At one point, I was advised to drive the vehicle from Morgan Hill, CA to the dealership while making the loud noise for diagnostics — an unsafe recommendation. When the coolant warning light appeared, the service department planned only to top off coolant. I insisted on a diagnostic, which revealed a coolant hose leak. Driving with a leak could cause overheating and sudden engine failure, creating a serious safety hazard for myself, my child, and other motorists. Repair History: Multiple visits to Mercedes-Benz of San Jose (2024–2025) for the same defect. Each time, the defect was dismissed or not resolved. No meaningful repairs were performed. The issue persists today. Evidence: Time-stamped video proof of defect, full service records, and documentation of correspondence with the dealership are available. Safety Concern: This unresolved defect creates a risk of sudden engine failure or overheating while driving, potentially causing loss of control or stranding occupants in unsafe conditions.

My 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 has been diagnosed with a valve seat failure. This requires a full cylinder head replacement. I purchased this vehicle brand new and have driven it with care, putting approximately 60,000 mostly highway miles on it. Throughout my ownership, I have exclusively used the service at an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealership. Despite my efforts to maintain this vehicle properly, the vehicle began exhibiting misfire issues just outside of the warranty period. The check engine light would flash on and off during a misfire and it presented multiple codes. I returned to a Mercedes-Benz dealership, where I was told the issue is an internal mechanical failure, worn or leaking valve seats requiring full cylinder head replacement with an estimated repair cost of $7,800. Upon researching this issue, I've learned that Technical Service Bulletins exist for this exact failure, and other owners with M264-series engines have experienced identical symptoms and failures. This misfire could happen at anytime, requiring me to stop the vehicle almost immediately. It could cause a dangerous situation in heavy traffic areas with fast moving traffic.