Recalls: Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC
Overview
Manufacturers, or importers, issue recalls for defects or faults which have the potential to cause injury. Generally, manufacturers will inform the original buyers if their vehicle is subject to a recall and of the steps required to remedy the defect or fault. Please note that the recalls below (if any) are for Australian-delivered vehicles only. Furthermore, the number of recalls should not be taken as an indication of a model’s reliability or its safety more generally.
Recalls: Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC
2016-17 Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC Class: front passenger seatbelt tensioner may not deploy
In October 2017, a recall was issued for Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC Class vehicles that were available for sale in Australia from 30 September 2016 to 30 January 2017. In these vehicles, the propellant mixing ratio for passenger seatbelt tensioner squibs may not satisfy design specifications. As a result, the tensioner may not deploy in the event of a collision and this would increase the risk of injury to the passenger. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see PRA 2017/16342.
2016-17 Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC Class: front passenger seatbelt tensioner may not deploy
In October 2017, a recall was issued for Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC vehicles that were available for sale in Australia from 31 July 2016 to 30 November 2016. In these vehicles, the propellant mixing ratio for the front right (driver) seatbelt tensioner squibs may not meet specifications. As a result, the driver’s seatbelt tensioner may not deploy in the event of a collision and this could increase the risk of injury. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see PRA 2017/16366.
2016-17 Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC: front seatbelt tensioner squibs
In February 2018, recall campaign RC2443 was issued for Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC vehicles that were available for sale in Australia from 1 August 2016 to 27 February 2017. In these vehicles, the propellant mix for the front seatbelt tensioner squibs may not have met specifications. The front seatbelt tensioners may therefore not deploy in the event of a collision and this increased the risk of injury to the occupants. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see PRA 2018/16619.
2017 Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC: passenger airbag may not deploy
In May 2018, a recall (RC2473) was issued for Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC vehicles that were available for sale from 2 January 2017 to 3 April 2017. In these vehicles, the connector pins to the airbag control unit may have been manufactured incorrectly. Over time, this could increase resistance in the wiring and cause the passenger seat occupant classification system to be deactivated. This, in turn, would deactivate the passenger side frontal airbag and seat restraint function, thereby increasing the risk of injury in the event of a collision. For the VINs of the recalled Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC vehicles, please see PRA 2018/16798.
2018 Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC: airbag housing could eject metal parts
In September 2018, recall campaign RC2520 was issued for Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC vehicles that were available for sale in Australia from 1 March 2018 to 30 April 2018. In these vehicles, the airbag gas generator housing could eject metal parts if the airbags were deployed and these posed an injury risk to occupants of the vehicle. Despite its similarities with the Takata airbag recalls, this recall was not related to Takata airbags. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see PRA 2018/17042.
2017-18 Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC: passenger airbag may not deploy correctly
In December 2018, recall campaign RC2599 was issued for Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC vehicles that were available for sale in Australia from 1 September 2017 to 31 December 2018. In these vehicles, software for the ‘Audio 20’ control unit could affect the occupant detection function for the front passenger seat. As a result, the airbag may not deploy correctly in the event of a collision and this increased the risk of injury for the front seat passenger. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see PRA 2018/17232.
2018 Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC: power steering may be disabled
In May 2019, recall campaign RC2656 was issued for Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC vehicles that were available for sale from 3 September 2018 to 30 September 2018. In these vehicles, a sensor for the electric power steering may not have conformed to specifications. If the sensor failed, power steering assistance may be disabled and this increased the risk of a collision. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see PRA 2019/17541.
2019 Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC 220: crankshaft failure
In August 2019, recall campaign RC2702 was issued for Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC 220 vehicles that were available for sale in Australia from 1 April 2019 to 31 May 2019. Due to a manufacturing error, the engine’s crankshaft could have surface damage. If crankshaft failure occurred, the engine may experience sudden damage and stop running – this increased the risk of a collision, posing a hazard to vehicle occupants and other road users. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see PRA 2019/17729.
2019 Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC: airbag may detach from base plate
In October 2019, recall campaign RC2727 was issued for Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC vehicles that were available for sale in Australia from 1 April 2019 to 30 September 2019. In these vehicles, the four lock nuts for fastening the airbag may have been installed incorrectly. The airbag may therefore detach from the base plate and enter the vehicle interior at high speed. In the event of a collision, this increased the risk of injury to vehicle occupants. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see PRA 2019/17890.
2018-19 Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC-Class: front seatbelt buckle housings
In July 2020, recall campaign RC27650 was issued for Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC-Class vehicles that were available for sale in Australia from 1 August 2018 to 29 March 2019. In these vehicles, the front seatbelt buckle housings may not have been correctly manufactured. As a result, a correctly-fastened seatbelt may be detected as not fastened – this would cause the seatbelt warning light to remain illuminated and a warning tone would sound when the vehicle was being driven. In the event of a collision, neither of the vehicle’s seatbelt tensioning systems would be activated – this increased the risk of injury to occupants in the event of a collision. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see PRA 2020/18344.
2020 Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC: backrest lock may fail
In August 2020, recall campaign RC2797 was issued for Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC vehicles that were available for sale in Australia from 1 March 2020 to 30 June 2020. If the cargo area was loaded and a collision occurred, the cargo could strike the backrest of the left rear seat, causing the backrest lock to fail. If this occurred, the risk of injury to vehicle occupants – particularly in the left rear seat – would be increased. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see PRA 2020/18488.
2019-20 Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC-Class: incorrect tension for oil feed and oil return line screws
In August 2020, recall campaign RC2807 was issued for Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC-Class vehicles that were available for sale in Australia from 1 April 2019 to 31 July 2020. During the assembly process, the screws for the turbocharger oil feed and oil return lines may not have been correctly tensioned. If the screws were loose, oil could leak out at the turbocharger oil feed and/or return line. If leaking oil came into contact with hot components parts, a fire could occur – this posed a hazard to vehicle occupants and other road users. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see PRA 2020/18496.
2020 Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC 300e: electronics may malfunction
In December 2020, recall campaign RC2836 was issued for Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC 300e SUVs that were available for sale in Australia from 1 July 2020 to 18 August 2020. The shielding of the high-voltage wiring harness in these vehicles may not be able to prevent electrical overload. If a contact point of the high-voltage wiring harness to the power electronics was overloaded, the vehicle’s electronics may malfunction – this could cause the vehicle to stall, thereby increasing the risk of a collision and injury to vehicle occupants and other road users. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see PRA 2020/18725.
2020-21 Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC: loss of electric power steering
In April 2021, recall campaign RC2841 was issued for Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC SUVs that were available for sale in Australia from 3 February 2020 to 31 July 2020. Due to a manufacturing defect, the wiring harness of the steering control unit may have been damaged. This damage could allow water or moisture to enter the wiring harness and cause a short circuit. This, in turn, could result in a loss of electric power steering. A failure of the electric power steering would be indicated by a warning message in the instrument panel. A short circuit could also cause a vehicle fire. Both the loss of electric power steering and vehicle fire increased the risk of a collision and injury to vehicle occupants, road users and bystanders. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see PRA 2021/18927.
2020 Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC SUV: delayed operation of airbags
In September 2021, recall campaign RC2935 was issued for 2020 Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC vehicles. The electrical connectors of the side crash sensors may not meet manufacturing specifications in these vehicles. If the sensors did not operate as designed, it may result in delayed deployment of the airbags, thereby increasing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see REC-004958.
2015-19 Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC with sunroof: panel between sunroof and windscreen may detach
In September 2021, recall campaign RC2885 was issued for 2015-19 Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC-Class vehicles with panoramic sunroofs. During a prior service repair, the panel between the windshield and the panoramic sunroof may not have been correctly bonded. The bonding may therefore deteriorate over time, such that the panel could partially or fully detach from the vehicle; this condition increased the risk of injury to vehicle occupants and other road users. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see REC-004951.
2020 Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC: emergency call may not be available
In June 2021, recall campaign RC2869 was issued for 2020 Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC vehicles. Due to a software issue, the automatic network search function of the emergency call system (‘eCall’) communication module may be deactivated. If this occurred, the automatic and manual emergency call functions may not be available outside of the network coverage of certain providers; vehicle occupants would therefore be unable to connect with emergency services. This circumstance increased the risk of injury to vehicle occupants. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see REC-001614.
2018-20 Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC: eCall system may not contact emergency services
In December 2021, recall campaign RC2932-RC2933 was issued for 2018-20 Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC vehicles. Due to a software issue, the automatic network search of the emergency call system (eCall) communication module may be deactivated. If this occurred, the automatic and manual emergency call function may not be available outside of the network coverage of certain providers. If the eCall system was deactivated, it would not be possible for vehicle occupants to contact emergency services in the event of an emergency (either manually or automatically). As a consequence, emergency vehicles may not be directed to the affected vehicle or may be delayed and this could increase the risk of death if a serious injury had occurred. For this recall, no action was required by consumers since the software would be updated ‘over the air’ (i.e. without requiring a workshop visit). For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see REC-004979.
2017-21 Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC Diesel: fire hazard
In January 2022, recall campaign RC2978 was issued for 2017-21 Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC vehicles that had OM654 or OM6546 diesel engines. In these vehicles, a leak could develop between the coolant pump and the vacuum circuit, such that coolant could enter the vacuum circuit. If this occurred, there would be an increase in the temperature of those components and this could result in a vehicle fire, thereby increasing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see REC-005039.
2018-20 Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC SUV: emergency call may not contact emergency services
In April 2022, recall campaign RC2957 was issued for 2018-20 Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC SUVs. Due to a software issue, the automatic network search of the emergency call system (‘eCall’) communication module may be deactivated. If the eCall system was deactivated, it would not be possible for the vehicle occupants to connect with emergency services, either manually or automatically, in the event of an emergency. As a result, emergency vehicles may not be directed to the affected vehicle or may be delayed; this could increase the risk or severity of injury. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see REC-005401.
2021 Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC SUV: headlight defect
In June 2022, recall campaign RC3032 was issued for 2021 Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC SUV vehicles. Due to a manufacturing defect, the headlights may not operate as intended – this could increase the risk of a collision and, therefore, the risk of injury to vehicle occupants and other road users. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see REC-005460.
2020-22 Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC 300 e: transmission wiring routed incorrectly
In August 2022, recall campaign RC3061 was issued for 2020-22 Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC 300 e vehicles. Due to a manufacturing issue, the transmission wiring may have been routed incorrectly and may contact the front driveshaft. If this occurred, the vehicle may expereince an unexpected loss of traction – this condition increased the risk of a collision and injury to vehicle occupants, other road users and bystanders. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see REC-005510.
2021-22 Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC SUV: fuel delivery unit failure
In August 2023, recall campaign RC3170 was issued for 2021-22 Mercedes-AMG X253 GLC SUV vehicles. Due to a manufacturing defect, the fuel delivery unit may fail and this could cause the fuel pump to switch off. If this occurred, fuel supply to the engine would be impaired and the vehicle may experience a loss power. If this occurred while driving, there was an increased risk of a collision and injury to vehicle occupants and other road users. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see REC-005747.
Problems and faults: Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC
Overview
This section identifies potential problems, causes and fixes based on the experiences of owners and repairers, online sources and technical service bulletins. This information is provided solely for reference purposes and AustralianCar.Reviews recommends that only properly qualified persons carry out repairs or modifications. Furthermore, the number of items below should not be taken as an indicator of a model’s reliability or the frequency with which they may occur.
To report a problem or fault to the AustralianCar.Reviews team, please use the Contact Us form. Note that AustralianCar.Reviews does not offer advice on automotive problems or disputes; such enquiries will not receive a reply. For vehicles purchased from dealers after 1 January 2011, please see our Australian Consumer Law fact sheet.
Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC: front-end judder, tyre skip and thump noises
Mercedes-Benz X253 GLC owners have reported reporting a juddering sensation (also termed ‘crabbing’ or ‘tyre skip’) from the front end of the vehicle and thumping noises when cornering at low-speeds with a high degree of steering lock applied.
In response to complaints, Mercedes-Benz UK have issued statements that attribute this ‘characteristic’ to ‘flexibility within the tyre sidewall, the grip between the front tyres and the type of road surface being driven over.’ Furthermore, ‘[w]inter tyres and all-season tyres on 18- or 19-inch wheels improve this characteristic and we would always recommend their use in temperatures which fall below approximately +7 degrees Celsius. The use of 18-inch wheels with summer tyres also improves the issue.’ While Mercedes-Benz claims that these symptoms are only ‘a comfort issue, and does not affect the safety or performance of the vehicle’, the compromised traction is potentially hazardous. Owners have also experienced rapid tyre wear on the outer edges of the front wheels.
Mercedes-Benz have claimed that its ‘technical experts’ are investigating ways to minimise this characteristic, however, the root cause appears to be steering geometry that does not provide appropriate degrees of relative lock for the inner and outer front wheels when cornering.
