2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB 250 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe recall repairs that were delayed or not completed because parts were not yet available, and mileage is not listed in most reports. Trim or spoiler pieces detaching or loosening, instrument clusters or screens going blank, and engine cut-outs or stalling are the next most common topics. Airbag malfunction warnings and side airbag faults also appear, and where mileage is listed, reports range from very low mileage to about 70,000 miles.

1. 1
   Other or unknown

   Recall repairs delayed or not completed

   • 22 complaints (41%)
   • median 40,000 mi at 3.7 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2020–2026

   Owners describe recall notices for which the repair part was not yet available at the dealer. Some say the manufacturer took longer than a reasonable time to provide the remedy, and that the dealer confirmed parts were not available. Other complaints describe a dealer declining to perform a recall repair, a repair held until other engine work was done, and a recall that a repair record showed as completed while regulator records show it was not fixed. Most reports in this group do not list mileage, and the ones that do range from very low mileage to about 70,000 miles.

   Recall 21V354000Recall 23V732000Recall 20V480000Recall 21V990000Recall 22V232000Recall 26V481000Recall 21V231000

   What to check: Before buying, look up the VIN in the NHTSA recall lookup and confirm whether each open recall has a remedy available and has been completed. Ask the dealer for written records showing that recall work was done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “There's a recall on the display monitor the screen will go black sometimes come back on sometimes never come back on there was a update to fix the issue if the update doesn't work they will have to change the display module or computer that controls it when I brought it to the dealer they want to charge me to replace the display or computer , I called the manufacturer and they refused to fix the recall problem”

   NHTSA complaint #11512281, filed 2023-03

   “The engine made a knocking sound and i pulled over on the side of the road took the car to MB dealership to get the recall fixed but i was told the recall cannot be fixed until the engine is fixed. MBUSA refuses to replace the engine even though it is fully covered under warranty. Thus because i cannot get a recall done for my safety unless i get an engine replaced. This is absolutely horrible. MB knows they produced a bad engine and are forcing us to pay out of our pocket then they will fix the recall on the car.”

   NHTSA complaint #11594846, filed 2024-06
2. 2
   Body and structure

   Trim and spoiler pieces detaching or loosening

   • 6 complaints (11%)
   • median 37,500 mi at 4.2 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2020–2025

   Owners describe a rear spoiler that detached or loosened, sometimes when opening the liftgate, and front bumper trim or a front fender flare that came loose while driving at highway speed. An owner reattached a fender flare with duct tape as a temporary fix. Some owners say the dealer found the spoiler needed replacement, or that the damage was from external factors and outside a rear spoiler recall, while others say their VIN was not included in the recall. Reported at mileage from about 800 to about 47,000 miles where listed, with some occurring at highway speed.

   Recall 20V480000Recall 21V231000Recall 21V232000

   What to check: Inspect the rear spoiler, tailgate trim, and front fender flares for looseness or missing fasteners, and confirm whether the rear spoiler recall work has been completed. Ask the seller for any repair records or replacement invoices for these trim pieces.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Front bumper trim fell off while driving on highway! We had to serve while going 65 miles per hour on a highway. For NO REASON. There was no indication of a hazard. We immediately let sales person at the Mercedes Benz dealership know. We then reported 2 more times. The only response was a phone number to order a new front bumper trim!? No inspection no concern about this hazardous situation. No warn no messages the car was 1 week old.”

   NHTSA complaint #11428024, filed 2021-08

   “I am submitting this formal complaint regarding a serious safety incident involving my 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB, which directly reflects the defect outlined in Recall 20V-480 (Rear Spoiler Detachment). Although my VIN is not officially included in the affected range, the exact failure described in the recall occurred on my vehicle. On or about June 16, 2025, at approximately 3:00 p.m., I was driving and I noticed an object in my rearview mirror that had become airborne and was causing vehicles behind me to swerve to avoid it. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11678410, filed 2025-08
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Instrument cluster or screen goes blank

   • 5 complaints (9%)
   • median 16 mi at 1.3 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2020–2023

   Owners describe the instrument cluster or a display going blank, sometimes while driving, which left the driver without speed or fuel readings for a time. Some complaints tie the blank display to a car wash, and the owner was told the vehicle had water damage and that the owner must fix it. A rearview camera complaint describes a black screen that stayed on while driving, and a display complaint describes a recall software update offered first, with a possible module replacement at a charge if the update did not help. Reported at very low mileage, under about 3,500 miles where listed, and some followed a car wash.

   Recall 21V403000Recall 20V246000Recall 21V354000Recall 22V232000

   What to check: During a test drive, check that the instrument cluster, infotainment screen, and rearview camera all display correctly. Ask whether any water-ingress or display software recall work has been completed on the vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On friday 7/17/2020 aroundnoon, I wasdriving mymb glb that was bought lessthan90 days ago when suddenly the dashboard went blank. I could not see speed, gas gages or any other safety features that would be on the dash. I was basically blinded. I called mercedes 911 after stopping the car. We tried to factory reset the computer on advice from tech via the phone. This had no impact on the screen. The mb rep did not offer roadside assist. I had to drive over 25 miles with no dashboard to gage my speed, gas or safety lights. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11340435, filed 2020-07, 3,250 miles

   “The contact owns a 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB250. The contact stated that upon purchasing the vehicle, the rearview camera failed to activate while reversing. The contact stated that whenever the rearview camera was activated a black or blank screen would be displayed; and the screen remained activated while driving. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V232000 (Back Over Prevention) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11470863, filed 2022-06, 16 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Engine cut-outs, stalling, or failure

   • 6 complaints (11%)
   • median 8,000 mi at 1.5 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2020–2024

   Owners describe the engine cutting out or losing power while driving, sometimes with shaking as if it were about to stall and a check engine light. Other complaints describe engine knocking and a cylinder head failure with no compression, with the replacement head reported as on back order. A complaint describes an engine fault after a long stop at a railroad crossing, with every warning light on and the car unable to be turned on or off. Reported at about 8,000 to 54,000 miles where listed, and a head failure is described at about 50,000 miles.

   Recall 21V403000Recall 20V246000

   What to check: Ask whether the check engine light has been diagnosed and whether any fault codes are stored, and check for shaking or cut-outs during a test drive. Ask for engine repair and warranty history, especially for any cylinder head work.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On 3/23/2021, my GLB 250 started experiencing electrical and engine issues after I had been stopped at a railroad crossing for 15 minutes with the engine running and the car in park. Once the train passed and I was able to drive, my instrument panel started lighting up with every possible warning light and additional warnings that said to not shift gears and go to dealer immediately. I drove approximately 1 mile and stopped at a stop light, at which time all warnings continued to go off. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11404564, filed 2021-03, 8,000 miles

   “Car constantly cuts out and loses power as well as occasionally shuts off for no reason. Causing very hazardous driving conditions. I have noticed that this is a common issue stated in online forums with this particular car as well. It is more times than not an issue with the engine head and valves.”

   NHTSA complaint #11617187, filed 2024-09
5. 5
   Air bags

   Airbag malfunction warnings and side airbag faults

   Mentioned in 4 of 49 sampled complaints

   Owners describe a left curtain or front right airbag malfunction message that returned within weeks after the dealer serviced the system or replaced the airbag. A separate complaint describes side airbags that did not deploy in a collision at about 35 mph during a left turn, and the owner says the seat belt did not hold the driver back during impact. Reported at low mileage, from about 1,000 to about 4,300 miles where listed.

   Recall 21V404000Recall 21V405000

   What to check: Confirm that no airbag malfunction message is lit at startup, and ask for records of any airbag repair and whether the same message returned. Ask whether the curtain airbag and passenger airbag recall work has been completed on the vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Four weeks ago I turned on my car and saw a warning light that said leftside curtain airbag malfunction . I immediately called the mercedes 800 number and they transferred me to my local service center. I took it in and the guy was super nice, they provided me with a loaner and he said he would call me when the work was complete. He called me that evening and told me that my car was ready. I picked it up the next morning and the warning light was gone. Yes! Flashforward three weeks and the warning light came on again. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11361424, filed 2020-09, 4,253 miles

   “Left curtain airbag malfunction light. The car was taken to the dealer and the airbag was replaced. After taking the car back the left curtain airbag malfunction light came on again.”

   NHTSA complaint #11317348, filed 2020-03, 1,000 miles

Buying note. Someone considering this model year may want to confirm which recalls apply to the specific VIN and whether each remedy has been completed, since recall part availability is a frequent topic in these complaints. Check the rear spoiler and trim pieces, the instrument cluster and screens, and the engine during a test drive.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 49 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.