NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Sunday, June 25, when I was driving the car on the road, the engine shut off and the car stopped running. 3 warning lights show on screen: engine light; 48v Battery Service Required; 12v Battery service required. I used the break to park the car on the roadside after that. I tried many times to restart the car, Waited over one hour and 40 minutes it finally started again, the engine warning light was still on until the second day morning, and I was able to take pics as evident. 1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Yes, but on the second day, the MB service dep told me that the car was having a system update (while I was driving the car and it turned off the engine by doing that) 2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? I was still driving with 40m/h+ on the road, my car suddenly having a malfunction. 3. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? No, I called MB USA, they started a purchase buyback application, but still let me drive that car. 4. Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No. The 3 warning lamps showed when the engine shut off while I was driving. There was no other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. The car is new, 2023 GLC 300, the dealership is AutoNation, only has 2400 miles on it do far, one month only so far.
The 2023 GLC300 would not start. The internal alarms kept going off, the push-start/stop would not respond. The vehicle was acting like it was being stolen, this lasted for 75 to 80 minutes. The display said 12V On-Board Electrical System Service Required and Blind Spot Assist Inoperative - over and over again. Couldn't get the key to make car lock or unlock. The car would not turn on, it would not turn off. The alarm message was persistent. Had to call a tow-truck to take it in for service. After 3+ hours the car restarted. Mercedes initiated "Campaign: Update Powertrain Control Unit Software #2023060007". They found multiple communication faults in various modules. I was left stranded. This happened 3 times. Twice in front of the house and the 3rd time (when it was towed) I was far from home. The mechanic explained that the car had sensors indicating the car was being stolen so that is why it didn't start. That make no sense! I had the key. I had been driving it that day. It was working fine. A brand new 2023 car should be reliable. It should start when the owner has the key fob in hand. Shutting the car down for hours is a system failure. Please investigate.
The moon roof will not close. There is also a sloshing sound of water in an unidentified area, it has not rained. The blind spot monitor function of the digital light projection works intermittently and is barely visible marking on the roadway. The exit assist also does not activate the ambient lighting when opening door and car Is approaching in the travel Lane. Digital lights have jagged output light beam and they are the illuminating the roadway as advertised.
1. The rear hatch has opened while the car was left unattended. 2. If the hatch opens it could possibly cause a safety issue: a.By opening while driving. This has not happened and I do not know if Mercedes has a safety lock to ensure this could not happen. b.Open while parked and unattended. The vehicle would be unsecured with items being subjected to being stolen. c.Open while parked at the store, mall, etc. A stranger could get in the rear of the vehicle, close the hatch and wait for me to return causing a dangerous situation. d.Open and damage the garage door if parked in the garage; e.Open while someone is in the back of the vehicle. Should this happen, a person could be pinned against another vehicle or garage door. 3.Mercedes Benz is aware of this issue on many of their vehicles. I was told the S class Mercedes has had a similar problem and Mercedes reprogrammed the key fob to a “2X push of the rear hatch button on the key fob”. They have yet to do this on my vehicle. 4.The vehicle has not been inspected by Mercedes, however, in discussing this with the Mercedes Service Department they are aware of this issue and as of today there is not a similar fix as to that of the S class Mercedes. Mercedes is aware of this problem but has yet to offer a fix. Also, upon doing an internet search, I have discovered others having experienced similar problems over the course of many years. 5.There were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms relating to the problem. This problem first appeared within a few miles of owning the vehicle. The vehicle is currently has about 1,100 miles.
I purchased a brand new GLC 300 on May 25, 2023. By June 2, 2023 I was already stranded due to a 12V battery electrical system failure. Since then I have been stranded 8 total times and the vehicle has been in the service department 14 times for repeated electrical issues (8 of those visits were related to the same 12V battery electrical system failures. The battery was reportedly replaced in 2024-shortly thereafter I began experiencing issues with the collision assist malfunctioning. The alarms would sound seat belt tighten and brakes lock up while driving on the interstate. The theft deterrent alarm wound sound in the middle of the night without provocation. The panoramic roof would malfunction. The air vent disintegrated. In August 2025, the collision assist malfunctioned causing the vehicle to steer off the road resulting in a blow out. It has not been driven since.
I have had numerous incidents since I purchased the vehicle in April of 2023. The first was when it would not start. It continuously ran through all of the error messages and simply refused to start. This happened numerous times, leaving me stranded for 20 minutes or longer. Then, the safety features would randomly stop functioning, and I would receive error messages stating that they were disabled. The check engine light would appear on the dashboard, and it continues to do so, even though I am told there is nothing wrong with the engine. My Mercedes will randomly turn on and tell me that they don't understand my question, even though I never asked it a question. There have been too many issues to list, but the final straw was yesterday. The hatch quit working about two months ago. It would shut but I would get a message saying it wasn't shut, and I would have to get out of the car and shut it manually. The part was ordered, but it did not arrive on the day of service, so I had to reschedule. It was replaced, but I was told that it won't shut correctly, and that I need to take it to a body shop for repair, which is not covered by my warranty. I have tried for years to have it lemon lawed, but I am continuously told it does not qualify. So, what qualifies. It was a brand new LUXURY, EXPENSIVE car, and I will never buy another Mercedes, and I have been telling my family and friends to avoid buying one, too!!
DIGITAL LIGHT low beam inadequate distance for safe driving on unlit roadway. Low beam has unnecessary blacked out areas causing distraction. Low beams too low, especially driving down hills. Adaptive high beams revert to low beam without any apparent light to trigger camera/sensor. Dealer states they are all the same, nothing they can do, call MB USA. MB USA gave me a case number but do no seem interested in solving the issue
1 ) the car would not start several times. every error message scanned across the screen and i had to leave the car and lock it and wait 10-15 minutes and then it would start. if i had any type of emergency and this happened, it would be detrimental. the first time this happened was the day i got the car with less than 10 miles on it. this issue was recreated by service and a software update was performed and it hasn’t happened since. 2 ) all computers / screens turned off while the car was in drive and in motion. horrifying and so dangerous. i had no safety features active , as they all display on the two screens. this happened with less than 500 miles on the car. this was not duplicated by service and it happened one time. 3 ) the sunroof malfunctioned and would not close after the software update was performed. i had to bring it back the very next day. this problem was duplicated by service and was repaired. 4 ) today the camera / visibility system malfunctioned giving an error message “ system inoperative “. i drove it to service an hour after it happened. it makes me completely distrust every electronic component of the vehicle which scares me so much to even drive it not knowing if and when safety features will fail. mileage est 1350. i’m not sure if they have duplicated it, as it’s still in the shop. i have videos of the other issues but the form won’t let me upload videos. i uploaded a picture of the 4th issue in my report.
Petition: Consumer requests a focused review of the ISG 48-volt onboard electrical system used in various Mercedes-Benz vehicles and the expansion or initiation of a new recall to include 2023 300GLC vehicles.
Loss of propulsion at highway speeds with subsequent failure of digital light system at night resulting in injury crash
Digital Light Inactivean High Beam Assist messages Also, when you engage the inoperative warning the actuates blinker it off [brights/high blinds beams even when drivers. auto adaptive setting is day with lights off see the high beam blue light on with headlight malfunctions vehicle 248595-Connected LEst sensor FaultY batterse causing, adaptive found fault C151E29 currentiy present charger invalid performed SDS for • f 0.00. Performed guided test, found vaLue Rear level value of 8149 Unplugged sensor • спескеа Ins no corrosion or loose pins. With different fault for from front left unevagged, was stored "no signal" • sensor. Plugged sensor back in, and sensor started reading correctly. Available Ordered new sensor; Customer to return when part Service Digital Light Inactiveand High Beam Assist inop erative . At this time.
The digital lights are defective for the US market. The low beam doesn’t provide any light for night driving farther than x feet. It also has jagged edges across the beam that greatly effect night visibility. The adaptive part of the system doesn’t provide adequate lighting in the dark around curves, the car states it has cornering lamps but it does not/ is not activated for us market. When it’s completely dark, I cannot see the front sides for turning, the lights are a serious safety hazard. The headlamps also get condensation when wet and fog up and effect visibility where you cannot drive at night. The leveling sensor failed and subsequently rendered the auto high beam and adaptive lighting system inoperative. The car doesn’t do any of the listed safety projections it’s supposed o do, such as spotlight. One time it worked but when tested it was never able to see it again after a software update. Serious safety concerns regarding the over the air updates and advertised functionality vs real life performance
I am having the following issues with my digital lights on my 2023 GLC. Dealer states normal. It is unsafe and should have a recall/software update. VIN: [XXX] Dangerously inadequate forward visibility at night on low beam/inadequate beam pattern. Level of illumination not at legal minimum of visibility on low beam/ no long distance illumination yet creates excessive illumination of retroreflective signs creating distraction. Adaptive Driving Beam not functional. Extremely limited beam pattern on low beam. Topographic/dynamic leveling does not adjust beam so you are blind going down hill/up hill at night. Poor image/contrast for projection/symbols. Only triangle works. Cornering light not functional. Cannot see sides when cornering at night. Mercedes complaint reference # [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
When starting the vehicle, all the lights and alarms have come on and vehicle is not drivable. This has happened 4 times. 3/4 times the vehicle has started after an hour or two. One time I have had to have it towed in. I bought this car on April 27th. First time this happened was 5/29. I have been without the use of this car for 28 days today. The service manager called today and Mercedes is trying to fix the problem, they say it is happening to many people.
The contact owns a 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC300. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the speed limit warning system failed to function as intended. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the Heads-up Display (HUD) illuminated a red light and an unknown message about driving too slowly was displayed. The contact stated that the red light illuminated and flashed intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the failure was common with the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The contact asked if the speed limit warning system could be deactivated, and the dealer was informed that it had to be approved by the manufacturer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was referred to the dealer for assistance. The contact stated that the dealer and the manufacturer offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 12,000.
NHTSA source checks for this vehicle year
Checks are recorded separately for each dataset, not for the whole page. Dates use UTC. A missing check date does not mean no records exist.
Vehicle import recorded: Aug 31, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.