RoadVitals

2021 Mercedes-Benz GLB 250

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
30
+1 complaint in 30 days
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
11
Latest Jul 24, 2026
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 30 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLB 250, most frequently naming the engine, electrical and suspension categories. 11 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 225 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine718.9%
  • Electrical410.8%
  • Suspension410.8%
  • Powertrain (other)38.1%
  • Visibility38.1%
  • Body & structure38.1%
  • Fuel system25.4%
  • Driver assistance25.4%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

11 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LOCK

Jul 24, 2026
310,667 units potentially affected
The defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2020-2021 CLA, 2019-2022 A-Class, 2022-2023 C-Class, 2024 CLE, 2020-2026 GLA/GLB, and 2023-2024 GLC vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific model information. The micro-switch in the driver's door lock may corrode and fail to detect an open door, preventing the electronic parking brake or "Auto-Park" feature from engaging automatically. This may result in a vehicle rollaway.
The risk: A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash or injury.
The remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's door lock, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 18, 2026. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning July 31, 2026.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLCView on NHTSA.gov

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC):CONTROL MODULE

Sep 12, 2022
4 units potentially affected
The defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021 GLB250 vehicles. The Electronic Stability Program (ESP) unit may be damaged, which can result in disabled anti-lock brakes (ABS), disabled electronic stability control (ESC), and an electrical short circuit.
The risk: Disabled anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control can increase the risk of a crash or injury. An electrical short circuit increases the risk of a fire.
The remedy: Dealers will replace the ESP unit, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 28, 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2022090009.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLCManufacturer number 2022090009View on NHTSA.gov

COMMUNICATION: AUTO CRASH NOTIFICATION; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

May 20, 2022
242,722 units potentially affected
The defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017-2022 CLA-Class, GLA-Class, GLE-Class, GLS-Class, SLC-Class, A-Class, AMG GT-Class, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, SL-Class, GLC-Class, CLS-Class, GLB-Class, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. An error in the communication module's SIM card software can cause a mobile network connection failure, disabling the emergency call (eCall) system.
The risk: A disabled eCall system would prevent a vehicle occupant from contacting the emergency services call center in an emergency, potentially delaying emergency responders and increasing the risk of injury.
The remedy: The communication module software will be updated through an Over-the-Air (OTA) update or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 8, 2022. Owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, on July 8, 2022, May 17, 2024, July 29, 2024, and September 27, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's numbers are for this recall is 2022060005 and 2023110006.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLCManufacturer number See Recall ScheduleView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Interior & seats
Filed Nov 4, 2026

The contact owns a 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLB 250. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V481000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the front driver's side door failed to unlock automatically and had to be unlocked manually. The dealer and a second dealer, Mercedes-Benz of South Bay (3311 Pacific Coast Hwy, Torrance, CA 90505), were made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

NHTSA ID
11775674
Incident
Jul 24, 2026
Mileage
40,000 mi
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Aug 12, 2026

The contact owns a 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLB250. The contact stated that the front stationary roof panel detached from the vehicle and shattered. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact became aware of a recall with a similar failure; however, the VIN was not included, and the model year was not included in a recall for the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 63,000.

NHTSA ID
11756454
Incident
Aug 7, 2026
Mileage
63,000 mi
Filed Apr 29, 2026

Family and I were driving on the interstate and heard a loud bang (like a shotgun) followed by immediate glass everywhere. The panoramic sunroof exploded. We had to drive 4 hours like this - lucky we didn’t jerk the wheel on the interstate with the noise. Absolutely sickening that this is so prevalent and Mercedes won’t do anything about it.

NHTSA ID
11734501
Incident
Apr 27, 2026
Engine
Filed Mar 3, 2026

When my car sits in the rain for long periods of time, while driving, it will automatically switch into neutral and give me a "transmission malfunction stop" & "service required do not shift gears visit dealer" sign on the dash. This has happened at least 7 times in 2 years since March 2024. The latest time it happened was last week. I will get into my car after a day at work, when it has been raining, drive a few miles and the car will switch into neutral and display those signs. This is incredibly dangerous for my safety as the driver, any passengers and any other cars on the road. While going 55+ miles an hour, my car, without any warning shifts into neutral. I have taken it to my local dealership for inspection every time that it happens and they have repeatedly told me they cannot find a fix for it and do not know why it is happening besides a electrical problem due to water. They advised me to file a claim with corporate Mercedes but that was denied. I have photos and documentation from the dealership of when I have brought it in for inspection and they have confirmed the issue. They will not help with a solution for this problem. They have told me to pull over, turn the car on and back off to get it to go away but it continues to do the same repeated problem.

NHTSA ID
11721700
Incident
Mar 26, 2024
SteeringSuspension
Filed Feb 20, 2026

The component that appears to have malfunctioned is the front axle integral carrier (front subframe) and the related front suspension geometry, as the vehicle now exhibits a persistent pull to the left and degraded steering stability after the dealer replaced the front lower control arms, engine mounts, and performed alignments; this area of the vehicle is fully available for inspection upon request. My safety and the safety of others were put at risk because the vehicle requires constant steering correction to avoid drifting left, creating a danger of unintended lane departure and loss of control, which aligns with the steering‑related risks described in NHTSA Recall 21V990 / MBUSA 2022070009, where failure of the integral carrier can impair steering and increase crash risk. The problem has been reproduced by me on every drive, though the dealer stated they “did not find anything,” despite alignment printouts showing front camber imbalance and lack of caster correction. The vehicle has been inspected twice by the authorized Mercedes‑Benz dealer, but they did not inspect or address the front axle integral carrier even though the recall documentation shows that corrosion or structural issues in this part can affect steering performance and connection to other components. There were no warning lamps or dashboard alerts; the symptoms began immediately after the dealer’s suspension and mount repairs, and the steering pull and unstable handling have continued ever since.

NHTSA ID
11719310
Incident
Jan 14, 2026
BrakesOther / unspecifiedPowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 3, 2026

I purchased this vehicle in May 28 2025. I certified car. I took in for oil change Nov 17-2025. Found out they had lot of issues., left front bushing arm leaking. Rt engine mount leaking. Bad brakes battery low. Bad tire rt back passage side.front wheel axle and rear wheel axle is bad and screw on the engine mount is missing. Screw and leaking..?and the vehicle needed a alignment.

NHTSA ID
11708509
Incident
Nov 22, 2025
EngineFuel system
Filed Dec 12, 2025

Engine locked up while driving out of state on the interstate. Vehicle lost all power and engine stopped functioning. Managed to pull over and stop the vehicle on the side of the interstate. Had truck towed to repair shop where they diagnosed connecting rod/crankshaft bearing failure, as well as lifter and cylinder misfire/failure on cylinder 7. Metal shavings were discovered in the oil, and engine locked up and cannot be repaired. I am currently in the process of having the engine replaced, but yes currently an inspection can still be performed, and I can provide statements and diagnostics from the mechanic. This failure put myself and my family in a scary situation. The engine was shaking violently before it stopped functioning and this made the truck very difficult to steer, not to mention this was during rush hour and we were in heavy traffic moving at speeds of 70mph+. Luckily we managed to get off the road, and to a safer location, but this left us stranded on the side of the road for 2 hours waiting on a tow. The vehicle was inspected by a GMC dealership initially where they only diagnosed lifter and cylinder misfire/failure. Due to the price of their quote to repair that issue, I took the vehicle to a certified mechanic, and thats when we found there was also connecting rod/crankshaft bearing failure prior to repairing the lifter/cylinder misfire. There were no prior warnings to this happening. No check engine lights, no noises, and no noticeable changes in the vehicle. Everything seemed to be operating normally.

NHTSA ID
11704669
Incident
Sep 10, 2025
Powertrain (other)
Filed Dec 12, 2025

IT APPEARS AS IF THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. IN THIS VEHICLE. WHEN YOU COME TO A STOP THE TRANSMISSION HAS A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM LEFT SIDE OF VEHICLE. THE CLUNKING OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTS. IT CLUNKS FROM D4 TO D3, THEN D3 TO D2 , AND AGAIN AT D2 TO D1. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES TO HAVE IT CHECKED. THE SERVICE MGR WENY FOR S TEST DRIVE WITH ME AND HEARD IT. I WAS THEN TOLD THE CLUNKING WAS " NORMAL" . I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AS A CERTIFIED USED VEHICLE FROM THE SAME DEALER . THIS HAS BEEN OCCURING SINCE PURCHASE IN MAY 2024

NHTSA ID
11704654
Incident
May 27, 2024

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

LI46.10-P-080896

STEERING

Complaint Slight creaking noises when steering. Cause Noises may come from one or more sleeves of the horn contact plate. Remedy Remove the horn contact plate and check the sleeves for noise; see attached video. If necessary, apply lubricant to the sleeves.

LI42.10-P-078779

SERVICE BRAKES

Complaint Repeat workshop visit for vehicle vibration while braking from 60MPH. NOTE: Although the symptom is similar to a tire or wheel vibration, it is usually readily noticeable that it is distinctly different if it happens at all times or only while braking. Cause Although the cause of the vibration is most likely due to excessive lateral runout on the rotor or hub/wheel bearing, the system as a whole needs to be checked for other possible contributors. 1. Prior collision damage. 2. Excessive vehicle sitting times without rotating components. 3. Wheel bearing/hub lateral runout. 4. Wheel mating interface has been overtightened (did not follow WIS torque procedures). 5. Mating interfaces have been excessively modified (painted, gouged, bent, etc...). Remedy Read through the entire attached worksheet prior to performing. After performing, please review the final page and perform work accordingly. NOTE: This document is not pre‑authorization or otherwise dealing with warranty. This is intended for diagnostic purposes only. If there are any questions on how to proceed OR The work sheet has been performed and the vehicle has returned with the same concern. Please perform the measurements as seen in the worksheet again and open a TIPS case to the Body, Chassis, and Entertainment team.

LI82.60-P-080383

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Complaint Radio station cover art does not refresh when switching stations. The UI continues to show the old station’s artwork instead of updating to the new one. Cause When a new station change request is triggered, a temporary glitch is causing the Head Unit application to fail to overwrite the previous request. This glitch is causing the cover art mismatch in the Radio application. Remedy Please do not replace any parts. Please update the Head unit software to E505.9

LI82.62-P-078631

STRUCTURE:BODY

Complaint Clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors. Cause Under analysis. Remedy To narrow down the cause, first of all remove the door trim. • If the noise continues to occur even with the door trim removed, then continue the diagnosis working towards the speaker and if necessary, create a TIPS case with an informative video as an attachment. Note: Please refer to this document in the warranty claim and, once diagnosis is completed, select the damage code depending on the component part that is causing the issue. • If the noise stops when the door trim is removed, please proceed in accordance with LI72.10‑P‑067691. Information: In this case, do not use a damage code for the speakers in the warranty claim!

LI27.19-P-080869

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Complaint Temporary no start condition with check engine light and multiple warning messages. When performing a quick test, the following fault code is stored in Y3/14 ‑ Transmission control for 8‑speed dual‑clutch transmission (DKG): P24F100 The wake‑up line of the control unit has a short circuit to positive. Cause Possible signal timing between EZS control unit and Transmission Control Unit (DKG) Remedy As of 7/15/2026, new SCN coding is available for the EZS control unit. IPR will advise to open a TIPS case for EZS (N73), this is due to GLA models requiring support for SCN coding procedure. GLB (X247) and CLA (118) No TIPS case necessary. 1. SCN coding of EZS Control Unit 2. Clear all faults and perform extended road test with multiple drive cycles GLA (H247) Special function password required. 1. Verify if special procedure Central Locking ‑ Development Data is present in EZS (figure 1) 2. Submit a TIPS case to the Powertrain Inbox with the following information: ‑ Initial Quick Test w/ freeze frame data ‑ IPR Result ‑ DKG Control Unit Log ‑ EZS Control Unit Log ‑ Initial EEPROM data ‑ EZS special procedure menu If the vehicle has had this LI performed and P24F100 has returned, please submit a TIPS case to the Powertrain Inbox.

LI 27.10-P-080851

POWER TRAIN

Complaint Intermittent shift feel or thud/clunk noise perceived, such as a brief jerk or transmission reaction during certain driving situations. May be most noticeable when transitioning from a coasting condition to accelerator pedal application. May occur in all drive modes. Cause Dual‑clutch transmissions (DCT) inherently exhibit more dynamic shifting behavior compared to other types of transmissions. This is due to the use of physical clutches for starting and gear changes. In certain situations, dynamic driving behavior can lead to a slight jerk sensation which is a normal technical characteristic of the transmission. A typical example is a "Change of Mind" situation: • The customer is coasting towards a red traffic light. • The traffic light turns green while the vehicle is still coasting. • The customer then presses the accelerator pedal. In these situations, a slight jerk may occur briefly because the transmission must quickly engage the appropriate gear and control the clutches accordingly. Since shift forks are responsible for engaging the gears during shifting, a slight shifting noise may also be noticeable. Please note driving programs S, S+, and M are designed to provide sportier vehicle behavior and are not optimized primarily for maximum comfort, so this operation may be more audible. Remedy Verify the customer's concern and confirm proper transmission operation. If no faults or abnormal operating conditions are identified by IPR (Intelligent Predictive Repair), no hardware replacement is necessary. Inform the customer that the transmission has been designed to provide direct gear engagement and responsive vehicle performance. Under certain operating conditions, brief shift sensations may be perceptible and are consistent with the operating characteristics of the dual‑clutch transmission

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Mercedes-Benz GLB 250 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026110—
2025120—
2024410—
2023111042.4
2022131054.0
2021Viewing3011054.7
20205520054.6

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.