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Mercedes-Benz GLC 300Model year report

2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 Problems

Compared with other Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 years

More complaints than typical for this model

80/100 2.0× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2019

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
134filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
11,000miles, 62 complaints with mileage
Recalls
12campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
24 mpgcombined, 2.0L 4-cyl FWD · 22 city / 28 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of the 2016 GLC 300 most often describe a loud brake squeal when reversing in cold or damp conditions, frequently reported within the first few thousand miles and often still present after pad or rotor replacement. A second, later-mileage theme is a gasoline smell traced to fuel lines or injectors, along with check-engine lights tied to the crankcase ventilation system. Sunroof glass and wiper failures appear among the sampled complaints as well.

  1. Brakes

    Brake squeal or screech when reversing

    • 21 complaints (16%)
    • median 4,900 mi at 1.1 yrs old (18 state mileage)
    • filed 2016–2022

    Complaints describe a high-pitched squeal or screech from the brakes, most often the first few times the car is reversed after sitting, and sometimes when braking lightly while moving forward. Owners say dealers acknowledged a known issue but often had no permanent fix, and in some cases replaced pads or rotors only for the noise to return. Several describe the sound as worsening over time. Usually first noted within the first few thousand miles, commonly in cold weather or after the car has sat.

    1 related service bulletin

    What to check: Drive the car cold and reverse with light brake pressure to listen for the squeal, and ask whether pads or rotors were replaced and whether the noise returned afterward.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The brakes have a loud piercing screech when brakes are applied. It started out as an occasional noise and now it is constant. I have contacted mb customer service as well as the dealership where I purchased my vehicle. All admit that mb is aware of the issue but have no fix or solution. It is well documented with several complaints on all of mb social media sites. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10938944, filed 2016-12, 7,500 miles

    “I purchased the car in may 2016. By august 2016 the brakes starting squealing very loudly when backing out of garage, parking spot, etc. I took the car to the mercedes dealership in november 2016 and was told they are aware of the problem but there is not fix. I am afraid to use the brakes when I back up because of the hurtful noise. There must at least be a temporary fix?”

    NHTSA complaint #10947362, filed 2017-01, 3,000 miles
  2. Fuel system

    Fuel odor and fuel leaks

    • 16 complaints (12%)
    • median 32,900 mi at 4.6 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2018–2025

    Owners report a strong gasoline smell inside or around the car, sometimes noticed by a mechanic during routine service. Complaints describe leaking or spraying fuel hoses, low-pressure fuel lines, failed injectors or a high-pressure pump, with repairs ranging from hose replacement to fuel rail and injector work. Several owners say the dealer recognized the symptom as a known one. Reported from roughly 10,000 to 60,000 miles; often noticed while parked, at startup, or during service visits.

    4 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask for service records covering fuel lines, injectors and the fuel pump, and check for a fuel smell in the cabin and engine bay after the car has sat.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Leakage in fuel system ( high pressure pump). On GLC 300. Gas small inside the car. Company denied investigating or providing my refund for repair. I feel this is totally safety failure of the vehicle . So my current mileage is 32908 and it is 2016 model. I bought this vehicle because the company claims for its highest standards of safety. So I want the authority to help me in investigating this issue and provide me assurance and coverage for any kind of safety issues in future. Also, I want to report some minor issues on breaks. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11316065, filed 2020-03, 32,900 miles

    “When I start my car there is strong gas odor in the cabin for the first 3-4 hours of driving. Also there is a moldy smell in the warmer months as well”

    NHTSA complaint #11309808, filed 2020-02, 28,000 miles
  3. Other or unknown

    Sunroof glass shatters or detaches

    • 7 complaints (5%)
    • median 12,000 mi at 3.1 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2016–2026

    Owners describe the panoramic sunroof glass shattering or detaching while driving at highway speed without any visible impact, leaving glass over the shade screen or an open roof. Complaints mention dealers being unable to determine a cause and, in one case, a repair held up while a recall was pending. Reported from a few hundred to about 50,000 miles, often at highway speeds and sometimes in hot weather.

    Recall 23V854000Recall 21V197000

    What to check: Inspect the sunroof panel and bonding seams for cracks or separation, and confirm with a dealer whether the roof panel recall work has been completed.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “My cars front stationary sunroof panel came off completely while driving on the highway. I have called mercedes benz recall department and I have gone to the dealership and the repairs are not variable at the moment due to the recall being pending still. My car is getting wet due to the tropical rain in florida.”

    NHTSA complaint #11416399, filed 2021-05, 69 miles

    “In motion on the highway the glass sunroof panel detached from the vehicle , there's nothing that I did that could have caused that piece to detach the way it did. I have seen recalls for other model vehicles for Mercedes-Benz for this same reason.”

    NHTSA complaint #11331473, filed 2020-06, 35,000 miles
  4. Engine

    Check-engine light from crankcase ventilation

    Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

    Complaints describe a check-engine light with a stored fault for the crankcase ventilation regulator valve, sometimes alongside rough running or an electrical and engine fault that the dealer could not fully resolve. Owners report the ventilation system or sensor being replaced, with the light returning in some cases. Typically reported between about 10,000 and 70,000 miles.

    9 related service bulletins

    What to check: Scan for stored engine codes before purchase and ask whether the crankcase ventilation valve or intake line assembly has been replaced or covered under any extended coverage.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Since we purchased this car in december 2015, we have had a series of electrical and engine problems that do not seem to fixable by the dealer. The car was serviced (3 years or 30,000 miles) *bf*jb consumer also had issues with faulty radar sensor, power control unit, engine light, and faulty crankcase vent system.”

    NHTSA complaint #11266350, filed 2019-10, 27,852 miles

    “The contact owns a 2016 mercedes benz glc300. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, there was an abnormal burning odor coming from the vehicle as the check engine warning light illuminated the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000. Updated 06/02/17”

    NHTSA complaint #10971793, filed 2017-04, 10,000 miles

Buying note. Look for a car with documented brake work and fuel-system service, and check for a fuel smell and a working sunroof and wipers on a test drive. A pre-purchase scan for engine codes and a check of open recall status are worth doing before you commit.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 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.

NHTSA recorded 134 consumer complaints for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300. 62 of the complaints include a mileage, and 89% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 11,000 miles. Of all complaints, 9 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 5 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 12 recall campaigns and 194 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 7 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 80 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (more complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Engine cooling (4), Body and structure (4), Wheels (4), Tires (2), Vehicle speed control (2), Electronic stability control (1), Exterior lighting (1), Suspension (1).

Example complaints

Engine: “At 40,000 miles, one of the wrist pins snapped and the piston broke off. This caused complete engine failure and the whole engine needs to be replaced. This is the same problem that caused a recall with the 2015 model. The dealership is making me pay for the labor, but mercedes donated the engine (probably because they know it's their fault). So I'm wondering if there should be a recall on this model as well.”

NHTSA complaint #11416454, filed 2021-05, 40,000 miles

Brakes: “I have a very loud screeching sound when I take reverse. I reported this issue when I took the car for the first service. I was told it was fixed but it came back within a week. Though I own a new car feels embarrassing when I reverse out of my garage when the whole neighborhood could hear the screeching noise.”

NHTSA complaint #10981302, filed 2017-04, 16,000 miles

Fuel system: “I purchased this mercedes new in 2016, the brakes have squealed ever since when cold 32 degrees or less.. Once in awhile when warm. 2 we smelled gasoline, we took it to a repair shop, they found two fuel hoses sprayed gas in a mist especially when cold.. 3 there are 3 recalls open on this mercedes, I took it in when the air bag recall arrived at our house, I was told we don't have parts. Our car is out of warranty, it has 56000 miles. I take it to a repair shop run by certified mercedes technicians. Thank god we didn't have a fire with the gas leak. …”

NHTSA complaint #11280299, filed 2019-11, 50,000 miles

Other or unknown: “At 7:30 am on june 10, 2016, while driving north on rte. 495 in delaware in our 5-month-old mb - glc 300, the panoramic sunroof suddenly and without any warning exploded and shattered outward. The sound was as loud as a bomb. As shown in the photographs, nearly all the sunroof was blown out, with only a little glass remaining around the frame. The shattered glass fragments either flew off or settled on top of the shade screen. We were driving at approximately 65 MPH and there were no cars directly in front of us or behind. …”

NHTSA complaint #10874285, filed 2016-06, 8,300 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

89% of the 62 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 4,000 and 29,750 miles.

45%0–1021%10–2523%25–5010%50–752%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (62 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 11,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

20162720182020202220242026
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
GLC300 FWD2.0L 4-cyl9-speed automatic222824$3,400
GLC300 4matic 4WD2.0L 4-cyl9-speed automatic212824$3,400

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

See all 12 recalls for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 194 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 194 bulletins →

Other model years of the Mercedes-Benz GLC 300

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2025164,7003—27—Too new
2024212,1748—29—Too new
2023558,50012—2867 · MoreToo new
20226110,000252439 · TypicalRising
20216726,0009—2552 · TypicalRising
20207021,25016—2454 · TypicalRising
20194741,500125240 · FewerRising
20188710,5001252448 · TypicalRising
201710129,41612—2445 · TypicalRising
201613411,00012—2480 · MoreFalling

All Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300?

Owners of the 2016 GLC 300 most often describe a loud brake squeal when reversing in cold or damp conditions, frequently reported within the first few thousand miles and often still present after pad or rotor replacement. The issues reported most often: Brake squeal or screech when reversing; Fuel odor and fuel leaks; Sunroof glass shatters or detaches.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 have?

NHTSA recorded 134 consumer complaints for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 is reported most often?

Engine is named most often, in 38 complaints (28% of the total), followed by brakes with 27.

Has the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 12 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 get?

The EPA rates the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 (GLC300, 2.0L 4-cyl) at 24 mpg combined, 22 city and 28 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,400 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 reported?

Among the 62 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 11,000 miles and the middle half falls between 4,000 and 29,750 miles; 89% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.