Mercedes-Benz Glc300 Best and Worst Years (2016–2025)
The Mercedes-Benz Glc300 years to avoid are 2016, 2022, and 2023, based on complaint index scores of 100, 78, and 89 and heavy engine, fuel system, and electrical complaints. Only 2025 earns a Good verdict, with the lowest complaint index (33) and just 16 complaints; 2017-2021 and 2024 fall into Caution due to recall counts.
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls per model-year, ranked within this model — not a reliability rating. Methodology.
- Model years
- 10
- 2016–2025
- NHTSA complaints
- 651
- Recall campaigns
- 53
- Crashes reported
- 35
- Fires reported
- 11
- Top problem area
- Engine
Glc300 Complaint Index by year
Higher = more complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and Do-Not-Drive recalls per year on the road, relative to other years of this model.
Mercedes-Benz Glc300 problems and recalls by year
| Year | Verdict | Index | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recalls | Top issue | MPG | NCAP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Avoid | 100 | 133 | 9 | 2 | 12 | Engine | 24 | — |
| 2017 | Caution | 44 | 98 | 3 | 2 | 12 | Engine | 24 | — |
| 2018 | Caution | 22 | 87 | 4 | 1 | 12 | Engine | 24 | — |
| 2019 | Caution | 11 | 47 | 4 | 2 | 12 | Electrical System | 24 | — |
| 2020 | Caution | 67 | 69 | 3 | 0 | 16 | Engine | 24 | — |
| 2021 | Caution | 56 | 66 | 1 | 2 | 9 | Engine | 24 | — |
| 2022 | Avoid | 78 | 59 | 5 | 2 | 2 | Fuel System | 24 | — |
| 2023 | Avoid | 89 | 55 | 2 | 0 | 12 | Electrical System | 26 | — |
| 2024 | Caution | 0 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 8 | Electrical System | 27 | — |
| 2025 | Good | 33 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 3 | Electrical System | 26 | — |
Glc300 years to avoid: what went wrong
2016 Mercedes-Benz Glc300 Index 100 · 133 complaints · 12 recalls
2016 has the highest complaint index of any Glc300 year at 100, with 133 total complaints and 12 recall campaigns. Engine problems make up 33% of its complaints, at a median failure mileage of 25,426. Brake complaints follow at 21% of complaints, with owners reporting brake pedal malfunction and unintended forward surge at a median mileage of 6,000. Fuel system issues account for 16% of complaints, and airbag complaints made up 9%, including cases where airbags failed to deploy in crashes. Nine crashes and two fires were reported for this year, with five injuries.
2016 engine problems →2016 brakes problems →2016 fuel system problems →
2023 Mercedes-Benz Glc300 Index 89 · 55 complaints · 12 recalls
2023 has a complaint index of 89 and is dominated by electrical system issues, which account for 64% of its 55 complaints, with a median failure mileage of 8,500. Owners reported vehicles stalling while parking, instrument clusters going black, alarms triggering repeatedly, and vehicles refusing to start. Engine complaints make up 29% of complaints at a median mileage of just 400. This year carries 12 recall campaigns, including steering coupling bolts and headlight sealing caps, and recorded one death and two crashes.
2022 Mercedes-Benz Glc300 Index 78 · 59 complaints · 2 recalls
2022 carries a complaint index of 78, driven largely by fuel system problems, which make up 34% of its 59 complaints. Engine complaints account for 25%, with a median failure mileage of 10,000, and steering complaints make up 24% at a median mileage of 5,742. Owners reported steering wheel shaking on uneven surfaces, unintended acceleration, and driver-assistance mode failures leading to crashes. Recalls cover headlight adjustment and fuel pump replacement. Five crashes and two fires were reported for this year.
Most common Mercedes-Benz Glc300 problems (all years)
Share of NHTSA complaints by component group across all model years.
- Engine219 (34%)
- Electrical System151 (23%)
- Other112 (17%)
- Fuel System88 (14%)
- Brakes56 (9%)
- Transmission & Powertrain46 (7%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras43 (7%)
- Steering36 (6%)
- Structure & Body36 (6%)
- Airbags35 (5%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- What years of the Mercedes-Benz Glc300 should I avoid?
- NHTSA data points to 2016, 2022, and 2023 as the years to avoid, with complaint index scores of 100, 78, and 89 respectively, the highest among all Glc300 model years.
- Which Mercedes-Benz Glc300 year is the best?
- 2025 is the only year with a Good verdict, showing the lowest complaint index (33) among years with meaningful complaint activity and just 16 total complaints.
- Is the 2016 Mercedes-Benz Glc300 reliable?
- 2016 has the worst complaint index of any Glc300 year at 100, with 133 complaints, 12 recall campaigns, and engine and brake problems making up over half of reported issues.
- Does the 2023 Glc300 have electrical problems?
- Yes, electrical system complaints make up 64% of the 2023 model's 55 complaints, with owners reporting stalling, blacked-out instrument clusters, and failure to start at a median failure mileage of 8,500.
- Why are 2017-2021 and 2024 Glc300 years rated Caution instead of Good?
- These years have their verdicts capped to Caution because of high recall counts, ranging from 8 to 16 recall campaigns requiring a dealer visit, despite lower complaint index scores.