The Lane Check

Home › Cars › Mercedes-Benz › GLC › 2023

2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

ELEVATED COMPLAINT SIGNAL
34%
20 of 58 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

34% of relevant owner complaints on the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.

Better than 63% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 7 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 31%).

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 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC have engine problems?

More than most. The pattern is elevated rather than severe. 20 of 58 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (34%), and the largest group is filed under engine (15). For comparison, the 2022 scores 36%. 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
20
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
65
this model year
Fires reported
0
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
0
2 crashes · 4 injuries

Complaints by component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM30 · 46%
ENGINE15 · 23%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER12 · 18%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING10 · 15%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE9 · 14%
SERVICE BRAKES8 · 12%

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 2023 compares with other Mercedes-Benz GLC years

Of the 8 Mercedes-Benz GLC years with enough complaints to score, the 2023 is the 2nd-best on engine and transmission share (34%). The worst is the 2021 (68%), the best the 2019 (34%). By volume, the 2023 drew 65 complaints (20 drivetrain), against 62 for the 2022.

Mercedes-Benz GLC years to avoid and best years →

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2023 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

ENGINE09/07/2025
Vehicle has a significant engine oil leak without being driven. Engine oil electronic meter still shows engine oil to be in "Ok" range. Vehicle is 2023 with only 19680 miles and is rarely driven till the last 2 months. Other 2023 Model Year MB GLC300's manufactured at the same Bremen Germany plant are already be…

One of 20 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 2023 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.

Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.

Questions people ask about the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC

Does the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC have engine problems?

More than most; the pattern is elevated rather than severe. 20 of 58 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (34%). 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 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC?

Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC is electrical system: 30 of 65 complaints (46%) name it, followed by engine (15) and exterior lighting (10). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 34% of the relevant total.

Is the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC reliable?

On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 34% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (elevated signal). That is better than 63% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 8 Mercedes-Benz GLC years we score, it ranks 2nd-best. 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 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns on the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC.

Which Mercedes-Benz GLC years are better?

The 2023 has the lowest engine and transmission complaint share of the Mercedes-Benz GLC years we track (34%). The other years run higher. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/mercedes-benz-glc

Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.

Check a VIN

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.