What breaks most · 2016 to 2017 model years
Mercedes-Benz GLC300 problems by year
Owners have filed 84 safety complaints with NHTSA about the Mercedes-Benz GLC300 across model years 2016 to 2017. Two years stand out: 2016 for brakes complaints and 2017 for engine complaints.
- Years to check closely: 2016, 2017
- Complaints on file
- 842016 to 2017, all trims
- Worst year
- 201661 complaints
- Crashes reported
- 73 fires · 4 injuries · 0 deaths
- Typical failure mileage
- 7kMedian where owners gave mileage
- Recall campaigns
- 24Across the years shown
Complaints by model year
Raw filings with NHTSA, not adjusted for how many were sold.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Recalls | Most-reported component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 61 | 5 | 12 | Brakes (23) | |
| 23 | 2 | 12 | Engine (9) |
What fails on the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC300
| Component | Share of complaints | Filings | Crashes | Parts for this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BrakesBrake pads, rotors and calipers | 38% |
23 | 2 | Shop brakes parts for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC300 |
| EngineEngine gaskets and seals | 23% |
14 | 0 | Shop engine parts for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC300 |
| Air bags | 15% |
9 | 2 | Check recalls for air bags on NHTSA.gov |
| Electrical systemAlternators, starters and ignition | 15% |
9 | 0 | Shop electrical system parts for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC300 |
| Seat belts | 7% |
4 | 1 | Check recalls for seat belts on NHTSA.gov |
| Wheels | 5% |
3 | 0 | — |
| Unknown or other | 5% |
3 | 1 | — |
| SteeringPower steering pumps, racks and hoses | 5% |
3 | 0 | Shop all steering parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
One complaint can name more than one component, so shares add to more than 100%. "Unknown or other" is NHTSA's uncategorized bucket and is shown but never ranked.
In owners' words
Complaint narratives as filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length.
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Purchased the car new from dealer in march 2016. Brakes squeal in reverse when there's cold weather. The dealer has replaced break pads and rotors 3 times but still the same issue; i've brought it in for the same problem over 4 times. The latest 'fix' was january 2018.
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Vehicle shut off on busy highway. Engine shut off. Electrical/ computer system malfuncitoned. Vehicle would not start back up again
How to read this page
Every figure comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's public complaint database, which holds every safety-related defect complaint filed by owners since 1995. We refresh it monthly and count each complaint once per component it names. Data through September 30, 2026.
NHTSA only accepts safety-related complaints. Rattles, paint, infotainment bugs and other annoyances are under-reported here, so this page is a map of what fails in ways owners consider dangerous, not a full reliability score.
Counts are raw. Use the year-over-year shape and the component mix, not the absolute numbers. Where a component maps to parts we stock, the row links to that category filtered to the year you are viewing. Air bag and seat belt complaints link to the recall checker instead, because those repairs are almost always covered.
Common questions
Which Mercedes-Benz GLC300 years have the most problems?
By NHTSA complaint volume, 2016, 2017 carry the most filings on the Mercedes-Benz GLC300. The 2016 alone has 61 complaints, led by brakes.
What is the most common Mercedes-Benz GLC300 problem?
On the 2016 model year, the most-reported component is brakes with 23 complaints. The table above lists the top components for every year.
At what mileage do Mercedes-Benz GLC300 problems start?
The median mileage at failure across all Mercedes-Benz GLC300 complaints that include mileage is about 7,000 miles. Older model years skew higher; the per-year figure is in the "at a glance" card.
Are these complaints verified?
No. NHTSA publishes complaints as submitted and does not investigate individual filings. Patterns across hundreds of complaints are meaningful; a single one is not.