2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC has 13 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (15% of all complaints), specifically: i got my brand new mercedes benz glc 300 two weeks ago. after driving for 6 days & less than 300 miles in total the suv stopped responding abruptly in the middle of highway cruising at a speed of 70 mph with a transmission malfunction error flashing. with no power in the car, i was lucky enough to p.
13
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
0.2x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
ENGINE
2 complaints- • I GOT MY BRAND NEW MERCEDES BENZ GLC 300 TWO WEEKS AGO. AFTER DRIVING FOR 6 DAYS & LESS THAN 300 MILES IN TOTAL THE SUV STOPPED RESPONDING ABRUPTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY CRUISING AT A SPEED OF 70 MPH WITH A TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION ERROR FLASHING. WITH NO POWER IN THE CAR, I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO P
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MERCEDES-BENZ GLC 300. THE CONTACT FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V114000 (ENGINE, TRANSMISSION) PERTAINING TO HER VEHICLE. THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE
“I GOT MY BRAND NEW MERCEDES BENZ GLC 300 TWO WEEKS AGO. AFTER DRIVING FOR 6 DAYS & LESS THAN 300 MILES IN TOTAL THE SUV STOPPED RESPONDING ABRUPTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY CRUISING AT A SPEED OF 70 MPH WITH A TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION ERROR FLASHING. WITH NO POWER IN THE CAR, I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO P”
— NHTSA complaint filing
BRAKES
2 complaints- • BRAKES AND BRAKE ROTORS SCREECH EXCESSIVELY WHEN MOVING FROM PARK, FORWARD OR BACKWARDS AND WHILE BRAKING AT STOP LIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS. REPORTED TO DEALER AND MERCEDES - NO ACTION. CONCERNED THAT BRAKES MAY FAIL AT A CRITICAL TIME OR THAT ROTORS WILL BE DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR AND CAUSE FAILURE. *
- • I BOUGHT A NEW 2016 MODEL (FEB. 2016), AROUND NOV 2016, THE ROTORS STARTED MAKING SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN BACKING UP, SO I TOOK TO DEALER TO DIAGNOSE. AT FIRST, THEY COULDN'T FIND THE ISSUE BUT AFTER READING ON THE MERC FORUM, I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO DEALER (JAN. 2017), ASKED TO CHECK THE ROTORS (NOT J
“BRAKES AND BRAKE ROTORS SCREECH EXCESSIVELY WHEN MOVING FROM PARK, FORWARD OR BACKWARDS AND WHILE BRAKING AT STOP LIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS. REPORTED TO DEALER AND MERCEDES - NO ACTION. CONCERNED THAT BRAKES MAY FAIL AT A CRITICAL TIME OR THAT ROTORS WILL BE DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR AND CAUSE FAILURE. *”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
2 complaints- • I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM MERCEDES IN MARCH 2017 STATING THAT THE STARTING LIMITER MAY OVERHEAT RESULTING IN FIRE. AS OF THIS DATE, JULY 13, 2017, MERCEDES HAS NO IDEA WHEN IT WILL HAVE THE PART (S). THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.
- • PUTTING THIS CAR INTO PARK WILL NORMALLY AUTOMATICALLY SET THE PARKING BRAKE. EARLIER THAT DAY, IT DID NOT SET THE BRAKE. I ASSUMED I MUST HAVE HIT SOME BUTTON OR SOMETHING ON MY DASH TO CAUSE THAT. BUT THEN ON THE FREEWAY, THE CAR (FOR WANT OF A BETTER TERM) STARTED WIGGLING AND I FOUND IT HARD TO
“I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM MERCEDES IN MARCH 2017 STATING THAT THE STARTING LIMITER MAY OVERHEAT RESULTING IN FIRE. AS OF THIS DATE, JULY 13, 2017, MERCEDES HAS NO IDEA WHEN IT WILL HAVE THE PART (S). THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
1 complaints- • I GOT MY BRAND NEW MERCEDES BENZ GLC 300 TWO WEEKS AGO. AFTER DRIVING FOR 6 DAYS & LESS THAN 300 MILES IN TOTAL THE SUV STOPPED RESPONDING ABRUPTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY CRUISING AT A SPEED OF 70 MPH WITH A TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION ERROR FLASHING. WITH NO POWER IN THE CAR, I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO P
“I GOT MY BRAND NEW MERCEDES BENZ GLC 300 TWO WEEKS AGO. AFTER DRIVING FOR 6 DAYS & LESS THAN 300 MILES IN TOTAL THE SUV STOPPED RESPONDING ABRUPTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY CRUISING AT A SPEED OF 70 MPH WITH A TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION ERROR FLASHING. WITH NO POWER IN THE CAR, I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO P”
— NHTSA complaint filing
SPEED CONTROL
1 complaints- • I GOT MY BRAND NEW MERCEDES BENZ GLC 300 TWO WEEKS AGO. AFTER DRIVING FOR 6 DAYS & LESS THAN 300 MILES IN TOTAL THE SUV STOPPED RESPONDING ABRUPTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY CRUISING AT A SPEED OF 70 MPH WITH A TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION ERROR FLASHING. WITH NO POWER IN THE CAR, I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO P
“I GOT MY BRAND NEW MERCEDES BENZ GLC 300 TWO WEEKS AGO. AFTER DRIVING FOR 6 DAYS & LESS THAN 300 MILES IN TOTAL THE SUV STOPPED RESPONDING ABRUPTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY CRUISING AT A SPEED OF 70 MPH WITH A TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION ERROR FLASHING. WITH NO POWER IN THE CAR, I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO P”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 13 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ENGINE: I GOT MY BRAND NEW MERCEDES BENZ GLC 300 TWO WEEKS AGO. AFTER DRIVING FOR 6 DAYS & LESS THAN 300 MILES IN TOTAL THE SUV STOPPED RESPONDING ABRUPTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY CRUISING AT A SPEED OF 70 MPH WITH A TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION ERROR FLASHING. WITH NO POWER IN THE CAR, I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO P
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐BRAKES: BRAKES AND BRAKE ROTORS SCREECH EXCESSIVELY WHEN MOVING FROM PARK, FORWARD OR BACKWARDS AND WHILE BRAKING AT STOP LIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS. REPORTED TO DEALER AND MERCEDES - NO ACTION. CONCERNED THAT BRAKES MAY FAIL AT A CRITICAL TIME OR THAT ROTORS WILL BE DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR AND CAUSE FAILURE. *
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM MERCEDES IN MARCH 2017 STATING THAT THE STARTING LIMITER MAY OVERHEAT RESULTING IN FIRE. AS OF THIS DATE, JULY 13, 2017, MERCEDES HAS NO IDEA WHEN IT WILL HAVE THE PART (S). THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: I GOT MY BRAND NEW MERCEDES BENZ GLC 300 TWO WEEKS AGO. AFTER DRIVING FOR 6 DAYS & LESS THAN 300 MILES IN TOTAL THE SUV STOPPED RESPONDING ABRUPTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY CRUISING AT A SPEED OF 70 MPH WITH A TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION ERROR FLASHING. WITH NO POWER IN THE CAR, I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO P
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Mercedes-Benz GLC — Year Comparison
How does 2016 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
Full years-to-avoid analysis →NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 13
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 0
- Crash reports
- 3
- Injury reports
- 3
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC