26 of the
609 complaints filed about the Mercedes Benz GLC 300
are about the body and structure —
4% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2018.
In multiple incidents, the tailgate has begun to close while I am loading or unloading items from the trunk, hitting me in the head. My natural reaction is to lift up, causing injury to my neck. The dealer unsuccessfully "fixed" the problem. Additionally, and unrelated to the closing problem, on multiple occasions, upon pushing the close button on the tailgate when it was in an open position, the tailgate reaches the floor of the trunk, then without locking, opens about one (1) foot. The dealer "could not duplicate" the problem. I have to manually close the tailgate. You ask when did this happen, the latest incident is the date reported below, but the two issues/problems have reoccurred time and time again since we bought the vehicle new.
NHTSA complaint #11737239 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving on interstate 4 in Florida with our grandchildren going approximately 70 mph the sunroof on our 2018 Mercedes GLC just exploded no object came into the vehicle and while glass came into the vehiclenot all the glass that made up the sunroof came into vehicle suggesting a pressure issue as apparently blew out
NHTSA complaint #11723228 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, there was an abnormal cracking sound coming from the roof. The contact stated that upon arriving to the destination and parking the vehicle, the contact became aware that the panoramic roof panel had detached. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 23V854000 (Structure) and 21V197000 (Structure). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the recalls, and assistance could not be provided because the vehicle was out of warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.
NHTSA complaint #11680728 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Panoramic sunroof blew off vehicle while driving. Other drivers were put at a risk from a vehicle component flying through the air at high speed. The vehicle has been inspected by the dealership. No warnings prior to the problem. There is a recall with Mercedes Benz for this issue buy my VIN is not the included number but should be included.
NHTSA complaint #11667157 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On May 22, 2025, while parked, my 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC300 spontaneously caught fire, completely destroying the vehicle. Thankfully, no one was inside, and no injuries occurred, but the property damage was significant. I later discovered Recall 21V961000 / Campaign 2022030003 affecting some 2019 GLC300s for fuel leaks at the fuel rail/injector interface, which pose a serious fire hazard. Further research has shown reports of loose ground connections in these vehicles as well, increasing the risk of sparks igniting leaked fuel. Given that my vehicle caught fire spontaneously and matches the defect described in this recall, I firmly believe this incident was related to that defect. Mercedes-Benz has not provided adequate assistance. The vehicle was towed to a local dealership (Plaza Mercedes-Benz), but they refused to accept it, adding further confusion and hardship. I am submitting this report to request that NHTSA fully investigate this issue and work to ensure that Mercedes-Benz USA takes responsibility for this vehicle defect and compensates me for this dangerous failure. I am happy to provide photos, tow reports, or further documentation if needed. Thank you for your assistance in ensuring public safety.
NHTSA complaint #11666424 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1. Rear Hatch hands free system - closes unexpectedly while loading or unloading car without using feet to trigger system. Hatch will close down and trap driver in the rear, causing bruising on driver and requiring assistance to push hatch back up. Has been into dealer multiple times since this is HUGE risk to animals or small children exiting out of the rear. Dealer finally disabled hands free system. 2. Lane change assist/blind spot warning - Auto believes there's a vehicle in the lane to either side and will stop car from changing lanes, when actually there isn't a vehicle there. Has caused several close calls due to signaling to change lanes the car will then try to pull back into previous lane. Warning light remains on the side mirrors even when there are no vehicles in the lane. This is especially hazardous while driving at night and in less than optimal weather conditions.
NHTSA complaint #11653863 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On Saturday October 5th at roughly 8:30 p.m. heading West on I-94 near battle creek, MI, the glass sunroof on our Mercedes suddenly exploded out and shattered. We were traveling at 75 mph with little surrounding traffic and no over-head obstructions. It took a second to re-gain control of the situation and slow down to a stop. We had the sun-shade closed, saving us from glass shards raining down from the exploded sunroof. The following Monday morning, Oct 7th around 9:00 a.m., we called Mercedes about the issue. They were indifferent and offered no assistance. They pointed out that our MY2020 with 29,711 miles on the odo was not covered under warranty for the sunroof shattering and that we would have to deal with our insurance company. They also informed us that they would not have any rental cars available during a repair until at least December. We mentioned that there was signs on the internet of class-actions against Mercedes for similar sunglass explosions to which they quickly responded with - not on MY20 300 GLC. We did get the sunroof replaced through our insurance. Anecdotely, when we took it into the glass repair shop, they had just did another one, similar situation the week before. This could have been tragic. Glass shards could have been everywhere. The only reason the sunscreen was deployed was that we had our baby granddaughter in the car only 1 hour earlier. Otherwise, that screen would have been open and the glass would have rained down on everyone in the car.
NHTSA complaint #11619687 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC300. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact heard an abnormal sound emanating from the vehicle from an unknown location. The contact pulled over to the shoulder of the roadway and after a visual inspection of the exterior of the vehicle, the contact observed that the front roof panel had become detached. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V854000 (Structure) but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.
NHTSA complaint #11594442 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC300. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, and the contact and his wife were removing groceries from the rear of the vehicle, the tailgate was independently lifted due to the design of the keyless entry feature. The contact and his wife continued to remove items from the rear of the vehicle and the tailgate sensor became enabled, and the tailgate closed inadvertently, striking the contact's wife on the head. The contact's wife sustained a knot on the head that remained for a week. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The contact was informed that the feature could not be deactivated unless the contact chose to deactivate the entire keyless sensor feature. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and the contact was informed that the option would be to deactivate the entire keyless sensor. The failure mileage was approximately 1,000.
NHTSA complaint #11580776 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My 2019 GLC 300 had water coming out of the trunk interior body panels when I opened it. I looked it up online and apparently it’s a big issue happening to many mercedes Benz owners and there is no active recall for this although there should be. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11570700 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 Panoramic stationary sunroof between the windshield and sunroof glass panel disbonded while vehicle was in operation and almost caused an accident on the highway. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Exterior panel disbonded while in operation and almost hit vehicles behind and could have caused an accident. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes diagnosis from the dealership that panel was coming loose. Then upon picking up my vehicle, panel disbonded on the highway. Dealer is Mercedes-Benz of Atlanta South. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No inspection only completed by local Dealership. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Excessive wind noise inside the cabin during vehicle operation. In addition, my year, make and model vehicle has already had a recall regarding this issue, however, Mercedes did not identify my vehicle VIN number for this recall and is refusing to repair this safety issue. But the exact issue occurred on my vehicle. The NHTSA campaign numbers for the two recalls are 17V715000 (MBUSA number 2017110009) and a revised campaign in 2021 21V197 (MBUSA number 2021070010), which states “Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017-2018 GLC300, GLC300 4Matic, and GLC43 AMG vehicles. The fixed panoramic sunroof frontal and side plastic panels may have insufficient bonding, allowing the panels to separate during vehicle operation”. Warning signs for these recalls are “high wind noise inside the cabin” which is EXACTLY what was diagnosed on my vehicle by the dealership. Please contact Mercedes-Benz and require them to re-assess the VIN numbers identified with the recalls.
NHTSA complaint #11560511 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC300. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the exterior panel between the windshield and sunroof detached, creating a hazardous road debris. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the exterior panel adhesive bonding agent. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related it to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V197000 (Structure) and 17V715000 (Visibility), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 51,000.
NHTSA complaint #11551023 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hatch closes or opens when bumper cover is depressed accidentally causing injuries by smashing on top of head and crushing hands. Contact us for a video recording of an event.
NHTSA complaint #11540517 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1. The rear hatch has opened while the car was left unattended. 2. If the hatch opens it could possibly cause a safety issue: a.By opening while driving. This has not happened and I do not know if Mercedes has a safety lock to ensure this could not happen. b.Open while parked and unattended. The vehicle would be unsecured with items being subjected to being stolen. c.Open while parked at the store, mall, etc. A stranger could get in the rear of the vehicle, close the hatch and wait for me to return causing a dangerous situation. d.Open and damage the garage door if parked in the garage; e.Open while someone is in the back of the vehicle. Should this happen, a person could be pinned against another vehicle or garage door. 3.Mercedes Benz is aware of this issue on many of their vehicles. I was told the S class Mercedes has had a similar problem and Mercedes reprogrammed the key fob to a “2X push of the rear hatch button on the key fob”. They have yet to do this on my vehicle. 4.The vehicle has not been inspected by Mercedes, however, in discussing this with the Mercedes Service Department they are aware of this issue and as of today there is not a similar fix as to that of the S class Mercedes. Mercedes is aware of this problem but has yet to offer a fix. Also, upon doing an internet search, I have discovered others having experienced similar problems over the course of many years. 5.There were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms relating to the problem. This problem first appeared within a few miles of owning the vehicle. The vehicle is currently has about 1,100 miles.
NHTSA complaint #11530442 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Driving at 70MPH on interstate and glass on top of roof in front of sunroof became separated and flew off of car. Part appears to be named Cover OSR. Our safety was not at risk however part breaking off at highway speed could have caused accident for a vehicle behind us or caused injury if someone was struck by the part. When the part became detached, there is no longer a seal to prevent water or debris from entering into the roof of the car. Independent service center stated to take car to dealership repair. Has not been scheduled yet. It has not been inspected yet. There was excess noise prior to the part breaking loose.
NHTSA complaint #11514023 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC300. The contact stated while stopped in a parking lot, she raised the automatic liftgate, as she helped her husband load his walker into the rear cargo area of the vehicle, and the tailgate independently closed with force. The contact stated that both her husband and herself were struck on the top of the head by the liftgate. The contact stated that there was a pain but no physical injury was sustained. The contact stated that the failure had become constant and she no longer operated the liftgate. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the liftgate motor needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.
NHTSA complaint #11486081 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sunroof glass panel exploded outward. Fabric retractable interior sunroof liner did contain all of the fragmented safety glass. No prior impact on or to the sunroof. If the interior fabric sunroof liner had been retracted, the interior of the vehicle would have been showered with the glass shards impacting the driver and all passengers. There was no warning. A loud sound similar to gunshot occurred as the sunroof failed. The vehicle was driven to a local windshield repair facility for examination. I contacted and notified Mercedes Benz USA of the incident. They have not done a follow-up as of this date. I contacted Mercedes Benz of Anchorage AK and will do a follow-up with that dealership on May 31 2022.
NHTSA complaint #11466660 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On 12/23 I was driving away from home for holiday, and my panoramic sunroof exploded. I was quite shaken as glass was everywhere, in hair, on me and of course in car. I suffered very minor cuts. Called Mercedes SOS. Mercedes customer care. Advised me to go to local dealer near home. 2019 GLC300W4 with ~26,890 miles at time of accident. Dealer, West Chester MB without looking said $10,484. Not under warranty because of year and miles. I see that in March of 2021, about 17,000 vehicles were recalled for sunroof problems, just not my specific model. Clearly, there is a problem.
NHTSA complaint #11446666 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE SUNROOF OF OUR CAR SHATTERED BY ITSELF WHEN WE WERE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET. THERE WAS NO PROJECTILE THAT CAUSED THE SUNROOF TO SHATTER AND THE DEALERSHIP WAS ABLE TO CONFIRM THAT. BUT THE DEALERSHIP AND THE COMPANY ARE UNABLE TO SAY FOR CERTAIN WHY THIS HAPPENED AND WHETHER OR NOT THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. THE INCIDENT CAUSED GLASS TO FALL ON ALL OUR PASSENGERS AND THE SOUND OF THE GLASS SHATTERING DURING DRIVING REALLY SCARED US. WE ARE CONCERNED FOR OUR SAFETY AND EVEN MORE CONCERNED THAT MERCEDES IS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE WHY THIS HAPPENED AND ARE NOT ABLE TO SAY FOR SURE THAT IT WOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #11414496 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.