2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC300
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC300 has 169 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.1x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (25% of all complaints), specifically: starter motor failure in "eco start" mode at intersection. was in an intersection when car stalled and threw a code. starter motor had to be replaced in full. vehicle had less than 1,000 miles on it and was 3 weeks old at the time of the event.. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.
169
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
2.1x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
ENGINE
42 complaints- • STARTER MOTOR FAILURE IN "ECO START" MODE AT INTERSECTION. WAS IN AN INTERSECTION WHEN CAR STALLED AND THREW A CODE. STARTER MOTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED IN FULL. VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 1,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS 3 WEEKS OLD AT THE TIME OF THE EVENT.
- • THREE WEEKS AFTER BUYING THE GLC300 4MATIC THE ENGINE MISFIRES, GOT STRANDED IN AC NEW JERSEY, THE CAR WAS AT THE DEALER FOR 3 WEEKS, THEY REPLACED ALL FUEL INJECTOR/COILS AND IT KEPT HAPPENING, THEN THE FUEL MODULE GOT REPLACED AND IT RAN FINE FOR 4 WEEKS AND THE PROBLEM CAME BACK, GOT STRANDED IN
- • DATE: 06/06/2016: RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2016 MERCEDES GLC300 AND WAS UNHAPPY WITH THE FACT THAT THE ECO MODE IS THE DEFAULT AND IT HAS TO BE TURNED OFF MANUALLY EACH TIME YOU START THE ENGINE. I CALLED MBUSA AND THEY SAID THERE IS NO WAY TO TURN IT OFF COMPLETELY. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD WI
“STARTER MOTOR FAILURE IN "ECO START" MODE AT INTERSECTION. WAS IN AN INTERSECTION WHEN CAR STALLED AND THREW A CODE. STARTER MOTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED IN FULL. VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 1,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS 3 WEEKS OLD AT THE TIME OF THE EVENT.”
— NHTSA complaint filing
BRAKES
27 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MERCEDES-BENZ GLC 300. WHILE DRIVING AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CONTACT HEARD A SQUEALING NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS
- • BRAKES STARTED TO SQUEAL WHEN BACKING UP AT SLOW SPEEDS. THIS PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE OVER A COUPLE OF MONTHS, UNTIL IT IS NOW EXTREMELY LOUD. IT SEEMS TO BE WORSE WHEN IT IS COLD. 3 MERCEDES-BENZ DEALERS HAVE ALL SAID IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND TO STANDBY FOR A PERMANENT FIX. STARTED AT ABOUT 5,00
- • I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2016 MERCEDES BENZ GLC300 IN DECEMBER OF 2015. OVER THE PAST 6 MONTHS, THE VEHICLE HAS BEGUN MAKING A TERRIBLE SCREECHING NOISE WHEN I LIGHTLY PRESS THE BRAKES WHILE IN REVERSE. THE NOISE HAS GOTTEN SO LOUD AND PAINFUL TO THE EAR THAT I REFLEXIVELY TAKE MY FOOT OF THE BRAKE
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MERCEDES-BENZ GLC 300. WHILE DRIVING AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CONTACT HEARD A SQUEALING NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS”
— NHTSA complaint filing
FUEL SYSTEM
21 complaints- • THREE WEEKS AFTER BUYING THE GLC300 4MATIC THE ENGINE MISFIRES, GOT STRANDED IN AC NEW JERSEY, THE CAR WAS AT THE DEALER FOR 3 WEEKS, THEY REPLACED ALL FUEL INJECTOR/COILS AND IT KEPT HAPPENING, THEN THE FUEL MODULE GOT REPLACED AND IT RAN FINE FOR 4 WEEKS AND THE PROBLEM CAME BACK, GOT STRANDED IN
- • ON COLD START (7AM, BETWEEN 60 AND 70F DEGREES), THERE'S A STRONG GAS SMELL ON BOTH THE CABIN AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON OR ANY OTHER INDICATOR OF A FAILURE. THERE'S NO VISIBLE LEAKS ON THE UNDERHOOD OR MY DRIVEWAY. REALLY SCARED TO TAKE MY KIDS TO SCHOOL UNLESS MB SOLVE T
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MERCEDES-BENZ GLC300. THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG FUEL ODOR INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED PERIODICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ZT MOTORS OF FORT WALTON BEACH (1000 N BEAL PKWY NW, FORT WALTON BEACH, FL 32547, (850) 863-8372) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT
“THREE WEEKS AFTER BUYING THE GLC300 4MATIC THE ENGINE MISFIRES, GOT STRANDED IN AC NEW JERSEY, THE CAR WAS AT THE DEALER FOR 3 WEEKS, THEY REPLACED ALL FUEL INJECTOR/COILS AND IT KEPT HAPPENING, THEN THE FUEL MODULE GOT REPLACED AND IT RAN FINE FOR 4 WEEKS AND THE PROBLEM CAME BACK, GOT STRANDED IN ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
21 complaints- • AT 7:30 AM ON JUNE 10, 2016, WHILE DRIVING NORTH ON RTE. 495 IN DELAWARE IN OUR 5-MONTH-OLD MB - GLC 300, THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING EXPLODED AND SHATTERED OUTWARD. THE SOUND WAS AS LOUD AS A BOMB. AS SHOWN IN THE PHOTOGRAPHS, NEARLY ALL THE SUNROOF WAS BLOWN OUT, WITH
- • PANORAMIC SUNROOF SHATTERED AND EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING, WITHOUT ANY EXTERNAL IMPACT SEEN, FELT OR HEARD. VEHICLE WAS MOVING ON RURAL HIGHWAY (FLAT FARMLAND) AROUND 55-60 MPH. EXTERNAL TEMPERATURE ABOVE 100 DEGREES. HIGHWAY TRAFFIC NORMAL, NOT DENSE OR EMPTY. ODOMETER AT 12,000 MILES. HAZARD DUE T
- • WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF SELF DRIVING FEATURES NEW PASSERNGER SAFTEY REGULATIONS ARE NEEDED. MY CAR , AN ADDED FEATURE, IS DISTRONIC SAFETY SYSTEM, SELF DRIVE MODE. WHEN THE CAR IS AT ACOMPLETE STOP IT WILL SENSE IF SOME IS ABOUT TO REAR END YOU. THE CAR COMPLETELY LOCKS DOWN. WITH IMPACT THE PASS
“AT 7:30 AM ON JUNE 10, 2016, WHILE DRIVING NORTH ON RTE. 495 IN DELAWARE IN OUR 5-MONTH-OLD MB - GLC 300, THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING EXPLODED AND SHATTERED OUTWARD. THE SOUND WAS AS LOUD AS A BOMB. AS SHOWN IN THE PHOTOGRAPHS, NEARLY ALL THE SUNROOF WAS BLOWN OUT, WITH ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
AIR BAGS
12 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MERCEDES-BENZ GLC300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V627000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTAC
- • TAKATA RECALL MY WIFE IS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR AFTER HEARING ABOUT THE RECALL. LOCAL MERCEDES DEALER IS NOT ABLE TO DO ANYTHING AT THIS TIME. WE ARE FRUSTRATED BECAUSE WE CHOSE TO PURCHASE THIS CAR MAINLY BECAUSE OF ITS SAFETY RECORD. WE WANT A NEW CAR OR HAVE THIS ISSUE FIXED RIGHT AWAY!!!
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MERCEDES-BENZ GLC300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 17V819000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) AND 17V627000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RE
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MERCEDES-BENZ GLC300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V627000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTAC”
— 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 169 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ENGINE: STARTER MOTOR FAILURE IN "ECO START" MODE AT INTERSECTION. WAS IN AN INTERSECTION WHEN CAR STALLED AND THREW A CODE. STARTER MOTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED IN FULL. VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 1,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS 3 WEEKS OLD AT THE TIME OF THE EVENT.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐BRAKES: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MERCEDES-BENZ GLC 300. WHILE DRIVING AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CONTACT HEARD A SQUEALING NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐FUEL SYSTEM: THREE WEEKS AFTER BUYING THE GLC300 4MATIC THE ENGINE MISFIRES, GOT STRANDED IN AC NEW JERSEY, THE CAR WAS AT THE DEALER FOR 3 WEEKS, THEY REPLACED ALL FUEL INJECTOR/COILS AND IT KEPT HAPPENING, THEN THE FUEL MODULE GOT REPLACED AND IT RAN FINE FOR 4 WEEKS AND THE PROBLEM CAME BACK, GOT STRANDED IN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: AT 7:30 AM ON JUNE 10, 2016, WHILE DRIVING NORTH ON RTE. 495 IN DELAWARE IN OUR 5-MONTH-OLD MB - GLC 300, THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING EXPLODED AND SHATTERED OUTWARD. THE SOUND WAS AS LOUD AS A BOMB. AS SHOWN IN THE PHOTOGRAPHS, NEARLY ALL THE SUNROOF WAS BLOWN OUT, WITH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Mercedes-Benz GLC300 — 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
- 169
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 3
- Crash reports
- 10
- Injury reports
- 5
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC300