YearToAvoid

2016 Mercedes-Benz Glc300 Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 44 engine-related complaints for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz Glc300, 33% of all complaints filed for the year, with a median failure mileage of 25,426 miles. Owners reported engine replacement, stalling, and fire-related odors, though no dedicated engine recall is tied to this dataset.

Engine complaints
44
33% of 133
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
2
Median mileage
25,426 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Engine violently vibrates with smoke under the hood at highway speeds, sometimes requiring full engine replacement.
  • Vehicle stalls or throws a code in low-speed "eco start" stop-start mode, requiring starter motor replacement.
  • Engine misfires repeatedly shortly after purchase, leading to replacement of fuel injectors, coils, the fuel module, and eventually the engine itself.
  • Sudden acceleration followed by unexpected slowdown at highway speed, accompanied by a gasoline odor while parked.
  • Owners report the default eco-mode stop-start feature shuts the engine off unpredictably at stops, which they describe as a stall risk.
  • Burning odor and check engine light appear together while driving, without the vehicle being diagnosed.

When 2016 Mercedes-Benz Glc300 engine complaints were filed

First complaint Apr 1, 2016, latest May 6, 2025.

2016 Mercedes-Benz Glc300 engine complaints: complaints filed per month2Apr 2016Apr 2017Apr 2019May 2021Sep 2022May 2023Sep 2024
44 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2016 to May 2025; peak Apr 2016 (2).

Engine recalls for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz Glc300

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Glc300 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201644 (33%)
  2. 201738 (39%)
  3. 201829 (33%)
  4. 201913 (28%)
  5. 202022 (32%)
  6. 202131 (47%)
  7. 202215 (25%)
  8. 202316 (29%)
  9. 20247 (33%)
  10. 20254 (25%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine problems in the 2016 Mercedes-Benz Glc300?
NHTSA lists 44 engine-related complaints for the 2016 model year, accounting for 33% of all 133 complaints filed for that year.
At what mileage do engine problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for engine complaints on the 2016 Glc300 is 25,426 miles.
Is there a recall for the 2016 Glc300 engine?
The data provided does not list any related recalls specifically tied to this engine complaint category.
Have engine problems caused crashes or fires?
Among the reported engine-area complaints, NHTSA data associated with this year shows 3 crashes, 2 fires, and 2 injuries.
Is the 2016 Glc300 worse than other years for engine complaints?
The 2016 Glc300's engine complaints made up 33% of all complaints that year, compared to a high of 47% in 2021 and a low of 25% in 2022 and 2025, based on NHTSA data across model years.

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.