Mercedes-Benz GLC problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 9 model years (2018–2026), NHTSA has logged 529 owner complaints and 8 safety recalls for the Mercedes-Benz GLC. That averages 13.3 complaints per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical (index 0.33 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Luxury SUVs segment it ranks #6 of 9 by complaints per year (#1 = fewest); the segment average is 14.2.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Analysis
The trend is worsening. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 167% above the 2018 and 2019 models (34 early complaints per model year versus 14).
The 2025 model year has the highest rate (24.6 complaints per year) and the 2019 model year the lowest (8.9). The 2025 model year runs at least 50% above this model's average of 13.3 complaints per year on the road across its tracked model years.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Engine (28.0% of complaints), followed by Electrical (18.7%) and Unspecified or other (11.7%). 40 complaints (7.6%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 38 injuries and 2 deaths.
In the last 12 months owners filed 135 complaints versus 102 in the previous 12 months — up 32%. The 2025 model year generated the most recent reports (28). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 32 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 8 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2019 (2). 4 NHTSA investigations have covered this model, 1 still open; the latest is “Malfunction Indicator Light / No-Start” (defect petition, opened 2023-07-25, closed 2024-05-20).
Within its segment it has more complaints per year than Lexus NX, Audi Q7, Lexus RX and Mercedes-Benz GLE, but fewer than BMW X3, BMW X5 and Acura MDX.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 99 | 11.3 | 0.28 | 9 | 0 | Engine | View › |
| 2019 Fewest complaints | 69 | 8.9 | 0.22 | 10 | 5 | Engine | View › |
| 2020 | 80 | 11.8 | 0.29 | 14 | 0 | Engine | View › |
| 2021 | 67 | 11.6 | 0.29 | 20 | 0 | Engine | View › |
| 2022 | 64 | 13.4 | 0.33 | 22 | 0 | Fuel system | View › |
| 2023 | 65 | 17.2 | 0.43 | 11 | 0 | Electrical | View › |
| 2024 | 31 | 11.1 | 0.28 | 11 | 0 | Engine | View › |
| 2025 ▲50%+ | 44 | 24.6 | 0.61 | 28 | 3 | Electrical | View › |
| 2026 Too new to rank | 10 | 10.0 | 0.25 | 10 | 0 | Electrical | View › |
▲50%+ = 50%+ above this model's average yearly rate. “Too new to rank”: under two years on the road, so the model year cannot be named the one with the fewest complaints yet. 1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road. Complaints in first 2 years on the road: vs. same-year average. How we count
Trend · vs. same-year average
Complaints in first 2 years on the road ÷ All-vehicle average (1.00)
When complaints were filed
Last 12 months: 135 · Previous 12 months: 102 Rising
Problem areas
Engine ›
148 · 28.0% · 1.25 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Electrical ›
99 · 18.7% · 1.19 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Unspecified or other ›
62 · 11.7% · 1.3 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Body & structure ›
41 · 7.8% · 0.85 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Transmission / powertrain
30 · 5.7% · 0.49 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Fuel system
30 · 5.7% · 1.31 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Steering
24 · 4.5% · 0.71 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Driver-assist systems
24 · 4.5% · 0.79 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Brakes
22 · 4.2% · 0.69 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Airbags & seat belts
21 · 4.0% · 1.05 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Lighting
19 · 3.6% · 2.31 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Other
5 · 0.9% · 0.51 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Wheels, tires & suspension
4 · 0.8% · 0.3 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 32 months
What owners report
I am reporting a potentially serious vehicle safety issue involving a 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLC after a fatal crash. I was seated in the left rear seat. One occupant died and multiple people were injured.
The contact owns a 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH, the blind spot assist detection feature failed to function as intended.
The vehicle has experienced two separate incidents of significant loss of power/acceleration. First incident – January 2024, Clarksville, TN: While driving downtown, the vehicle suddenly lost significant power and could not provide normal acceleration.
The MBUX/center display has malfunctioned repeatedly. The enter display suddenly went to completely black on the three separate occasions, and on one additional occasion three times. MBUX system froze and became completely unresponsive.
I own a 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e plug-in hybrid. The vehicle experienced a complete loss of both the digital instrument cluster/display in front of the driver and the center MBUX infotainment display.
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · Luxury SUVs
| # | Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Trend | Recent activity | Recalls | Most common issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lexus NX | 237 | 6.7 | 0.17 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 9 | Electrical |
| 2 | Audi Q7 | 364 | 6.8 | 0.17 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 20 | Engine |
| 3 | Lexus RX | 441 | 11.7 | 0.29 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 12 | Airbags & seat belts |
| 4 | Mercedes-Benz GLE | 498 | 12.4 | 0.31 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 2 | Engine |
| 5 | Audi Q5 | 575 | 12.8 | 0.32 | Stable | Rising | 19 | Electrical |
| 6 | Mercedes-Benz GLC | 529 | 13.3 | 0.33 | Worsening | Rising | 8 | Engine |
| 7 | BMW X3 | 665 | 15.9 | 0.39 | Improving | Rising | 40 | Electrical |
| 8 | BMW X5 | 825 | 22.8 | 0.56 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 44 | Electrical |
| 9 | Acura MDX | 981 | 26.6 | 0.66 | Stable | Rising | 16 | Engine |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 8
- Do-not-drive / park-outside: 0
- Over-the-air fix: 0
Safety recalls: 2018 (0) · 2019 (5) · 2020 (0) · 2021 (0) · 2022 (0) · 2023 (0) · 2024 (0) · 2025 (3) · 2026 (0)
Investigations
- Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture Open
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupt…
- Malfunction Indicator Light / No-Start Closed
In a letter dated July 2, 2023, Aldelberto A. Cordova (the petitioner) submitted a petition requesting that NHTSA initiate an investigation of an alleged defect within the “ISG 48-volt on-board electrical system,” which resulted in warning light illumination as well as an inability to start the vehicle in a 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC300. ODI reviewed the petition, complaint data in NHTSA's databases a…
- Pedestrian alert sounds Closed
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and ele…
- Front Roof Panel Detachment Closed
On January 8, 2021, after ongoing review with Mercedes Benz, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE21-001 to assess allegations of front roof panel detachments while driving at highway speeds in certain 2015 Mercedes-Benz (Mercedes) C-Class vehicles.The subject front roof panel is a stationary panel composed of polycarbonate and i…