Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class Complaints

782 consumer complaints on file.

#11774367October 29, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
On four separate occasions between April 2026 and today the Active Brake Assist systems has engaged for no reason. This has occurred in daylight as well as at night. It has occurred at low speeds (15 mph) and at highway speeds. On two occasions there was a near collision from the car behind me due to the rapid engagement of the brakes. On one occasion I suffered bruises to my arm due to the force of braking. Multiple trips to dealer (EuroMotor Cars Bethesda) found no error codes and they were unable to replicate the issue in test drives. The dealer simply reset the software and claimed all sensors, cameras and radar were functionally normally. There are no warning lights or other error messages displayed to the driver prior to the Active Brake Assist system engaging.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11774376October 29, 2026
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
I am filing a formal safety complaint regarding a SuperMax HT1 tire, size 235/55R19 101V, purchased on [XXX], as part of a set of four tires with an advertised 50,000-mile treadwear warranty. The vehicle's odometer reading at installation was 85,388 miles. After fewer than 22,612 miles, one tire developed a significant hump or bulge. 1. Failed Component: The tire suffered internal belt separation, compromising its structural integrity. DOT identification: [XXX]. The tire's availability for further inspection is subject to confirmation. 2. Safety Risk: Belt separation creates a serious risk of tread detachment, sudden tire failure, and loss of vehicle control, especially at highway speeds. Such a failure could cause a severe accident, endangering the driver, passengers, and other motorists. 3. Independent Confirmation: An independent mechanic physically inspected the tire and confirmed that the abnormal hump resulted from internal belt separation. This was not merely a suspected problem; the structural defect was identified during inspection. 4. Other Inspections: The tire was inspected by an independent mechanic. No inspection by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives has been reported. 5. Warning Signs: The visible hump or bulge was the primary symptom. The defect was discovered after fewer than 22,612 miles of use. The exact date it first developed is unknown, and no dashboard warning has been reported. I respectfully request that NHTSA investigate this premature structural failure and determine whether SuperMax HT1 tires may have a manufacturing or quality-control defect that presents a broader public safety risk. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11773769October 26, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
On October 23, 2026, my 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 unexpectedly lost engine power while I was in traffic, without advance warning. When I attempted to restart it, the engine started, shook, and shut off again. A 12-volt battery warning appeared during the incident. On October 26, a dealership representative told me a software issue caused the shutdown and that a software update was needed. They said the update would be performed at no charge, although I would owe a diagnostic fee. I am concerned that the vehicle could lose power without warning again, especially at highway speeds. I am requesting that NHTSA review this incident for a possible safety defect.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11773227October 23, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 is equipped with a panoramic sunroof. The sunroof mechanism and rails were repaired and replaced previously. Approximately a month and a half ago, following heavy rainfall, I discovered water staining on the interior headliner, indicating possible water intrusion through the panoramic roof assembly. I returned the vehicle to the Mercedes-Benz dealership for inspection. The dealership advised me that the seals around the panoramic roof had deteriorated or failed and quoted approximately $10,000 to replace the affected assembly. I am concerned that water entering the vehicle through the roof could potentially reach electrical components, cause electrical malfunctions, damage safety-related systems, or create other hazards. I am also concerned that the panoramic roof may not be adequately sealed despite the previous repair. Mercedes-Benz USA has advised me that there are no active recalls associated with my vehicle identification number. However, I am reporting this issue to NHTSA because I believe the failure of the panoramic roof sealing system warrants review for a potential safety-related defect, particularly given the previous repair and subsequent water intrusion. The problem was evaluated by an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealership. The dealership's diagnosis and repair records may be available for inspection upon request. I have purchased a vehicle cover to help protect the car from further rain exposure while this issue remains unresolved. I request that NHTSA review this complaint to determine whether this condition may affect other vehicles of the same make and model. I am concerned that the previous repair did not resolve the underlying problem. I am requesting that NHTSA examine whether recurring panoramic roof problems and seal failures may represent a broader safety concern for owners of these vehicles.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11773309October 23, 2026
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
The contact owns a 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC 350. While the contact's husband was attempting to park the vehicle, the vehicle independently accelerated. The contact stated that the vehicle was uncontrollable. The vehicle crashed into two vehicles and then crashed into a tree before coming to a stop. The contact stated that the speed independently increased to approximately 50 - 60 MPH. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The contact was seated in the front passenger's seat and was transported to the local medical center. The contact sustained a fractured collar bone, severe pain in the chest, and back pain. The husband had pain in the right leg and pain in the back. A Police report was filed. The failure mileage was 82,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#11772688October 21, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
While loading grocery bags in the rear compartment the hatch closed on my back without any warning. I had to physically lift it off my back. It did not trigger any release or raise on its own
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11772698October 21, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Independent service company said the car has a raw fuel smell under the vehicle. Signs of fuel leak at the connection between the high pressure fuel rail / high pressure fuel pump line. Mentioned a recall campaign of 2022030003. That addresses this issue. I contacted Mercedes Benz dealers (2) and they said my VIN does not show a recall. The recall does show up online via an AI search and it is supposed to cover 2016-2020 GLCs like ours. Don't know why this is. Can you help?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11770639October 12, 2026
AIR BAGS
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. According to the Florida Highway Patrol crash report, the left curtain air bag was listed as “Equipped; Not Deployed,” while the right curtain air bag was listed as “Equipped; Operative; Deployed.” I suffered serious injuries while seated on the same side where the curtain air bag did not deploy. Before the crash, I remember hearing an unusual metallic rattling/clanking noise from the vehicle. I do not know what caused the noise or whether it contributed to the crash, but it occurred before impact. A family member later reported this pre-crash noise to the vehicle’s insurer. Law enforcement indicated that the vehicle’s event data recorder (EDR/“black box”) would be downloaded, but the crash report later stated “EDR Downloaded: No.” To my knowledge, the EDR data was never retrieved or preserved. The insurer later sold the vehicle as salvage before I was able to arrange an independent defect inspection, so the vehicle is no longer available to me for examination. I am not claiming that a defect has been proven. I am asking NHTSA to review whether the documented left-curtain nondeployment, in a crash severe enough to cause a fatality and multiple injuries while the opposite curtain air bag deployed, warrants investigation of the air bag/restraint system or another vehicle component. I am also asking NHTSA to consider the pre-crash metallic noise and the loss of access to the vehicle and EDR data when evaluating this complaint. Because the vehicle and EDR evidence may no longer be recoverable, I respectfully ask NHTSA to evaluate this complaint promptly and compare it with any similar air bag, restraint-system, sensor, or electrical complaints involving this model.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
4
Deaths:
1
#11769540October 7, 2026
AIR BAGS
The contact's wife owns a 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC300. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the driveway, the air bags inadvertently deployed without impact to the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and remained with the dealer for over a month. The contact was called by the dealer and informed to retrieve the vehicle even though the cause of the failure was not yet determined. The contact notified the manufacturer and was informed that the issue was under investigation. The vehicle remained unrepaired with the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 189,800.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11769131October 5, 2026
LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION
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 contact stated while inspecting the vehicle, the contact confirmed that the blind spot assist feature was enabled. In addition, the failure occurred after the vehicle was taken through the car wash. The contact's vehicle crashed into another vehicle. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The contact sustained pain to the right shoulder, arm and hand. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 26,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11768366October 1, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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. These are four separate incidents, not a one-time occurrence. The failures occurred without warning and the system could not be operated normally. This creates a safety concern because loss of the center display while driving may prevent access to vehicle information, warnings, camera functions, and other functions controlled through the display. The vehicle is available for inspection. I have reported the problem to Mercedes-Benz and requesting dealer inspection and repair. The cause is currently unknown.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11768413October 1, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
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 estimated remaining range was approximately 50 miles. The vehicle was subsequently inspected/serviced by Mercedes-Benz/dealer personnel, but the underlying cause was not conclusively identified or resolved. Second incident- [XXX] [XXX]: While driving in the first lane of [XXX], the vehicle suddenly lost significant power/acceleration when the estimated remaining range was approximately 75 miles. There were no warning alarms or messages before the loss of power. My wife and child were in the vehicle. The vehicle could not provide normal acceleration in highway traffic, creating an extremely dangerous situation. The incident nearly resulted in a serious traffic accident, and my wife had to take immediate action to help avoid a potential collision. The vehicle was subsequently inspected by Mercedes-Benz/dealer personnel, but the specific loss-of-power condition was not conclusively reproduced or confirmed under the circumstances in which it occurred, and the underlying cause was not identified or resolved. The vehicle has therefore experienced this type of serious power-loss condition twice despite service attempts. I can no longer safely drive or intentionally test the vehicle to reproduce this condition. Attempting to drive until approximately 75 miles of remaining range could cause another sudden loss of power and potentially result in a serious accident. I will not intentionally recreate a potentially dangerous failure on a public highway with my family or other motorists at risk. I am reporting this because unexpected loss of power while traveling on a highway presents a serious safety hazard and potential collision risk. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11765946September 21, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
On Sunday, XXX at approximately 5:30 PM, I entered the parking lot of a Staples store at [XXX], in my 2025 Mercedes Benz AMG GLC 43 SUV. It was daylight and the weather was clear. There was no wind and the temperature was in the low 80s. I drove down a parking aisle and slowed down to make a right turn into an open parking space. After completing my turn into the parking space, I let my foot off the brake to allow the vehicle car to roll closer to the wheel stop. Once my foot was off the brake, the car suddenly accelerated on its own, and before I could react, the vehicle hit and jumped over the curb and continued accelerating into the wall of the Staples building before coming to a stop. There was no audible or visual warning message of any kind prior to, during, or after the vehicle’s sudden acceleration. The air bags did not deploy. The force of the collision severely damaged the exterior building wall and a palm tree. Store management personnel came out to see what had happened. The interior of the building was also purported to be damaged. In my opinion, the electronics that control acceleration and braking failed to operate correctly. The vehicle is available for inspection, testing, and analysis of black box. Other than a cursory inspection of damages by the police and subsequently, a body repair shop, the vehicle has not been subjected to formal testing. Not to mention the frightening experience of an out-of-control vehicle, if this happened on the open road or the freeway, I can only imagine the property damage, injuries, and possible deaths this vehicle would have caused. It should be noted that the vehicle has acted strange since first purchased, and it was formally recalled by Mercedes Benz for electronics issues, including software updates. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11765316September 18, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
the MBUX infotainment screen goes completely black while driving, blinding the backup camera and critical driver instrumentation.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11765412September 18, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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. Both screens remained completely black even after the vehicle was started and placed in READY mode. The vehicle was still capable of being driven, but the driver instrument display was completely unavailable. As a result, I could not see critical information normally provided through the instrument cluster, including vehicle speed, warning messages, system status, and other important vehicle information. At the same time, there was recurring static/electrical-type noise coming through the vehicle’s speakers at regular intervals. The vehicle was shut down, locked, and allowed to power down before being restarted, but this did not restore either display. This is a significant safety concern because the vehicle can remain operational and driveable while the entire driver instrument display is unavailable. A driver should not have to operate a vehicle without access to the instrument cluster or critical warnings. I am reporting this issue to NHTSA because I believe a complete loss of the instrument cluster and center display while the vehicle remains driveable presents a potential safety defect. I request that NHTSA investigate whether this is a recurring problem affecting the 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e and whether a safety-related remedy or recall is warranted.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11764849September 16, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
vehicle: 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 Component Involved: Integrated Transmission Control Module (TCM) / Mechatronic Unit Active Diagnostic Code: P073E (Unable to Engage Reverse) Description of Event: While attempting to back out of a driveway, the vehicle experienced a sudden, catastrophic electronic transmission failure. Without any warning or prior symptoms, the vehicle abruptly kicked itself out of gear and dropped into Neutral. The vehicle completely lost all propulsion and ability to move backward or forward, rendering it entirely disabled. This failure occurred directly in the path of oncoming traffic, creating an immediate, life-threatening safety hazard for myself, my passengers, and other drivers. Due to the complete loss of gear engagement, we were trapped in a highly dangerous and vulnerable position. A subsequent scan of the vehicle’s onboard computer revealed active diagnostic code P073E (Unable to Engage Reverse), indicating a documented internal failure within the 9G-Tronic mechatronic/transmission control unit. The vehicle is currently completely unsafe to operate and has been parked in a residential garage to prevent a severe collision. Given that this is a sudden component defect that results in an immediate loss of vehicle control rather than standard wear-and-tear, this issue represents a critical manufacturing safety hazard that requires immediate corporate intervention.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11763616September 11, 2026
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I own a 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300. The vehicle developed moisture/condensation in the headlamp, and the affected headlamp subsequently failed. I took the vehicle to RBM of Alpharetta, an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealership. I was advised that corrosion was found in the affected headlamp and that the headlamp assembly requires replacement. On September 8, 2026, the dealership provided a repair estimate of $3,387.33. The vehicle had approximately 84,769 miles. Mercedes-Benz previously issued NHTSA Recall 22V-261 / Campaign 2022050005 for certain 2021 GLC-Class vehicles because headlamp electrical connections may not have been sufficiently watertight, allowing moisture intrusion that could cause headlamp failure. My vehicle is the same year and model and is experiencing headlamp failure involving moisture and corrosion, but Mercedes-Benz states that my VIN is not included in the recall population. Mercedes-Benz Customer Care opened Case 23963515 and has declined coverage to date. I am concerned that my vehicle may be experiencing the same or a substantially similar moisture-intrusion defect as vehicles covered by Recall 22V-261. A failed headlamp reduces nighttime visibility and presents a safety concern. I am requesting that NHTSA review whether similar headlamp moisture intrusion, corrosion, and failure may be occurring in additional 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 vehicles outside the original recall population.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11763491September 10, 2026
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
My vehicle is experiencing moisture intrusion caused by a defective headlight housing seal. The water intrusion has resulted in a short circuit and failure of the turn signal module within the headlamp assembly. I am aware of NHTSA Safety Recall 22V-261, which addresses a substantially similar defect involving inadequate watertight sealing of the headlamp assembly that can allow moisture intrusion and lead to headlamp electrical failure. My vehicle is experiencing the same type of moisture intrusion and resulting electrical failure described in that recall. Because this failure appears consistent with the known safety-related defect identified by NHTSA, I am requesting that the vehicle and affected headlamp assembly be evaluated for recall-related or manufacturer-assisted repair rather than treated solely as a routine out-of-warranty component failure.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11762288September 4, 2026
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
My 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 is not currently included in NHTSA Recall 22V-261 / Mercedes-Benz Campaign 2022050005, but my vehicle is experiencing substantially the same defect described in that recall. Moisture/water entered the left headlamp assembly/electrical connection, resulting in condensation/water accumulation and damage/corrosion around the headlamp electrical module/connector. The headlamp system subsequently malfunctioned. Recall 22V-261 describes a condition where the headlamp electrical connection may not be watertight, allowing moisture ingress and potentially causing headlamp failure. My vehicle appears to exhibit the same condition even though my VIN is excluded from the recall population. I am requesting that NHTSA review whether the affected population for Recall 22V-261 may need to be expanded.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11761794September 3, 2026
STRUCTURE:BODY
The liftgate on this car is faulty. There are hundreds of reports online that I found when it happened to me, which has been several times now. The liftgate has a sensor that is activated by your foot, but when you are inside the hatch it will trigger and close on you. There is no sensor to stop it from falling and it traps you inside and has hit me on the head, bruised my shoulders and back and I have fallen from being hit by it. I have reported it to Mercedes several times and asked them to at least cover the sensor and they say it's not possible. This is dangerous and it's going to seriously injure or kill somebody younger or more feeble.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

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