2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
87 owner complaints analyzed
12 distinct recall campaigns
10,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 31 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 28 of 87 complaints (32.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 10 | 11.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 10.3% |
| Braking behavior | 8 | 9.2% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 2.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 1.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 28 |
| Unknown Or Other | 20 |
| Electrical System | 13 |
| Seat Belts | 8 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 7 |
| Power Train | 7 |
| Air Bags | 6 |
| Structure:Body | 6 |
Engine: 28; Unknown Or Other: 20; Electrical System: 13; Seat Belts: 8; Fuel/Propulsion System: 7; Power Train: 7; Air Bags: 6; Structure:Body: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 22 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 22; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (22). 56 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 12 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 8 |
| 2023 | 26 |
| 2024 | 16 |
| 2025 | 9 |
| 2026 | 4 |
2018: 12; 2019: 6; 2020: 5; 2021: 1; 2022: 8; 2023: 26; 2024: 16; 2025: 9; 2026: 4
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 9 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11075967 · 2018-03-02 (March 2, 2018)
WHILE SLOWLY ACCELERATING THE TRANSMISSION MADE A LOUD BANG AND THE CAR SLOWED TO A CRAWL IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION NEARLY CAUSING A MAJOR ACCIDENT, STEERING WAS NEARLY GONE AS WELL WITH NO RESPONSE FROM ACCELERATOR. THE VEHICLE DISPLAY ALSO SAID IT LOST COMMUNICATION WITH THE KEY WHICH WAS IN THE VEHICLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11075967 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11144554 · 2018-10-31 (October 31, 2018)
THE STEERING COLUMN STALK CONTROLS DRIVE, REVERSE, NEUTRAL AND PARKING. I STOPPED THE VEHICLE ON AN INCLINE IN A PARKING LOT. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. I SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. I THOUGHT I PUSHED THE PARK BUTTON BUT THE CAR ROLLED BACK INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11144554 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11067322 · 2018-02-06 (February 6, 2018)
I AM HAVING AN ISSUE OF SQUEAKY BRAKE. IT USUALLY HAPPENS IN SNOWING DAY OR DAY AFTER FROM FRONT WHEEL. BUT, IT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED AT SUNNY DAY TOO. IT SOUNDS VERY LOUD, SO ANNOYING. I TOOK MY CAR MERCEDES DEALERSHIP WHERE I LEASED THE CAR. FOR THE FIRST TIME, THEY FIXED. ACCORDING TO THE INVOICE, THE TECHNICIAN FOUND AND CONFIRMED THE ISSUE OF SQUEAKY COMES FROM REAR WHEEL. BUT, IT HAPPENS NOW AT FRONT. IT IS PRETTY MUCH DOUBTFUL ABOUT WHETHER THEY DID GOOD JOB OR NOT. I ATTACH A LINK OF YOUTUBE WHICH I RECORDED THE ISSUE MY SELF. PL…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11067322 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11632530 · 2024-12-26 (December 26, 2024)
Vehicle experienced transmission shifting issue after having driven for a period of 15 - 20 minutes, with engine oil temp reaching above 103/105 degrees C, transmission won't shift into Drive. Automatically pops into Neutral. Other times engine will stall, required complete restart. This creates hazard for operator and cars following behind as driver needed to steer vehicle out of the way of traffic while in Neutral. Independent MB repair shop and dealership scanned vehicle and identified with code P073E code. Dealer upgraded TCM control mo…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11632530 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11676731 · 2025-07-28 (July 28, 2025)
The car does not go into drive from reverse and will sometime automatically shift itself from a low drive gear (D1) into Neutral without warning. After this happens - the car also can't get back into D1. It takes about 20 seconds for the car to shift back into a Drive gear and it will jolt into D3 violently. This has been a scary experience on many occassions - especially at red lights when this happens and we can't get the car out of neutral for some time. This was diagnosed by mercedes dealership near us as a fawlty sensor in the transmissi…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11676731 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11698021 · 2025-11-06 (November 6, 2025)
I had the engine light come on and took it to the dealership. They quoted me over 8 thousand dollars to fix. I took it to a repair shop that works on luxury cars and they fixed it for less than 1000 dollars. I had to have the transducer fixed in the turbo in my engine and when they did that they found oil in the electrical harness. That was caused by the oil seperator. They told me that it was a manufacture defect that has been well documented and to take it back to Mercedees Benz. They looked and found the oil but said my car did not produc…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11698021 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11576098 · 2024-03-07 (March 7, 2024)
Car failed to accelerate due to faulty fuel pump, fuel tank, etc. Car stopped and died several times in the middle of heavy traffic. Mercedes Benz of West Houston, Sewell Dealership, has my car that was towed to them late afternoon on 3/5/2024. I have owned a Mercedes for over 40 years and never had this occur or be scared due to the car’s lack of performance.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11576098 at NHTSA ↗