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2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

ELEVATED COMPLAINT SIGNAL
34%
23 of 69 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

34% of relevant owner complaints on the 2019 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 1,789 model years we track (2010–2023).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026
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Does the 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC have engine problems?

More than most. The pattern is elevated rather than severe. 23 of 69 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (34%), and the largest group is filed under engine (17). For comparison, the 2018 scores 53% and the 2020 scores 44%. 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
23
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
69
this model year
Fires reported
4
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
0
5 crashes · 4 injuries

Complaints by component

UNKNOWN OR OTHER19 · 28%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM19 · 28%
ENGINE17 · 25%
STRUCTURE7 · 10%
POWER TRAIN6 · 9%
STEERING4 · 6%

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.

Cleaner alternatives

Other luxury SUVs with no elevated signal in 2019

The percentage is each model year's drivetrain complaint share. No elevated signal describes the model year, not any one car; a well-kept example of a flagged model can still be the right buy, and any of these still needs an inspection.

What owners reported

POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM05/07/2026
On April 16, 2026, within minutes of being released from a certified dealership, my 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 suffered a sudden and total loss of propulsion while traveling at high speed on the Belt Parkway (NY). Despite depressing the accelerator, the vehicle failed to maintain speed and stalled in active traffic. Th…
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE08/21/2025
Engine runs rough and activates a flashing engine light. Sounds like the engine is misfiring. On two occasions the engine stalled,(no power steering, brakes...) luckily not in a dangerous situation. No engine codes were visible to a technician when try to diagnose. Car seemed to run fine again after restart.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE07/12/2025FIRE
FIRE! NHTSA Vehicle Safety Complaint – Mercedes-Benz GLC300 Complainant Information: [XXX] [XXX] Phone: [XXX] Email: [XXX] Vehicle Information: 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC300 4MATIC VIN: [XXX] Purchase Location: Missouri Incident Location: St. Louis, MO Date of Incident: [XXX] Date of Report Submission: July 12, 20…

Three of 23 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Before you buy a 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC

Questions people ask about the 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC

Does the 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC have engine problems?

More than most; the pattern is elevated rather than severe. 23 of 69 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2019 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.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns on the 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC.

Which Mercedes-Benz GLC years are better?

The 2019 has the lowest engine and transmission complaint share of the Mercedes-Benz GLC years we track (34%). The other years run higher.

Should I buy a 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC has an elevated engine complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing engine work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the engine. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.

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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.