Home · 2018 Mercedes-benz Glc-class · Complaints

What 98 owners told NHTSA about the 2018 Mercedes-benz Glc-class

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (98)Crash / fire / injury (8)Engine (31)Electrical system (15)Body & structure (11)Transmission & drivetrain (10)Fuel system (8)Seat belts (8)Airbags (7)Brakes (6)Driver assistance (3)Speed control (3)

31 of 98 complaints match · Engine · clear filters · page 1 of 2

Jun 3, 2026Transmission & drivetrainEngine

Component Failure: The vehicle is equipped with the M274 2.0L turbocharged engine, which suffered a major internal mechanical defect. An authorized Mercedes-Benz dealership diagnosed the vehicle at 79,504 miles with a malfunction in the crankcase ventilation system alongside severe internal defects, quoting a total repair estimate of $9,851 to perform extensive engine work. Safety Risk: This known manufacturing defect involves premature failure and cracking of the pistons, which poses an immediate safety hazard due to potential catastrophic engine failure and sudden, complete loss of motor power while driving at highway speeds. The manufacturer has failed to offer an extended warranty or recall for this known issue on the 2018 model year.

NHTSA ODI 11741952

Nov 6, 2025Electrical systemEngine

I had the engine light come on and took it to the dealership. They quoted me over 8 thousand dollars to fix. I took it to a repair shop that works on luxury cars and they fixed it for less than 1000 dollars. I had to have the transducer fixed in the turbo in my engine and when they did that they found oil in the electrical harness. That was caused by the oil seperator. They told me that it was a manufacture defect that has been well documented and to take it back to Mercedees Benz. They looked and found the oil but said my car did not produce a code and could not fix it. We escalated it to corporate that reviewed my case and said they still would not fix until it produced a code. Mercedees implemented an extended warranty for my car back in 2022 for emissions. They said they would cover it if it produces a code. I researched this problem and it said it posses a risk to me, my passengers and the public if it quits running or causes a fire. Corporate said its not a problem yet.

NHTSA ODI 11698021

Jul 28, 2025Speed controlEngine

The car does not go into drive from reverse and will sometime automatically shift itself from a low drive gear (D1) into Neutral without warning. After this happens - the car also can't get back into D1. It takes about 20 seconds for the car to shift back into a Drive gear and it will jolt into D3 violently. This has been a scary experience on many occassions - especially at red lights when this happens and we can't get the car out of neutral for some time. This was diagnosed by mercedes dealership near us as a fawlty sensor in the transmission. It is extremely expensive to fix and is specific to mercedes meaning it has to be done by a MB dealership. We applied for good will for assistance but were denied. The car has been maintained very well - this is not a maintenance issue but a specific sensor failure of a mercedes sensor in the transmission. We are thankful no one was hurt - we had our 8 year old daughter in the car when stalling out several times at red lights and it's been a very scary situation.

NHTSA ODI 11676731

Jun 24, 2025Electrical systemEngine

Malfunction and engine light is on. Found p052e present. Recommended replacement of crankcase breather assembly

NHTSA ODI 11669031

Dec 16, 2024Engine

I have engine light on and when I scanned it, I got a error code P052E For crankcase vent valve issues. It is most common problem with Mercedes-Benz Glc .

NHTSA ODI 11630856

Jun 4, 2024SuspensionEngineDriver assistance

when the car is in drive it will stop like it is in park unable to drive or put in reverse. This happens at random times on the road. The car will then skip gears and go into Neutral then skip an again on its own and go into drive.

NHTSA ODI 11592323

Mar 31, 2024Engine

P052E Error in the control panel appears a light engine

NHTSA ODI 11580321

Mar 29, 2024Engine

Vehicle showing check engine light, connected a reader to the vehicle and it shows a code of P052E .. ( Positive Crankcase Ventilation Regulator)

NHTSA ODI 11580186

Mar 26, 2024Electrical systemEngine

I brought my vehicle in to get serviced because the check engine light came on and I was told it was CODE PRESENT P0521E71 VALVE FOR CRANK CASE VENT. HAS MALFUNCTION / BLOCKED. I was told I have warranty on it so Mercedes of Massapequa took the car to fix.I was told the part was fixed but oil was found on my engine computer from the crank case vent malfunctioning but the warranty won't cover it although it was a direct result of a part that was covered part and had caused the damage.They gave me my car back and my car is worse it has problems starting it requires multiple cranks and the air conditioner has a fuel smell when turned on and I am unable to pass my vehicle inspection because my check engine light it still on.I spoke to the corporate office and they said because I have too many miles they can't do a courtesy and honor the cost and referred me back to the dealer and the dealer told me they will bring the cost to fix the computer leak to $6000 although it was due to a faulty part on their behalf .I am beyond upset my car is non longer reliable or safe to drive.Mercedes of massapequa ignored all my calls after they gave me back my vehicle that was worse after they claimed they fixed it.

NHTSA ODI 11579424

Mar 7, 2024EngineFuel system

Car failed to accelerate due to faulty fuel pump, fuel tank, etc. Car stopped and died several times in the middle of heavy traffic. Mercedes Benz of West Houston, Sewell Dealership, has my car that was towed to them late afternoon on 3/5/2024. I have owned a Mercedes for over 40 years and never had this occur or be scared due to the car’s lack of performance.

NHTSA ODI 11576098

Jan 21, 2024Engine

Engine light error code P-052e71. The crankcase ventilation valve malfunction. This is reported by a lot of customers.. It cost about $2000 to fix this problem.

NHTSA ODI 11566770

Nov 20, 2023Engine

The contact owns a 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC300. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle started to hesitate while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that the vehicle also started shaking and vibrating with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact managed to pull the vehicle off the highway and had the vehicle towed to a dealer. The vehicle remained in the dealer's possession for several weeks before the contact was informed that it was discovered that the piston rings were burned and that the cylinder head was warped. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but had not yet receive a response. The vehicle was not repaired and remained in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 9,200.

NHTSA ODI 11556012

Nov 18, 2023EngineBackup camera & sensors

I m having issue with te code po52e its annoying i fixed and still the same issue

NHTSA ODI 11555853

Nov 15, 2023Engine

Complete engine failure after 55,000 miles determined that there was a broken piston #1 in the car. This required a complete engine replacement. This is a known problem by Mercedes with the engine model M274 there are numerous reports of the same problem in this engine over several models and years. The engine was 5000 miles out of warranty however this problem seems to occur in alot of vehicles from Mercedes with this engine. There is an active class action lawsuit in California regarding this. Mercedes seems to be ignoring this issue and or not dealing with it to date.

NHTSA ODI 11555185

Nov 5, 2023Engine

Code P052E PCV crankcase valve ventilation

NHTSA ODI 11553661

Sep 13, 2023Electrical systemEngine

Vehicle is switching gears automatically from Drive to Neutral in the middle of the road, in the middle of driving, VERY dangerous situation. I cannot put in reverse sometimes it switches back to N. . It always switch his back to neutral. Thankfully no accidents. Don’t know what to do?

NHTSA ODI 11544396

Jul 22, 2023Engine

Keep having check engine light due to fault code *P052E71 The valve for crankcase ventilation malfunction-the actuator is blocked Many of 2018 Mercedes Benz GLC 300 experienced the same issue.

NHTSA ODI 11533774

Jun 3, 2023Electrical systemEngineDriver assistance

Vehicle stopped while driving on road. Car show "active brake assist malfunction" on the dashboard, immediately following the car will not accelerate. Shut the car off and restart, then the "check engine light" comes up. The active brake assist does not come up again, but the check engine light states on. I have taken the vehicle 5 times for this issue to the dealer, car is currently at the dealer. Reason of my report, is that I consider this situation extremely dangerous and should be investigated further. [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11525173

May 4, 2023EngineFuel system

Code P052E---crankcase Vent Solenoid Valve issue---------common issue with this model----under 65,000 miles

NHTSA ODI 11520527

Apr 12, 2023Engine

positive crank case oil separator valve part # 274-090-56-00-80 failed error code- P052E caused check engine light. Had repaired today through warranty. known issue for all Mercedes Benz. If paying out of pocket expect to spend 2,000.

NHTSA ODI 11516800

Apr 5, 2023EngineFuel system

P052E PCV value problem requiring a $2000 repair. Has happened 2 times in 70k miles.

NHTSA ODI 11515523

Mar 21, 2023EngineDriver assistance

I was driving when engine light came on.It then went into limp mode.The car would not accelerate we me trying to cross a busy 60mph road.I was almost killed.The code after it was tested p2138 .Pedal position sensor.This fault almost killed me....

NHTSA ODI 11513104

Mar 15, 2023EngineFuel system

Crankcase Breather Intake Line - Part number 274090560080 is malfunctioning and replacement of this requires over $2,000 at the dealership. This is a very common issue among the Mercedes-Benz vehicles that uses this same engine.

NHTSA ODI 11511961

Jan 11, 2023Engine

P052e crankcase vent malfunction

NHTSA ODI 11501221

Dec 29, 2022Engine

Check engine light came on with code P052E : Positive Crankcase Ventilation Regulator Valve Performance.

NHTSA ODI 11499373

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Working with the data? Download all 98 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 14, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2018 Mercedes-benz Glc-class verdict →