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2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
57%
56 of 98 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

57% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.

Worse than 76% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 17 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 49%).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026

The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 56 of 98 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (57%), and the largest group is filed under engine (40). For comparison, the 2016 scores 49% and the 2018 scores 53%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
56
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
115
this model year
Fires reported
3
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
0
5 crashes · 3 injuries

Complaints by component

ENGINE40 · 35%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM17 · 15%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM15 · 13%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER15 · 13%
AIR BAGS13 · 11%
SEAT BELTS9 · 8%

The years either side

2010
no data
2011
no data
2012
no data
2013
no data
2014
no data
2015
no data
2016
49%
62 of 139
2017
57%
56 of 115
2018
53%
45 of 99
2019
34%
23 of 69
2020
44%
32 of 80
2021
68%
36 of 66
2022
36%
22 of 62
2023
34%
20 of 65

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

How the 2017 compares with other Mercedes-Benz GLC years

Of the 8 Mercedes-Benz GLC years with enough complaints to score, the 2017 is the 2nd-worst on engine and transmission share (57%). The worst is the 2021 (68%), the best the 2019 (34%). By volume, the 2017 drew 115 complaints (56 drivetrain), against 139 for the 2016 and 99 for the 2018.

Mercedes-Benz GLC years to avoid and best years →

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC

  • What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
  • Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
  • Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
  • What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
  • Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.

What one owner reported

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM02/05/2026
I smell gas in my car. There is a recall for the fuel parts on the 2019. I have a 2017 with the same issue.

One of 56 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Checking one particular 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

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Questions people ask about the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC

Does the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 56 of 98 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (57%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

What is the most common problem with the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC?

Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC is engine: 40 of 115 complaints (35%) name it, followed by electrical system (17) and fuel/propulsion system (15). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.

Is the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC reliable?

On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 57% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 76% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 8 Mercedes-Benz GLC years we score, it ranks 2nd-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns on the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC.

Which Mercedes-Benz GLC years are better?

Among the Mercedes-Benz GLC years we track, the 2019 (34%), the 2023 (34%) and the 2022 (36%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2017 (57%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/mercedes-benz-glc

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.