Short answer
Among Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class model years through 2024, 2022 has the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (2) and 2020 has the most (20). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 11 (2016–2026)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 60
- Fewest recalls
- 2022 (2)
- Most recalls
- 2020 (20)
- Most recalled system
- Communication (17)
- 5-star overall rating
- 2018, 2019 and 2022
Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Recent: still collecting recalls | 3 | Not rated | Electrical system, Seat belts, Steering |
| 2025 Recent: still collecting recalls | 4 | Not rated | Electrical system, Steering, Structure |
| 2024 | 8 | Not rated | Structure, Electrical system, Latches/locks/linkages |
| 2023 | 12 | Not rated | Electrical system, Fuel system, gasoline, Structure |
| 2022 | 2 | 5 stars | Exterior lighting, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2021 | 9 | Not rated | Communication, Exterior lighting, Air bags |
| 2020 | 20 | Not rated | Communication, Air bags, Back over prevention |
| 2019 | 14 | 5 stars | Communication, Air bags, Steering |
| 2018 | 15 | 5 stars | Air bags, Communication, Seat belts |
| 2017 | 12 | Not rated | Seat belts, Communication, Structure |
| 2016 | 12 | Not rated | Electrical system, Communication, Seat belts |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20263 recalls
- 20254 recalls
- 20248 recalls
- 202312 recalls
- 20222 recalls
- 20219 recalls
- 202020 recalls
- 201914 recalls
- 201815 recalls
- 201712 recalls
- 201612 recalls
Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class recalls are communication (17), structure (16), electrical system (15), air bags (11) and seat belts (11). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA has an overall star rating for 3 of these 11 model years, and 2018, 2019 and 2022 earned 5 stars. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.
FAQ: Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2022 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 2 each.
Which Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class model years have the most recalls?
2020 has the most, with 20 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "GLC-Class", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy