2018 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLC43 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
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What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2018 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLC43, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Body & structure240.0%
- Powertrain (other)240.0%
- Airbags120.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
In May 2023 a black plastic portion of the roof blew off the car. The plastic part that blew off was around the sunroof. There was no wind or blow to the car or anything like that; there was no prior warning or error message; there were no symptoms in advance. The part simply blew off the vehicle. The part is not available for inspection. Others were put at risk because the portion that blew off could have hit them or their vehicles. If the parts obstructed someone's view, there could have been an accident. The dealer has inspected and recently repaired the vehicle and can confirm the incident. No others such as the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives have inspected the vehicle.
Panoramic Sunroof exploded while driving out of the blue. No other cars in front of me or near me. Nothing hit it.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
On May 14, 2023, with a little over 44,000 well-kept miles and under normal driving conditions, my 2018 GLC43 AMG blew smoke out the rear and soon after presented pooling oil under the transmission/engine area. Upon inspection by a reputable transmission repair specialist, AAMCO in Los Angeles, it was determined that the cause of the issue was a broken bolt head in the torque converter, resulting in significant internal damage. The bolt's failure was suspected to be the result of a manufacturing defect, as it is highly unlikely for such a crucial component to fail under normal operating conditions. The process to identify and rectify this issue involved dropping the transmission, inspecting for damage, replacing the torque converter with a new Mercedes-Benz part, and replacing all four torque converter bolts to ensure no further defects were present. Lastly, the transmission had to be resealed using a factory kit, refilled, and reinstalled. This all amounted to a significant total of $5,100 including parts and labor. This does not include the additional ~$500 spent on a rental car during the lengthy repair period.
Hi, Improper gear shifting. Vehicle engine light comes on with Error Code P073E, "reverse gear cannot be engaged" Vehicle would shift gear back into neutral position when put to Drive. When vehicle is able to be put in gear Reverse or Drive, a loud noise and shaking would occur. When driven, vehicle is in Limp Mode and can only go up of Gear 5. (this is a 9G Tronic, 9 gears in total) As I was backing up into street from a parking stall, I was not able to put the vehicle in Drive to proceed forward. Traffic was building up. Driver panicked. But finally was able to put it in Drive after a minute or so in the middle of the streets.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
I was involved in a minor collision with a deer. I was driving alone and the deer hit my front passenger side. The airbags deployed. The knee bag completely destroyed the flesh on my entire right shin. It is one giant open wound that will take months to heal. I am short so I sit close to the dash. Had this knee bag not deployed I would have no injuries from the incident. The main airbag caused no damage so I feel I sit far enough away from that one. I am now scared to drive a vehicle with knee bags for fear of a repeat injury. I believe the knee bag is not safe for shorter people.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .