Mercedes-Benz GLC X253
Weaknesses, engine ratings and buying advice
476–612 PS
4.0L V8 BiTurbo AMG Benzin
476 hp compact SUV — the V8 no competitor had
Fun to Drive!190–265 PS
3.0L V6 Diesel Diesel
7 weaknesses
Stay Away!Body Variants
The Mercedes-Benz GLC X253 is available as SUV and Coupé — choose your body type for specific insurance data:
Generations
Engine Overview
The Mercedes-Benz GLC X253 is available with 16 engine variants — from 120 to 612 hp. 1 variants had engine changes — the model year is crucial.
The Mercedes-Benz GLC 220d (Diesel, 163–170 PS) has the OM651DE22 (2.1L Diesel) — rated: "Stay Away!", 6 known weaknesses.
The Mercedes-Benz GLC 220d Coupé (Diesel, 163–170 PS) comes with 2 different engines: OM651DE22 (2016–2019, Stay Away!) und OM651DE22 (2016–2019, Stay Away!). Pay attention to the model year for the GLC 220d Coupé!
The Mercedes-Benz GLC 250d (Diesel, 204 PS) has the OM651DE22 (2.1L Diesel) — rated: "Stay Away!", 6 known weaknesses.
The Mercedes-Benz GLC 250d Coupé (Diesel, 204 PS) has the OM651DE22 (2.1L Diesel) — rated: "Stay Away!", 6 known weaknesses.
The Mercedes-Benz GLC 350d (Diesel, 258 PS) has the OM642 (3.0L V6 Diesel) — rated: "Stay Away!", 7 known weaknesses.
The Mercedes-Benz AMG GLC 43 (Benziner, 367 PS) has the M276 (3.0-3.5L V6) — rated: "Be Careful", 10 known weaknesses.
The Mercedes-Benz AMG GLC 43 Coupé (Benziner, 367 PS) has the M276 (3.0-3.5L V6) — rated: "Be Careful", 10 known weaknesses.
The Mercedes-Benz AMG GLC 63 (Benziner, 476 PS) has the M177 (4.0L V8 BiTurbo AMG) — rated: "Be Careful", 8 known weaknesses.
The Mercedes-Benz AMG GLC 63 Coupé (Benziner, 476 PS) has the M177 (4.0L V8 BiTurbo AMG) — rated: "Be Careful", 8 known weaknesses.
The Mercedes-Benz AMG GLC 63 S (Benziner, 510 PS) has the M177 (4.0L V8 BiTurbo AMG) — rated: "Be Careful", 8 known weaknesses.
The Mercedes-Benz AMG GLC 63 S Coupé (Benziner, 510 PS) has the M177 (4.0L V8 BiTurbo AMG) — rated: "Be Careful", 8 known weaknesses.
The Mercedes-Benz GLC 250 (Benziner, 211 PS) has the M274 (1.6-2.0L Turbo) — rated: "Be Careful", 6 known weaknesses.
The Mercedes-Benz GLC 250 Coupé (Benziner, 211 PS) has the M274 (1.6-2.0L Turbo) — rated: "Be Careful", 6 known weaknesses.
The Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 (Benziner, 245 PS) has the M274 (1.6-2.0L Turbo) — rated: "Be Careful", 6 known weaknesses.
The Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 Coupé (Benziner, 245 PS) has the M274 (1.6-2.0L Turbo) — rated: "Be Careful", 6 known weaknesses.
The Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e (Benziner Plug-in-Hybrid, 320 PS) has the M274 (1.6-2.0L Turbo) — rated: "Be Careful", 6 known weaknesses.
Vehicle Weaknesses
| Weakness | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Steering rack bolts corroded (recall) Aluminium steering rack bolts corrode due to road salt. If all three bolts fracture, power steering fails completely. KBA recall 012425. Symptoms: Heavy steering when parking, jerky steering movements, possible power steering failure | Low |
Top Reported Issues
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Known Problems and Issues
A total of 48 weaknesses have been documented for the Mercedes-Benz GLC X253 (2015–2022) — 37 engine-related and 11 vehicle-related. 2 problem engines: OM651DE22 (2.1L Diesel), OM642 (3.0L V6 Diesel). Typical issues affect Steering, Gearbox, Brakes, Interior.
GLC (OM651DE22, 2015–2019) — Stay Away!: Chain Tensioner Seal Leaking — Recall, Timing Chain Stretch (Simplex Chain), Piezo Injector Faults. Power: 163–170 PS.
GLC (OM651DE22, 2015–2019) — Stay Away!: Chain Tensioner Seal Leaking — Recall, Timing Chain Stretch (Simplex Chain), Piezo Injector Faults. Power: 204 PS.
GLC (OM642, 2016–2019) — Stay Away!: Oil Cooler Gaskets Leaking — Oil and Coolant Loss, Swirl Flap Linkage Breaks — Plastic Joint Fails, Injector Seal Leaking — Soot Deposits and Diesel in Oil. Power: 258 PS.
GLC (M274, 2015–2019) — Be Careful: High-Pressure Pump Faulty or Noisy, Camshaft Adjuster Leaks — Oil in Wiring Harness, Electric thermostat failure. Power: 211 PS.
GLC (M274, 2015–2019) — Be Careful: High-Pressure Pump Faulty or Noisy, Camshaft Adjuster Leaks — Oil in Wiring Harness, Electric thermostat failure. Power: 245 PS.
GLC (M276, 2016–2019) — Be Careful: Oil cooler leaking in the V-block, Camshaft adjuster leaking — wiring harness contaminated, Piston slap (early 3.5L variants). Power: 367 PS.
GLC (M177, 2017–2019) — Be Careful: MCT Gearbox — Clutch Wears in City Traffic, Camshaft Adjuster Solenoid Draws Oil into Wiring Harness, Camshaft Cover Gasket Leaking — Hot-V Area. Power: 476 PS.
GLC (M177, 2017–2019) — Be Careful: MCT Gearbox — Clutch Wears in City Traffic, Camshaft Adjuster Solenoid Draws Oil into Wiring Harness, Camshaft Cover Gasket Leaking — Hot-V Area. Power: 510 PS.
GLC (M274, 2016–2019) — Be Careful: High-Pressure Pump Faulty or Noisy, Camshaft Adjuster Leaks — Oil in Wiring Harness, Electric thermostat failure. Power: 320 PS.
What to watch out for with the Mercedes-Benz GLC? See the detailed listing of all engine and vehicle weaknesses in the sections above.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Last updated: February 2026 · All information without guarantee