Vehicle Data Hub

2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 problems

NHTSA has received 93 complaints about the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300, and 32% of them involve engine. After that come lighting (14%) and fuel system (13%).

At a glance

Complaints
93 filed with NHTSA
Most reported
Engine 32% of complaints
Crashes and fires
2 and 2
Injuries and deaths
1 and 0
Typical mileage
22,000 miles 16 complaints with mileage

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

Where the complaints are

Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.

  • Engine 32%
  • Lighting 14%
  • Fuel system 13%
  • Electrical system 9%
  • Drivetrain & axles 4%
  • Forward collision avoidance 4%
  • Wipers, windshield & visibility 4%
  • Backover prevention 3%
  • Body & structure 3%
  • Cruise control 2%

When problems show up

Complaints by mileage, 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 22,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 8 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 4 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 2 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 0 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 2 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 0 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 0 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 0 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 0 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 0 complaints 200k+ miles: 0 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 22,000 miles
Based on 16 complaints that include mileage. 88% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles8
20k to 40k miles4
40k to 60k miles2
60k to 80k miles0
80k to 100k miles2
100k to 120k miles0
120k to 140k miles0
140k to 160k miles0
160k to 180k miles0
180k to 200k miles0
200k+ miles0

What the data shows

Among the 16 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 22,000 miles.

Safety-related details: 2 complaints mention a crash; 2 complaints mention a fire; 1 injury reported. Its complaints are less severe on average than those of 82% of model years in our database.

Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2021 ranks 3rd most-complained-about out of 10 model years of the Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 with enough data (93 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 9 safety recall campaigns.

What owners wrote

A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.

The contact owns a 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH, the blind spot assist detection feature failed to function as intended. The contact stated while inspecting the vehicle, the contact confirmed that the blind spot assist feature was enabled. In addition, the failure occurred after the vehicle was taken through the car wash. The contact's vehicle crashed into another vehicle. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The contact sustained pain to the right shoulder, arm and hand.

Reported at 26,000 miles, October 2026 CrashInjury

Driving short distance home when the bottom of Mercedes GLC 300 caught fire without warning or notification. I was unaware when a good Samaritan screamed out your car is on fire. Pulled over and she helped me out. Seconds later the car exploded into flames and the car was demolished.

November 2024 Fire

While the vehicle was being operated normally, it caught fire. We were driving on a summer day in August. Conditions were humid, with temperatures in the mid-80s. The vehicle was on the return leg of an approximately 30-mile drive. Traffic was somewhat heavy, with speeds generally below 20 mph and occasional stops. We first noticed a slight burning smell, followed shortly afterward by a distinct puff of white smoke coming from under the hood on the passenger side, near the windshield.

August 2026 Fire

The contact owns a 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC300. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated to accelerate while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 7,000.

Reported at 7,000 miles, July 2021

The contact owns a 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC300. The contact stated that there was condensation inside the front passenger’s side headlight housing after it had rained. The contact then stated that while driving at night, the passenger’s side headlight failed to operate as needed. There was no warning light illuminated.

Reported at 92,700 miles, March 2025

Other model years of the GLC 300

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