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All cars · Mercedes-Benz · SUV

Mercedes-Benz GLK/GLC.

The best Mercedes-Benz GLK/GLC years are 2011, 2012, 2013. Years to avoid: 2016. Across 2010-2022, it has a Lemon Index of 60, where 100 is the average car and lower is better.

Reliability by year, 2010 to 2023.

60Lemon Index · 100 = average car

Better than average. Whole model, 2010-2022: 1.7× fewer complaints than average.

Best year 2011 · Worst year 2016

Mercedes-Benz GLK/GLC
Photo shows a 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLK/GLC. Vauxford, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · background removed

Every year. Lower is better. Tap a year for its full report.

2010701.4× fewer complaints2011714.3× fewer complaints2012166.2× fewer complaints2013254× fewer complaints2014372.7× fewer complaints20161511.5× the complaints2017741.4× fewer complaints2018402.5× fewer complaints2019293.4× fewer complaints2020831.2× fewer complaints2021721.4× fewer complaints2022621.6× fewer complaints2023106early read · about average

Best years to buy

2011.

2011714.3× fewer complaints than average2012166.2× fewer complaints than average2013254× fewer complaints than average

Years to avoid

2016.

20161511.5× the average car's complaints

Quick answers.

Is the Mercedes-Benz GLK/GLC a good car?

Yes, it draws fewer complaints than the average car, by owner complaints to the government per car sold (2010-2022: Lemon Index 60; 100 is average). Some years are much better than others: the best is 2011 and the worst is 2016.

What are the best Mercedes-Benz GLK/GLC years to buy?

By owner complaints per car sold: 2011, 2012, 2013.

What Mercedes-Benz GLK/GLC years should you stay away from?

The years with the most complaints per car sold: 2016.

How many recalls does the Mercedes-Benz GLK/GLC have?

86 safety recalls across the 13 model years we track. Most: 2020 (16), 2016 (12), 2017 (12). Each year's page lists them.

What are the most common Mercedes-Benz GLK/GLC problems?

Across every year, owners' complaints to the government name electrical, engine and brakes most. Some years are much worse than others: see the chart above.

Every year in one table
YearIndexCompared with averageComplaintsTop complaintRecallsCrash testMPG
2010701.4× fewer complaints than average17speed control (35%)0—18
2011714.3× fewer complaints than average2engine (50%)0—18
2012166.2× fewer complaints than average5body structure (40%)0—18
2013254× fewer complaints than average10speed control (20%)0—21–27
2014372.7× fewer complaints than average14airbags (14%)3—21–27
20161511.5× the average car's complaints72brakes (35%)12—24
2017741.4× fewer complaints than average38engine (32%)12—24
2018402.5× fewer complaints than average28brakes (21%)12—24–25
2019293.4× fewer complaints than average22electrical (45%)12—23–25
2020831.2× fewer complaints than average35electrical (20%)16—24–25
2021721.4× fewer complaints than average36engine (33%)7★★★★★23–25
2022621.6× fewer complaints than average50steering (28%)2—23–24
2023106about average64electrical (47%)10—22–28

Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the government within 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average, lower is better. How it works

Mercedes-Benz GLK/GLC transmission problems by year →

Updated

Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com). Get the data