2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC problems, complaints & recalls
NHTSA has received 80 owner complaints about the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC, or 11.8 per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical (complaint index 0.29, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 83 model-year 2020 vehicles we track, it ranks #25 of 83 by complaints per year (#1 = fewest). Against other Mercedes-Benz models its rate is 20% higher; against other Luxury SUVs it is 17% lower.
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
Complaints filed between 2020-01-15 and 2026-08-31. Median delay from incident to filing: 13 days.
Analysis
The previous model year (2019) drew 8.9 complaints per year, fewer than this one. The following model year (2021) drew 11.6 per year, about the same. In its first two years on the road the 2020 model collected 14 complaints, 75% lower than the average vehicle of the same model year.
The most common problem area is Engine (33.8% of complaints), followed by Unspecified or other (13.8%) and Electrical (12.5%). Engine complaints are 1.5 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. 5 reports (6.2%) describe a crash or fire; owners mention 4 injuries and 0 deaths.
Half of the reported incidents happened within 49 months of the model year's start; the busiest period was after five years (35% of incidents). In the last 12 months 14 new complaints were filed, versus 18 in the 12 months before — down 22%.
NHTSA lists no safety recalls for this model year. 2 NHTSA investigations cover this model year; the most recent is “Pedestrian alert sounds” (defect petition, opened 2023-01-27, closed 2023-08-07).
Complaint index
- vs. all tracked vehicles0.29
- vs. other Mercedes-Benz models1.2
- vs. other 2020 models0.31
- vs. other Luxury SUVs0.83
- Complaints in first 2 years on the road · vs. same-year average (14)0.25
- #25 of 83 · 2020Rankings ›
1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road.
What owners complain about
vs. all vehicles: 1.00 = All-vehicle average
Problem areas: Engine · Electrical · Unspecified or other · Body & structure
When complaints were filed
- Crashes reported: 3
- Fires reported: 2
- Injuries: 4
- Deaths: 0
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 49 months
What owners report
On August 15, 2025, I was driving my Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4MATIC on the freeway under normal conditions. Without any warning lights, error messages, or prior signs of mechanical issues, the vehicle suddenly and completely lost power.
the power steering wheel adjustment stopped working, leaving the steering wheel stuck in a very unconfutable position for driving. The car just ended its 4 yr warranty
My check-engine light recently illuminated, and diagnostic testing identified fault code P06DA00, relating to the oil pump control valve circuit. I have been quoted over $5,000 to replace the oil control valve and oil pump harness.
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The Forward Collision Avoidance / Active Brake Assist (Automatic Emergency Braking) system failed by falsely identifying a non-existent threat and initiating…
The seatbelt latch does not fully release when you press the red button. It needs to be wiggled and then it eventually does release. This is an ongoing issue.
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · 2020 · Luxury SUVs
| Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Audi Q7 | 28 | 4.1 | 0.1 |
| 2020 Lexus NX | 28 | 4.1 | 0.1 |
| 2020 Audi Q5 | 37 | 5.4 | 0.13 |
| 2020 Lexus RX | 55 | 8.1 | 0.2 |
| 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC | 80 | 11.8 | 0.29 |
| 2020 BMW X3 | 110 | 16.2 | 0.4 |
| 2020 BMW X5 | 113 | 16.6 | 0.41 |
| 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE | 124 | 18.3 | 0.45 |
| 2020 Acura MDX | 228 | 33.6 | 0.83 |
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year.
Investigations
- 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…