2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC problems, complaints & recalls
NHTSA has received 63 owner complaints about the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC, or 11.1 per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical for a vehicle of its age (complaint index 0.26, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 85 model-year 2021 vehicles we track, it ranks #21 for fewest complaints per year. Against other Mercedes-Benz models its rate is 9% higher; against other Luxury SUVs it is 26% 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 2021-03-08 and 2026-08-30. Median delay from incident to filing: 11 days.
Analysis
The previous model year (2020) drew 12.0 complaints per year, more than this one. The following model year (2022) drew 13.3 per year, more than this one. In its first two years on the road the 2021 model collected 17 complaints, 72% lower than the average vehicle of the same model year.
The most common problem area is Engine (47.6% of complaints), followed by Electrical (12.7%) and Fuel system (9.5%). Engine complaints are 2.1 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. Within Engine reports, owners most often mention “cylinder head”, “engine light”, “check engine”, “valve” and “exact”. 3 reports (4.8%) describe a crash or fire; owners mention 0 injuries and 0 deaths.
Half of the reported incidents happened within 46 months of the model year's start; the busiest period was years three to five (48% of incidents). In the last 12 months 17 new complaints were filed, versus 20 in the 12 months before — a steady pace.
NHTSA lists no safety recalls for this model year.
Complaint index
- vs. all tracked vehicles0.26
- vs. other Mercedes-Benz models1.09
- vs. other 2021 models0.29
- vs. other Luxury SUVs0.74
- Complaints in first 2 years on the road · vs. same-year average (17)0.28
- #21 of 85 · 2021Rankings ›
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
Engine · Common terms in reports
- cylinder head12
- engine light17
- check engine13
- valve7
- exact5
- limp mode4
Electrical · Common terms in reports
- recall5
Problem areas: Engine · Electrical · Interior & equipment · Body & structure
When complaints were filed
- Crashes reported: 1
- Fires reported: 2
- Injuries: 0
- Deaths: 0
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 46 months
What owners report
While the vehicle was being operated normally, it caught fire. We were driving on a summer day in August. Conditions were humid, with temperatures in the mid-80s. The vehicle was on the return leg of an approximately 30-mile drive.
Driving short distance home when the bottom of Mercedes GLC 300 caught fire without warning or notification. I was unaware when a good Samaritan screamed out your car is on fire. Pulled over and she helped me out.
The vehicle is experiencing an intermittent, sudden, and life-threatening drop into "limp home mode" while driving, creating an severe speed differential with surrounding traffic.First Incident (50,584 miles): The vehicle entered limp mode.
While driving in my neighborhood at 25 MPH, my Mercedes GLC300 suddenly lost power and the check engine light illuminated.
The engine starts shaking, smell of gas car than stops while driving, could caused an accident and severely injured someone on the freeway.
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · 2021 · Luxury SUVs
| Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Lexus NX | 17 | 3.0 | 0.07 |
| 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC | 63 | 11.1 | 0.26 |
| 2021 Lexus RX | 70 | 12.3 | 0.29 |
| 2021 Audi Q7 | 71 | 12.5 | 0.3 |
| 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE | 88 | 15.5 | 0.37 |
| 2021 Audi Q5 | 99 | 17.5 | 0.42 |
| 2021 BMW X5 | 103 | 18.2 | 0.43 |
| 2021 BMW X3 | 106 | 18.7 | 0.44 |
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year.
Investigations
No NHTSA investigation covers the tracked model years.
Frequently asked questions
How many complaints were filed for the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC?
63 complaints were filed with NHTSA for the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC, or about 11.1 per year on the road.
What is the most common problem reported for the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC?
The most common category is Engine, accounting for 47.6% of complaints.
Does the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC have any recalls?
NHTSA lists no safety recalls for this model year.
Is the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC still generating complaints?
In the last 12 months 17 new complaints were filed, versus 20 in the 12 months before — a steady pace.
How does the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC compare with similar vehicles?
NHTSA has received 63 owner complaints about the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC, or 11.1 per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical for a vehicle of its age (complaint index 0.26, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 85 model-year 2021 vehicles we track, it ranks #21 for fewest complaints per year. Against other Mercedes-Benz models its rate is 9% higher; against other Luxury SUVs it is 26% lower.