Skip to content
Transmission and drivetrainPart report

2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 Transmission and drivetrain Problems

Complaints
6about this part
Share
4%of 134 total for the year
Median mileage
14,750miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 6 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300, 4% of the 134 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 14,750 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“I was unable to put the car in the drive after pulling out parking spaces or any other instance where the car needed to move. When attempting to put in drive, the car would revert to neutral and drift. Leaving me stuck in the middle of the road or parking lots. Check engine light came on briefly after the car wouldn't go in to drive but disappeared. Took it in to dealer immediately and they indicated that the transmission valve body control unit had failed and needed to be replaced. The car has less than 60k miles.”

NHTSA complaint #11466465, filed 2022-05

“Piston 1 cracked while driving on the highway. My sibling was driving on the highway when the engine suddenly started misfiring and losing power because it lost compression on the piston that cracked. I was lucky enough that I have mechanic experience to replace all the damaged components myself and paid out of pocket. I was super fortunate that the cylinder walls did not get damaged when this happened thus not needing an entire engine replacement which would cost around $10,000 from mercedes. I had to go pick up a trailer from UHaul and go pick up the vehicle from where it broke down. …”

NHTSA complaint #11486871, filed 2022-09

“The contact owns a 2016 Mercedes-Benz glc 300. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The failure occurred without warning on seven occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the failure could not be replicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 500.”

NHTSA complaint #10917475, filed 2016-10, 500 miles

“The contact owns a 2016 mercedes benz GLC300. The contact stated he placed the gear shifter in park while engine was running however vehicle rolled across the street and crashed into a stone wall. The contact opened the driver's side door however, vehicle failed to stop. There were no reported injuries or fire. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent lot. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The failure mileage was 29,000.”

NHTSA complaint #11306665, filed 2020-02, 29,000 miles

“The contact owns a 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC300. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the Emissions Center, and the vehicle failed the Emissions test. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The dealer retrieved DTC: P052E (PCM has detected an inappropriate degree of pressure from the crankcase pressure sensor). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.”

NHTSA complaint #11635618, filed 2025-01

Related service bulletins

Transmission and drivetrain: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2024524%
202335%
202247%
202146%
202046%
2019511%
201889%
201777%
201664%

Other parts of the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300

Engine
38 complaintsBrakes
27 complaintsFuel system
21 complaintsOther or unknown
21 complaintsAir bags
12 complaintsElectrical system
11 complaintsSteering
7 complaintsSeat belts
5 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
5 complaintsEngine cooling
4 complaintsBody and structure
4 complaintsWheels
4 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Nov 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology