Car Defect Radar
Get the report
Built from NHTSA complaints and recalls collected for this model, generated October 26, 2026. Totals reflect what has been collected, not every complaint ever filed.
Confirm 4 recalls before you buy.

Ask the seller for proof the repair was completed, or run the free VIN check. Recall repairs are done at no cost by a dealer.

Recalls

7 total · 4 to confirm

Safety issues the manufacturer must repair for free. A recall means confirm the fix was done, not walk away.

Exterior lighting recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 24V070000 · Feb 2024

Incorrectly aimed headlights can reduce the visibility of oncoming traffic, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy
Dealers will inspect the headlight adjustment and correct it if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 23, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Fuel system recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 23V445000 · Jun 2023

A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy
Dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 14, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2023070012.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Airbags recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 21V527000 · Jul 2021

Air bags and seatbelts that don't function as intended can increase the risk of injury during a crash.

Remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace as necessary, the side impact crash sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 3, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021070032/33.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Safety recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 21V072000 · Feb 2021

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

Remedy
MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the communication module and activate it, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2021. Letters for the owners of the 9 additional vehicles were mailed July 9, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021030005.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Electrical system recall

Fixed over the airRecall 22V365000 · May 2022

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.
Status
Corrected automatically through an over-the-air software update.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Safety recall

Fixed over the airRecall 21V354000 · May 2021

A backup camera that displays a blank image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy
The multimedia system software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning June 28, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6373. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021050012.
Status
Corrected automatically through an over-the-air software update.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Electrical system recall

Fixed over the airRecall 21V058000 · Feb 2021

Failure of the eCall system may result in emergency responders being dispatched to the wrong location, increasing the risk of injury following a crash.

Remedy
MBUSA will notify owners, and the communication module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. The recall began March 12, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021020025.
Status
Corrected automatically through an over-the-air software update.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Owner complaints by system

43 total

Unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA, grouped by the part of the car. Useful for spotting patterns. Open a group to read recent examples.

Engine & powertrain

Worth reading
27

Most reports here involve sudden stalling. Of these, 1 mention a crash.

sudden stalling 9fluid leaks 3
A recent report: The vehicle is experiencing an intermittent, sudden, and life-threatening drop into "limp home mode" while driving, creating an severe speed differential with surrounding traffic.First Incident…
Read full complaint

The vehicle is experiencing an intermittent, sudden, and life-threatening drop into "limp home mode" while driving, creating an severe speed differential with surrounding traffic.First Incident (50,584 miles): The vehicle entered limp mode. Authorized Mercedes service center scanned the car, confirming Fault Code P019185 (Rail pressure sensor malfunction / signal above permissible limit value). The dealer applied an Engine Control Module software patch under Mercedes TSB LI07.70-P-078047.Second Incident (53,695 miles): Less than 3,000 miles later, the exact same sudden powertrain failure recurred. The vehicle drastically lost propulsion power immediately after exiting a high-speed freeway, leaving the driver in an incredibly vulnerable, unsafe position.The manufacturer's documented software remedy has completely failed to fix the underlying powertrain defect, leaving a known hardware component failure unaddressed while actively endangering vehicle occupants.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11760688 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Electrical & infotainment

Minor
13

Most reports here involve electrical shorts.

electrical shorts 5software faults 2
A recent report: I own a 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300. The vehicle developed moisture/condensation in the headlamp, and the affected headlamp subsequently failed. I took the vehicle to RBM of Alpharetta, an authorized…
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I own a 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300. The vehicle developed moisture/condensation in the headlamp, and the affected headlamp subsequently failed. I took the vehicle to RBM of Alpharetta, an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealership. I was advised that corrosion was found in the affected headlamp and that the headlamp assembly requires replacement. On September 8, 2026, the dealership provided a repair estimate of 3,387.33. The vehicle had approximately 84,769 miles. Mercedes-Benz previously issued NHTSA Recall 22V-261 / Campaign 2022050005 for certain 2021 GLC-Class vehicles because headlamp electrical connections may not have been sufficiently watertight, allowing moisture intrusion that could cause headlamp failure. My vehicle is the same year and model and is experiencing headlamp failure involving moisture and corrosion, but Mercedes-Benz states that my VIN is not included in the recall population. Mercedes-Benz Customer Care opened Case 23963515 and has declined coverage to date. I am concerned that my vehicle may be experiencing the same or a substantially similar moisture-intrusion defect as vehicles covered by Recall 22V-261. A failed headlamp reduces nighttime visibility and presents a safety concern. I am requesting that NHTSA review whether similar headlamp moisture intrusion, corrosion, and failure may be occurring in additional 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 vehicles outside the original recall population.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11763616 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Structure & body

Minor
2

Most reports here involve other issues.

other issues 2
A recent report: While slowly backing out of the driveway and without contacting anything at all, the rear window completely shattered. The window has never been hit by anything and had no defects yet it completely…
Read full complaint

While slowly backing out of the driveway and without contacting anything at all, the rear window completely shattered. The window has never been hit by anything and had no defects yet it completely shattered so clearly reflects a manufacturing defect of some sort that is incredibly dangerous to passengers or other vehicles, since it happens without warning and without the necessity of an impact of any kind.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11641925 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Other systems

Minor
1

Most reports here involve other issues.

other issues 1
A recent report: Head problems

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11667209 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Is 43 complaints a lot? They were filed between 2023 and 2026, roughly 14 a year, which is more than the typical model in this dataset. We do not have sales figures for this model, so treat this as a rough volume, not a rate per car on the road. Popular, high-volume models naturally collect more complaints over time.

How does it compare with other years? The 2021 has 43 complaints on file, fewer than the 2020 (69) and more than the 2022 (31). Of the 8 model years of the Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 we cover, the 2018 has the most (87). Older model years have had longer to collect complaints.