YearToAvoid

2018 Mercedes-Benz Glc300 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

33/100

#7 most-complained of 10 Glc300 years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2018 Mercedes-Benz Glc300 ranks 7th worst out of 10 model years with a Complaint Index of 33 and a "Good" verdict. It has 87 complaints, 12 recalls, and the top problem area is Engine at 33% of complaints.

Complaints
87
Recalls
12
Crashes / fires
4 / 1
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
24
22 city / 28 hwy

Top 2018 Mercedes-Benz Glc300 problems

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

  1. Engine29 (33%)
  2. Other20 (23%)
  3. Electrical System14 (16%)
  4. Structure & Body10 (11%)
  5. Seat Belts8 (9%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain8 (9%)
  7. Fuel System7 (8%)
  8. Airbags6 (7%)
  9. Brakes5 (6%)
  10. Collision Avoidance & Cameras4 (5%)

What owners report

  • Owners report rear tires puncturing and later catching fire after being pulled over on the roadside.
  • Some describe the vehicle rolling backward after shifting to neutral or park on an incline while the engine stayed running.
  • Drivers report sudden unintended acceleration or lurching forward at low speed when parking, with brakes failing to engage.
  • Several owners describe loud, persistent brake squeaking in cold or wet weather that dealers could not permanently fix.
  • One complaint describes a loud bang from the transmission during slow acceleration, followed by loss of power and steering response.
  • Doors have been reported to lock automatically with the keys left inside or outside the vehicle.
2018 Mercedes-Benz Glc300 complaints: complaints filed per quarter152018 Q12019 Q12020 Q32022 Q32023 Q32024 Q32025 Q4
120 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2018 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2024 Q1 (15).

2018 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 22V365000May 20, 2022Electrical System242,722 vehiclesOver-the-air fix

    Electrical system:software

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017-2022 CLA-Class, GLA-Class, GLE-Class, GLS-Class, SLC-Class, A-Class, AMG GT-Class, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, SL-Class, GLC-Class, CLS-Class, GLB-Class, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. An error in the communication module's SIM card software can cause a mobile network connection failure, disabling the emergency call (eCall) system.

    Risk: A disabled eCall system would prevent a vehicle occupant from contacting the emergency services call center in an emergency, potentially delaying emergency responders and increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: The communication module software will be updated through an Over-the-Air (OTA) update or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 8, 2022. Owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, on July 8, 2022, May 17, 2024, July 29, 2024, and September 27, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's numbers are for this recall is 2022060005 and 2023110006.

  3. 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.

See all 12 recalls for the 2018 Mercedes-Benz Glc300 →

2018 Mercedes-Benz Glc300 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
22 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.

2018 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
2019Best0471224
2020Caution56691624

All Mercedes-Benz Glc300 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Mercedes-Benz Glc300 reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2018 Glc300 has a Complaint Index of 33 and ranks 7th worst among 10 model years, earning a "Good" verdict relative to other Glc300 years.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Mercedes-Benz Glc300?
The top problem area is Engine, accounting for 33% of the 87 complaints (29 complaints), followed by Electrical System at 16% (14 complaints) and Structure & Body at 11% (10 complaints).
Does the 2018 Glc300 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 12 recalls for the 2018 Glc300, including a seat belt latch plate recall (18V683000) and an LED headlight turn signal recall (18V610000).
What year Mercedes-Benz Glc300 should I avoid?
Among Glc300 years with data, 2016, 2022, and 2023 carry "Avoid" verdicts with Complaint Index values of 89, 78, and 100, respectively, higher than the 2018 model's 33.
How many complaints does the 2018 Glc300 have compared to other years?
The 2018 Glc300 has 87 complaints, fewer than 2016 (133) and 2017 (98), but more than 2019 (47), 2020 (69), 2021 (66), 2022 (59), 2023 (55), 2024 (21), and 2025 (16).

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.