2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC300 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
133 owner complaints analyzed
12 distinct recall campaigns
11,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 62 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 38 of 133 complaints (28.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 30 | 22.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 12 | 9.0% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 6.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 7 | 5.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 3.0% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 2.3% |
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 | 38 |
| Service Brakes | 27 |
| Unknown Or Other | 21 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 18 |
| Air Bags | 12 |
| Electrical System | 11 |
| Steering | 7 |
| Power Train | 5 |
Engine: 38; Service Brakes: 27; Unknown Or Other: 21; Fuel/Propulsion System: 18; Air Bags: 12; Electrical System: 11; Steering: 7; Power Train: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 41 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 14 |
| 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: 41; 25,000 to 49,999: 14; 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 (41). 71 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 |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 16 |
| 2017 | 27 |
| 2018 | 14 |
| 2019 | 10 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 23 |
| 2023 | 14 |
| 2024 | 8 |
| 2025 | 5 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2016: 16; 2017: 27; 2018: 14; 2019: 10; 2020: 7; 2021: 6; 2022: 23; 2023: 14; 2024: 8; 2025: 5; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 30 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 12 complaint narratives. Steering 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 10934118 · 2016-12-09 (December 9, 2016)
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 6,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10934118 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10935234 · 2016-12-14 (December 14, 2016)
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 5,000 MILES ON CAR, NOW HAVE ABOUT 6500.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10935234 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10899666 · 2016-08-30 (August 30, 2016)
I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT ON A MAJOR THREE LANE EACH DIRECTION HIGHWAY IN SUBURBAN IL, WHEN I STARTED TO GO AFTER THE LIGHT CHANGE THE CAR STUTTERED AND TURNED OFF. IT WAS RENDERED COMPLETELY INOPERABLE. THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. THE RADIO AND WINDOWS WORKED, BUT NO OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WORKED (E.G. DOOR LOCK/UNLOCK).
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10899666 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10958464 · 2017-03-03 (March 3, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MERCEDES-BENZ GLC300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V114000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, 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 MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10958464 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10882435 · 2016-07-04 (July 4, 2016)
I PURCHASED MY NEW VEHICLE DEC 2015. I HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP 2 TIMES FOR AN ESTIMATED TIME OF 3 TO 4 WEEKS. 1ST MY STEERING MECHANISM LOCKED UP AND WOULDN'T ALLOW ME TO MOVE MY STEERGING WHEEL UP OR DOWN. IN OR OUT. THEN, AT THE SAME TIME, MY CAR WAS SHIFTING ERRATICALLY. IT WOULD FEEL LIKE IT WAS IN 5TH GEAR, AND THEN IMMEDIATELY DROP TO 1ST GEAR. THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WHEN THEY HAD THIS VEHICLE AND THEY HAD IT FOR ABOUT 5 DAYS. NOW, MY ENGINE BLEW. THEY STATED VIA TEXT MESSAGE THAT THE CAM SHAFT BROKE AND PUT A LARGE HOLE I…
Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10882435 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10916712 · 2016-10-18 (October 18, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MERCEDES BENZ GLC 300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO REMEDY DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,500.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10916712 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10861027 · 2016-04-22 (April 22, 2016)
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 BOSTON, THE CAR WAS AT THE DEALER FOR 2 WEEKS, THIS TIME THEY REPLACED THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT (TODAY 4-22-16), I'M PICKING IT UP TOMORROW. I OWN THE CAR FOR 12 WEEKS AND ONLY BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE IT 7 WEEKS, SO DISAPPOINTED IN MERCEDES BENZ.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,450 miles reported. Look up ODI 10861027 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11151231 · 2018-11-13 (November 13, 2018)
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 THIS PROBLEM. VEHICLE STILL UNDER WARRANTY, MB DEALERSHIP SHOULDN'T CHARGE FOR THE INSPECTION. TAKING VEHICLE TO EL PASO TX DEALERSHIP. WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11151231 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10853024 · 2016-04-01 (April 1, 2016)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10853024 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10872883 · 2016-06-07 (June 7, 2016)
MESSAGE: DATE: 06/07/2016: RECENTLY, I PURCHASED A 2016 MERCEDES GLC300 AND WAS VERY 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 MERCEDES AND THEY SAID THERE IS NO WAY TO TURN IT OFF COMPLETELY. I BELIEVE THIS PRESENTS A HIGH RISK FOR STALLS THAT COULD POSSIBLY RESULT IN SEVERE BODILY HARM AND EVEN DEATH. WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED THE ENGINE TURNS OFF AND WILL START IF ONE PRESSES THE GAS PEDAL. FOR EXAMPLE; WHEN TURNING LEFT AT AN INTERSECTION IT IS VERY UNC…
Owner-reported narrative. 16 miles reported. Look up ODI 10872883 at NHTSA ↗