YearToAvoid

2016 Mercedes-Benz Glc300 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

89/100

#2 most-complained of 10 Glc300 years

The 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC300 ranks 2nd worst out of 10 model years, with a complaint index of 89 and 133 NHTSA complaints across 12 recalls. Engine problems lead at 33% of complaints, followed by brakes at 21%, making 2016 one of the years to avoid for this model.

Complaints
133
Recalls
12
Crashes / fires
9 / 2
Injuries / deaths
5 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
24
21.5 city / 28 hwy

Top 2016 Mercedes-Benz Glc300 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine44 (33%)
  2. Brakes28 (21%)
  3. Fuel System21 (16%)
  4. Other21 (16%)
  5. Airbags12 (9%)
  6. Electrical System12 (9%)
  7. Steering7 (5%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires6 (5%)
  9. Transmission & Powertrain6 (5%)
  10. Seat Belts5 (4%)

What owners report

  • Engine emits a burning odor and triggers the check engine light while driving around 40 mph, with no diagnosis available afterward.
  • Vehicles violently vibrate and produce smoke from under the hood at highway speed, sometimes requiring full engine replacement.
  • Brakes fail to respond during low-speed maneuvers, causing the vehicle to surge or roll forward into stationary objects.
  • Airbags fail to deploy in moderate-to-severe frontal or side-impact crashes, including one deer-strike collision at 70 mph.
  • Vehicles left in park roll unexpectedly and crash into nearby structures while the engine is still running.
  • A starter motor failed in 'eco start' mode at an intersection on a nearly new vehicle with under 1,000 miles.
2016 Mercedes-Benz Glc300 complaints: complaints filed per quarter112016 Q22017 Q32018 Q42020 Q12021 Q32023 Q12024 Q32025 Q4
171 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2016 Q2 to 2026 Q3; peak 2017 Q2 (11).

2016 Mercedes-Benz Glc300 recalls

12 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 23V854000Dec 15, 2023Structure & Body2,976 vehicles

    Structure:body:roof and pillars

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2014-2020 C-Class, CLA, GLA, S-Class, GLC, and GLE vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle details. The front roof panel located between the windshield and the panoramic sunroof may not have been bonded correctly to the vehicle during a prior repair, allowing the front panel to detach from the vehicle.

    Risk: A detached roof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the front panel, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 2, 2024. Owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, on, March 22,2024, and August 2, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 21V-197.

  2. NHTSA 21V197000Mar 19, 2021Structure & Body15,096 vehicles

    Structure:body:roof and pillars

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017-2020 C300 Coupe, C43 Coupe AMG, C43 AMG, 2015-2020 C300, GLA250, 2016-2018 C350e, CLA45 Coupe AMG, 2015 C400, S65 AMG, 2015-2019 C63 AMG, 2016 C450, 2015-2016 GLA45 AMG, S600, 2016-2020 GLC300, 2017-2019 GLC43 AMG, GLE43 Coupe AMG, 2014-2019 CLA250 Coupe, 2014-2015 CLA45 AMG, 2018 GLC63 AMG, 2014-2017 S550, 2018-2020 S450, 2016-2019 GLE63 Coupe AMG, 2016 GLE450 Coupe, 2014-2020 S63 AMG, 2018-2019 S560, and 2019 GLC350e vehicles equipped with a panoramic sunroof. The front roof panel located between the windshield and the panoramic sunroof may not have been bonded correctly to the vehicle during a prior repair.

    Risk: The adhesive bonding of the front panel might deteriorate, possibly causing the front panel to detach from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Mercedes-Benz dealer will remove the bonded panel and will install a new front panel by following the detailed repair instructions and using the approved primer, cleaner and adhesive, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 3, 2021 and October 26, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

  3. NHTSA 21V058000Feb 5, 2021Other1,292,258 vehiclesOver-the-air fix

    Communication: auto crash notification

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 - 2021 CLA-Class, GLA-Class, GLE-Class, GLS-Class, SLC-Class, A-Class, GT-Class, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, CLS-Class, SL-Class, B-Class, GLB-Class, GLC-Class, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to the Part 573 report for specific vehicle model details. The software design of the communication module may fail to communicate the correct vehicle location for the emergency call system (eCall) in the event of a crash.

    Risk: Failure of the eCall system may result in emergency responders being dispatched to the wrong location, increasing the risk of injury following a crash.

    Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and the communication module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. The recall began March 12, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021020025.

See all 12 recalls for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz Glc300 →

2016 Mercedes-Benz Glc300 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
21.5 MPG
Highway
28 MPG
Combined
24 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,300
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2016 compared with other Glc300 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2016Avoid891331224
2017Best22981224
2018Good33871224

All Mercedes-Benz Glc300 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC300 a bad year?
Relative to other GLC300 model years, 2016 ranks 2nd worst out of 10 years tracked, with a complaint index of 89 and a verdict of Avoid based on NHTSA complaints and recalls.
What is the biggest problem with the 2016 GLC300?
Engine issues are the top complaint area, making up 33% of all complaints (44 of 133), with a median failure mileage of 25,426 miles.
Does the 2016 GLC300 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 12 recalls for the 2016 GLC300, covering seat belt latch plates, headlight adjustment, electrical/communication modules, airbag steering grounding, and structural body panels.
Which GLC300 model years should I avoid?
Based on complaint index, 2016 (89), 2022 (78), and 2023 (100) are flagged as Avoid years, while 2017, 2019, and 2024 rank as Best years.
How many complaints does the 2016 GLC300 have for brakes?
NHTSA lists 28 brake complaints for the 2016 GLC300, about 21% of all complaints, with a median failure mileage of 6,000 miles.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.