102 of the
609 complaints filed about the Mercedes Benz GLC 300
are about the electrical system —
17% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2023.
My vehicle's infotainment system both center console and dashbboard went completely black 2 weeks after I purchased the car in August of 2025. The vehicle was in the shop for a week and a half, and they finally fixed the issue. The vehicle at the time was bought used with about 2,200 miles on it at time of purchase. Now in July of 2026, exactly one year from the day i bought the car, with only 9,500 miles on it, we are having the same issue again with both the dashboard and center console going completely dark, not allowing us to see any critical information such as MPH, gas fuel, tire pressure, etc. Other than that the car seems to drive just fine. I noticed there was a mass recall of 144,000 cars because of this same issue with Mercedes Benz. The GLC-class was in fact listed on this list of eligible recall vehicles. However my VIN # was not eligible for some reason, even though it is the exact issue that the recalls were happening on, and fits within the recall class type and year of manufacture (2024-2026). I am simply requesting to be put on this recall list because it seems like this issue will continue to persist and we do not want to be turning this in every year and also risk our lives driving a car that does not give us very critical information in order to drive safely.
NHTSA complaint #11751934 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving down a busy neighborhood street 2 lanes with cars on both sides making it a 1 lane road pulled over to the side a little to let cars pass. All of a sudden ALL electrical and engine stopped and turned off. Only thing that was powered was instrument cluster with multiple warnings like SRS Malfunction, Steering Malfunction, SOS Inoperative, Parking Brake and more. We believe the car had also shifted to park on its own. No power to anything not even hazard lights. Nothing electrical had any sort of power. Could not even turn car off completely could not get the instrument cluster to turn off with ignition button. When I say everything electrical had no power I mean everything except instrument cluster. Hazard lights power locks, lights of any kind, ignition switch, gear selector, windows, sos feature, nothing had power. I could not imagine having this issue driving on the interstate and having the car completely loose ALL electrical power and what could happen to specially with a SRS malfunction and issue with steering. Had to have a wrecker come with wheel dollys because car could not be put in neutral and towed to Mercedes dealer. Upon their inspection they found the Circuit 30T relay to be stuck in the open position which killed power to everything so the technician replaced the engine compartment pre-fuse panel. It is such a unsafe and very hazardous issue to have a relay failure to where all power is lost especially if you were driving on interstate especially at night with traffic to loose everything electrical even hazard lights and headlights, SRS maltunction, Steering. Mercedes needs to figure this very unsafe issue out.
NHTSA complaint #11748161 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My vehicle got stuck on a EPB(electronic parking brake) and I was unable to disengage it. I tried a few things and none worked. I contacted Mercedes to tow it to the dealer and the tow truck came and driver had to “drag” my vehicle on to the flatbed. My car has been at Mercedes for 5 days now and they gave me a response saying that they are having a hard time trying to disengage the EPB. I’m aware of a EPB recall but my model is specified as being a part of it, however the issue is closely related to the recall so please take further interest in my situation because it could be the start of a new recall. The dealer says they have tried and failed to disengage it. My car was working just fine so please take further look at a possible software glitch for the EPB.
NHTSA complaint #11742050 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at 5 to 10 MPH attempting to park the vehilce lunged forward traveling 20 feet and crashed into the house. The air bags deployed. No warning lights were illuminated , There was no injuries or fire. A police report was filed. The gas company was on the scene due to a gas leak. Additionally the vehilce was serviced for electrical issues. While reversing in the snow the vehilce lunged 20 feet and crashed into a unknown vehicle causing a scratch. The local dealer was contacted where the EDR was requested. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehilce was towed to a towing lot. The manufacturer was not contacted The failure mileage was approximately 17,107. The vehicle was deemed a total lost.
NHTSA complaint #11741988 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
On April 16, 2026, within minutes of being released from a certified dealership, my 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 suffered a sudden and total loss of propulsion while traveling at high speed on the Belt Parkway (NY). Despite depressing the accelerator, the vehicle failed to maintain speed and stalled in active traffic. This created an immediate life-safety hazard, forcing me to navigate across multiple lanes without engine power to avoid a high-speed rear-end collision. The vehicle was released to me by Mercedes-Benz of Brooklyn on April 16, 2026, following a repair for which I paid $2,134.94. The dealership diagnosed the issue as a wiring harness/sensor fault and formally certified the vehicle as "Found OK" and safe for operation. The catastrophic failure occurred only 22 minutes after I departed the dealership lot. The vehicle had to be towed back to the facility immediately. Upon the vehicle being towed back on April 16, the dealership admitted via recorded voicemail that the initial $2,134.94 repair was a misdiagnosis. They subsequently issued a new diagnosis for a "Valve Body" failure and a new quote of $6,424. The dealership's Service Director has since admitted the vehicle suffers from concurrent transmission and engine failures, rendering the car a liability. This represents a critical failure of the powertrain and electronic control systems. Releasing a vehicle that suffers a total power loss on a highway immediately after a "certified" repair is gross negligence. I am reporting this to NHTSA as a catastrophic failure of a safety-critical component (Transmission/Valve Body) that resulted in a "dead-stick" situation on a major New York thoroughfare, posing a severe risk to myself and other motorists. The vehicle remains at the dealership. Mercedes-Benz USA has offered only a $2,000 "goodwill credit," which does not address the safety defects or the initial misdiagnosis. No recall has been initiated for this batch.
NHTSA complaint #11736351 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Safety Issue: Infotainment display screen produces scrambled pixels during Apple CarPlay navigation while driving. Description: When Apple CarPlay is connected and navigation is in use, the vehicle's infotainment display screen suddenly produces scrambled pixels, rendering the map and display unreadable. This malfunction occurs without warning while the vehicle is in motion, creating a dangerous visual distraction for the driver and uncertainty of where and when to turn or exit. This is a known, recurring issue. On January 7, 2021, I brought this problem to Mercedes-Benz of Indianapolis (Repair Order #624027), where a firmware update was applied and the issue was allegedly resolved. The fix has not proven permanent — the problem has since recurred and continues to present a safety hazard while driving. Despite this being a widely documented issue affecting numerous Mercedes owners, Mercedes-Benz has not issued a recall or technical service bulletin that I am aware of. My dealer is requiring a diagnostic fee of over $250 to inspect the vehicle, and Mercedes-Benz USA customer service has been unreachable. Requested Action: I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this issue and consider whether a Technical Service Bulletin or recall is warranted given the safety implications of a sudden display malfunction while driving.
NHTSA complaint #11732752 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact leased a 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC300. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the instrument panel and the infotainment system screen turned black, and the vehicle made abnormal electrical snapping sounds. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where two software resets were performed days apart; however, the failure persisted. The dealer informed the contact that upon performing a third software reset and replacing the circuit breaker fuse, the vehicle would be repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were contacted and informed the contact that it was a common failure. The failure mileage was approximately 4,700.
NHTSA complaint #11726336 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC300. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the speed limit warning system failed to function as intended. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the Heads-up Display (HUD) illuminated a red light and an unknown message about driving too slowly was displayed. The contact stated that the red light illuminated and flashed intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the failure was common with the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The contact asked if the speed limit warning system could be deactivated, and the dealer was informed that it had to be approved by the manufacturer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was referred to the dealer for assistance. The contact stated that the dealer and the manufacturer offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 12,000.
NHTSA complaint #11725658 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
There are two issues 1) Unsure of the exact date, but about a year or two ago we were driving our car and the car's automatic break system went into effect on a typically busy, 3 lane road despite there not being any cars in front of our vehicle. We took it into the dealership, who confirmed the issue and told us that sometimes the automatic brake mis-identifies the metal plates in the roads to be vehicles. Had there been a car driving behind us at the time this was happening, it could have been a major accident as the speed limit on that road was 45mph. Additionally we had our [XXX] in the car. There were no warning lamps, messages or symptoms of the problem prior to failure. 2) Recently we have been having a warning sign on our car that says the 12v battery is low, even though it should not be. Historically this would tell us to drive our car around so the battery wouldn't die, but this would sometimes turn on even after a 30+ minute drive. It was turning on every single time we turned the car off, so we brought it into the shop. While in the shop, the dealer provided us with a brand new GLC 300. I took this GLC 300 to my son's daycare to drop him off and when I returned to the car I received an error message "48V battery service required" and could not turn on the vehicle. This brand new vehicle left me stranded. While I was safe at my son's daycare, this has caused me to have significant concerns around the safety and reliability of these GLC300s. We are planning on taking our 2023 GLC 300 on a 6 hour road trip with our [XXX] old and [XXX] old and I am very concerned about the car not starting if we stop for gas. What if we get stranded in a small city along the way? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11725254 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I purchased a brand new GLC 300 on May 25, 2023. By June 2, 2023 I was already stranded due to a 12V battery electrical system failure. Since then I have been stranded 8 total times and the vehicle has been in the service department 14+ times for repeated electrical issues (8 of those visits were related to the same 12V battery electrical system failures. The battery was reportedly replaced in 2024-shortly thereafter I began experiencing issues with the collision assist malfunctioning. The alarms would sound seat belt tighten and brakes lock up while driving on the interstate. The theft deterrent alarm wound sound in the middle of the night without provocation. The panoramic roof would malfunction. The air vent disintegrated. In August 2025, the collision assist malfunctioned causing the vehicle to steer off the road resulting in a blow out. It has not been driven since.
NHTSA complaint #11722368 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
This is a well-known issue with these engines. See TSB (Service Bulletin) The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 has 42,000 miles and the warranty ran out 2 weeks ago. The vehicle is up-to-date on service. Fault code P06DA00 Engine Oil Pressure Control Circuit/Open. The Yellow Check Engine Light came on and the engine does not run properly and causes engine damage. We had to drive it slowly, under 45 mph, to the nearest dealership. This is a safety issue. To replace the oil pump control valve solenoid and the wire harness for this feature is $5009.00 at Mercedes-Benz. The part cost is about $300 retail, and the rest is all labor fees.
NHTSA complaint #11718651 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I had the engine light come on and took it to the dealership. They quoted me over 8 thousand dollars to fix. I took it to a repair shop that works on luxury cars and they fixed it for less than 1000 dollars. I had to have the transducer fixed in the turbo in my engine and when they did that they found oil in the electrical harness. That was caused by the oil seperator. They told me that it was a manufacture defect that has been well documented and to take it back to Mercedees Benz. They looked and found the oil but said my car did not produce a code and could not fix it. We escalated it to corporate that reviewed my case and said they still would not fix until it produced a code. Mercedees implemented an extended warranty for my car back in 2022 for emissions. They said they would cover it if it produces a code. I researched this problem and it said it posses a risk to me, my passengers and the public if it quits running or causes a fire. Corporate said its not a problem yet.
NHTSA complaint #11698021 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The infotainment and instrument panel screens blacked out after the vehicle was started a few miles away from our home. I was unable to see the speedometer while driving back home. This was the first time that this has happened to us. After a Google search of Mercedes Benz 2025 GLC 300, this event appears to be fairly common.
NHTSA complaint #11694886 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
When I entered my vehicle after it was washed at the Mercedes-Benz service location, I pressed Memory 1 button and the seat returned to my normal position. Without any further input, I started the engine, and the driver's seat automatically moved backward by itself. When I readjusted the seat and shifted into Drive, it continued moving rearward. As the seat moved backward, my feet could no longer reach the brake pedal. At the same time, the car began to move forward, and I lost control of the vehicle, resulting in a collision that damaged the right side doors. This malfunction occurred suddenly and without any warning lights or messages. The seat moved by itself twice-once when the engine started and again when I shifted into Drive. The issue appears to be related to the seat's electrical control system or memory setting malfunction. The dealership has inspected the vehicle but was unable to determine the cause of the problem. I am deeply concerned that this may happen again and could cause a serious injury or major traffic accident. The vehicle has approximately 2200 miles and was purchased new in March 2025. I am requesting a formal investigation to determine the cause of this automatic seat movement and whether other vehicles of the same model are affected.
NHTSA complaint #11692559 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC300. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, there was an abnormal grinding sound coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that the brake assist suddenly activated and the vehicle came to an abrupt stop, causing the seat belt to immediately retract and lock. The contact was slightly jerked from the abrupt stop. The contact stated that a warning light with a red triangle with an image of a crash in the center was illuminated. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the infotainment center and the instrument panel were completely black. The vehicle was restarted several times before both systems started operating as needed. The failure occurred twice; however, the second time, the contact had to turn off and restart the vehicle for approximately an hour before the infotainment center and instrument panel became operational. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who performed a software update for the infotainment center. After the software update was completed, the contact became aware there were other electrical systems that failed intermittently, including the voice activation system. The vehicle was returned to the dealer and the contact was informed that the front driver’s and passenger’s sides sensors were too low and there was no reason for the notification to become activated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 2,000.
NHTSA complaint #11683653 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Have been getting condensate inside vehicle headlights inwhich have cause the headlight to completely not work anymore.. There is no damage to headlight which means to be cause due to a problem with the seal. Checked with local and also statewide Mercedes advisors which was told there isn’t a recall for my vehicle inwhich I looked online and found an recall for vehicles just like the one I have.. Recall number 22V261000-Recall Date 04-14-2022. I’m asking for my vehicle to be inspected and repaired free of charge . Thanks and sorry for the bother - Can’t drive vehicle at night due to headlight malfunction and it’s very unsafe for me and kids and family
NHTSA complaint #11674539 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FIRE! NHTSA Vehicle Safety Complaint – Mercedes-Benz GLC300 Complainant Information: [XXX] [XXX] Phone: [XXX] Email: [XXX] Vehicle Information: 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC300 4MATIC VIN: [XXX] Purchase Location: Missouri Incident Location: St. Louis, MO Date of Incident: [XXX] Date of Report Submission: July 12, 2025 Summary of Incident: On [XXX] , my 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC300 4MATIC spontaneously caught fire while parked. I immediately contacted Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance, and the vehicle was towed for inspection. Mercedes-Benz later claimed the fire originated in the engine compartment, yet took no accountability and cited “missing components” as an excuse to avoid liability. Photographic evidence shows that the parts were present immediately after the fire. Mercedes-Benz denied that NHTSA Recall 21V961000 applied to this vehicle, despite clear similarity in symptoms (fire risk due to fuel or electrical issues). I was also never notified of any fire risk. Furthermore, towing coordination failures led to my vehicle being sent to a third-party lot, incurring unauthorized fees. Safety Concern: The spontaneous combustion of this vehicle presents a serious public safety risk. I am concerned this issue may be more widespread and underreported. Mercedes-Benz’s failure to take accountability and deflecting blame could endanger other consumers. Desired Action: 1. Federal investigation into similar fire-related complaints involving 2019 GLC300s. 2. Reconsideration of eligibility under Recall 21V961000 or related campaigns. 3. Consumer safety alert or expanded recall if defect patterns are confirmed. Attachments Provided: - Mercedes-Benz USA denial letter dated July 11, 2025 - Photos of the fire damage - Letters and written communications Signature: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11672995 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In July 2023, I entered into a lease agreement for a 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4MATIC SUV (VIN: [XXX]). From the outset, the vehicle suffered from recurring mechanical failures. It required service visits on August 10, 2023; March 25, 2024; July 26, 2024; September 20, 2024; and October 7, 2024. The final incident on [XXX], involved a fuel pump failure that caused the vehicle to stall in traffic, placing me in a terrifying situation where another driver, enraged and armed, threatened me while I waited for a tow truck. Mercedes-Benz acknowledged the vehicle was inoperable and issued a replacement lease on October 15, 2024 VIN [XXX]. However, this second vehicle also proved defective. Within two weeks, it was back in the shop for service. Since then, it has required repairs on December 24, December 31, 2024, and again on May 28, 2025, including another engine stall that posed a serious road safety threat. Despite my good faith efforts to resolve the matter, Mercedes-Benz, via their claims processor Sedgwick, is attempting to charge me $12,873.52 in negative equity, in addition to fees for Prepaid Maintenance and 4N1 Assurance Protection, as part of their settlement offer. These charges are both inappropriate and unlawful under the principles of lemon law and consumer protection. Request for Relief: •Immediate release from the lease agreement without penalty. •Refund of all payments made toward both defective vehicles. •Full waiver of any negative equity or ancillary product charges. •Any civil penalties deemed appropriate by your office against Mercedes-Benz USA and/or Sedgwick. I have already filed a complaint with the NHTSA (ID Number: 11665555) As I feel as though my safety is in imminent danger driving this vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11670954 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.