2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 Engine Problems

FIRE! NHTSA Vehicle Safety Complaint – Mercedes-Benz GLC300 Complainant Information: [XXX] [XXX] Phone: [XXX] Email: [XXX] Vehicle Information: 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC300 4MATIC VIN: [XXX] Purchase Location: Missouri Incident Location: St. Louis, MO Date of Incident: [XXX] Date of Report Submission: July 12, 2025 Summary of Incident: On [XXX] , my 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC300 4MATIC spontaneously caught fire while parked. I immediately contacted Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance, and the vehicle was towed for inspection. Mercedes-Benz later claimed the fire originated in the engine compartment, yet took no accountability and cited “missing components” as an excuse to avoid liability. Photographic evidence shows that the parts were present immediately after the fire. Mercedes-Benz denied that NHTSA Recall 21V961000 applied to this vehicle, despite clear similarity in symptoms (fire risk due to fuel or electrical issues). I was also never notified of any fire risk. Furthermore, towing coordination failures led to my vehicle being sent to a third-party lot, incurring unauthorized fees. Safety Concern: The spontaneous combustion of this vehicle presents a serious public safety risk. I am concerned this issue may be more widespread and underreported. Mercedes-Benz’s failure to take accountability and deflecting blame could endanger other consumers. Desired Action: 1. Federal investigation into similar fire-related complaints involving 2019 GLC300s. 2. Reconsideration of eligibility under Recall 21V961000 or related campaigns. 3. Consumer safety alert or expanded recall if defect patterns are confirmed. Attachments Provided: - Mercedes-Benz USA denial letter dated July 11, 2025 - Photos of the fire damage - Letters and written communications Signature: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11672995

Incident

May 22, 2025

- My transmission is malfunctioning. It is available for inspection. - My car is not allowing me to shift from reverse to drive. When I try to put it in drive, it gets stuck in neutral. My safety is at risk as I was trying to do a quick 3-point turn and got stuck in the lane. - Yes, the problem has been confirmed by an independent service center. There was a recall by Mercedes Benz for the same issue in 2020, but for some reason my car isn't included. - The vehicle has been inspected by an independent service center - No warning lamps or messaged prior to the failure which first appeared on Thursday, June 5.

NHTSA ID

11666765

Incident

Jun 5, 2025

Faulty Positive Crankcase Ventilation Valve. Seems a very common failure which causes poor emissions and potentially further engine damage.

NHTSA ID

11650016

Incident

Mar 23, 2025

The error code is P052E and it is a PCV Code Crankcase Ventilation Oil Separator. It's a time-consuming and expensive repair that seems to be regularly occurring on a lot Mercedes Benz that have this installed. And it happens often on cars with under 50K miles on them and when it's just been out of warranty this is a small inexpensive part that the customer funds through the cost of labor. Not that mechanics don't deserve their labor costs, but Mercedes ought to fix this is issue as it is borne by the consumer of a high end vehicle for a consistent, faulty part that they have engineered.

NHTSA ID

11589246

Incident

May 2, 2024

P052E71 Engine Separator and actuator malfunctioning. Was told this fails several times on Mercedes vehicles. I will not pass emissions with this issue. Over $2K to repair and engine light along with code appears. I have videos of the engine light coming off and on. Car has been inspected by Firestone and Mercedes Service Center.

NHTSA ID

11572879

Incident

Jan 25, 2024

Had the Crankcase valve error, PCV valve, (P052E) trigger engine problem several times at 58.000 miles mark. The dealer says its a $2000 repair and not covered under warranty. The crankcase valve affects emission controls to not perform properly. It should be covered under NJ CCR 2037 up to 70.000 miles.

NHTSA ID

11557373

Incident

Nov 27, 2023

Cracked piston due to a faulty wrist pin installed in the MBZ M274 engine. Yes, available for inspection. Car began shaking and I would not have been able to control it if I had been driving at a higher speed. Yes, the problem is well known amongst MBZ and the service manager admitted to this engine having resulting cracked pistons. The "check engine" light did not come on until the day after the severe shaking of the vehicle. This should have been a safety recall years ago.

NHTSA ID

11556722

Incident

Sep 7, 2023

P052E system replacement needed at 52880 miles

NHTSA ID

11546233

Incident

Sep 24, 2023

The Crankcase ventilation valve has a malfunction. The actuator is blocked. Code #052E71. The manufacturer has inspected the vehicle and confirmed the issue. The same issue has happened repeatedly to numerous Mercedes owners. The car is not safe to drive with this issue because it could cause engine problems.

NHTSA ID

11538269

Incident

Jul 1, 2023

While driving on the interstate (65mph) in traffic, there was a sudden loss of power causing deceleration and the inability to maintain speed. A collision was barely avoided both from being rear-ended and from trying to safely move to the shoulder while other traffic passed. A certified mechanic later determined the piston in cylinder 2 broke, the spark plug broke and the piston rings pulled to the top. The mechanic also said, "Replacement of engine required." The vehicle has 52,839 miles (2,839 miles above the 50,000 warranty). There were no warning lamps or messages and no symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH SHOWS THIS IS A COMMON OCCURENCE WITH THESE VEHICLES. WHAT DOES IT TAKE FOR A FORCED RECALL?

NHTSA ID

11470529

Incident

Jun 12, 2022

I was going through drive thru waiting in line, when suddenly the car started to accelerate sharply, I put two feet on the brakes to stop the forward motion of vehicle - could not stop or place in park or neutral. their was ample room from the vehicle in front.. slightly removed feet from brake, suv lunged at vehicle in front kept on lunging then came to a halt...vehicle went back to normal operation.

NHTSA ID

11443463

Incident

Nov 8, 2021