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Low-Pressure Fuel Pump Failure — Recall 23V445 (2023, Multi-Model LPFP Shutdown)
engine stalls while driving; vehicle will not start; loss of power; fuel pump recall
Safety2023
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The 2023-2026 Mercedes-Benz GLC has 16 NHTSA recalls plus 48V ISG failures and phantom braking. California lemon law may entitle you to a full refund.
You paid close to $60,000 — or more — for the redesigned 2023-2026 Mercedes-Benz GLC. The three-pointed star on the hood promised German engineering precision: the new M254 turbocharged four-cylinder, a 48-volt mild-hybrid system for seamless acceleration, MBUX 2.0 infotainment with augmented-reality navigation, and active safety features sophisticated enough to intervene before you could react. Instead, many GLC owners have found themselves stranded on the side of the road within the first year of ownership — sometimes in the first 1,500 miles — with all the warning lights on simultaneously, the engine refusing to restart, and Mercedes roadside assistance telling them to wait for a tow. Some have been towed to the dealership eight or more times for the same electrical failures. Others have had the car's autonomous braking slam them to a stop at highway speed with nothing in front of them, a following car barely missing a rear-end collision. The X254-generation GLC arrived with sixteen NHTSA recalls in its first three years — spanning the fuel pump (twice, covering both the low-pressure and high-pressure units), the fuse box (twice, because the first replacement was itself defective), the windshield, the seat rails, the engine cradle, the rear axle differential, the sunroof C-pillar, the steering coupling, and the instrument cluster. What is not yet a recall — but drives the loudest complaint volume to NHTSA — is the 48V integrated starter-generator system that can plunge the entire vehicle into a fault state, and an Active Brake Assist radar that has triggered two documented crashes. If your GLC has spent more time at the dealer than in your driveway, California law may entitle you to a full buyback or replacement.
The issues owners report most, ranked by severity — each one verified against a cited NHTSA source.
engine stalls while driving; vehicle will not start; loss of power; fuel pump recall
warning light; recall notice; repeated dealer repair
warning light; recall notice; repeated dealer repair
engine stalls while driving; vehicle will not start; loss of power; fuel pump recall
engine stalls while driving; vehicle will not start; loss of power; fuel pump recall
warning light; recall notice; repeated dealer repair
A settled Margarian Law case on this exact model, published with the actual settlement math.
Open any defect for the symptoms and why it matters for a California lemon-law claim. Each is tied to a cited NHTSA source.
engine stalls while driving; vehicle will not start; loss of power; fuel pump recall
Recall 23V445000 covers 2023 GLC (among thousands of Mercedes vehicles) for LPFP shutdown causing sudden loss of drive power — a direct crash-risk defect. Under California Song-Beverly, if a dealer performed the recall repair and the stalling or no-start condition persisted — or if the owner experienced the defect before notification and required towing — those repair events count toward lemon eligibility. Two unsuccessful repair attempts for a safety defect, or 30+ aggregate days out of service, triggers the buyback presumption.
Dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 14, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2023070012.
warning light; recall notice; repeated dealer repair
Recall 23V629000 covers 2023 GLC300: the front tow eye may detach from the crossmember during towing, creating a projectile and loss-of-control risk. This is a structural safety defect requiring dealer inspection and crossmember replacement. If the remedy is incomplete or the owner experiences tow-eye separation post-repair, that warrants a repeat-repair lemon analysis under Song-Beverly.
Dealers will inspect and replace the front crossmember, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 26, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's numbers for this recall are 2023090010/120002.
warning light; recall notice; repeated dealer repair
Recall 23V741000 covers 2024 GLC300: improperly secured windows can detach during driving, and — critically — front airbags may not deploy correctly without proper windshield support. This is one of the most serious structural-safety defects on this vehicle. MBUSA's remedy requires inspection and potential replacement of all major glass panels. If the remedy is performed but the owner later notices glass movement, wind noise from unseated glass, or receives notice of incomplete remediation, those issues should be documented for a Song-Beverly repair-attempt analysis.
Dealers will inspect and replace the front, rear, and fixed side windows, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 15, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2023110003.
engine stalls while driving; vehicle will not start; loss of power; fuel pump recall
Recall 23V878000 covers 2023 GLC300 equipped with the M254 engine: incorrect screws on the high-pressure fuel pump prevent a proper seal between the pump and the tandem pump assembly, which can cause a fuel leak and — separately — a loss of high-pressure fuel delivery. Fuel leaks present fire risk (Catastrophic); fuel delivery failure creates stalling risk (Safety). The recall remedy is full HPFP replacement. If an owner experienced fuel odor, starting difficulty, or engine hesitation before recall completion, those events are evidence for a Song-Beverly claim.
Dealers will replace the high-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 9, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
engine stalls while driving; vehicle will not start; loss of power; fuel pump recall
Recall 23V880000 is a second — and broader — LPFP campaign covering 2023 GLC among 2021-2024 multi-model vehicles. MBUSA notified owners in phased mailings across 2024. Owners who experienced stalling or no-start and brought the vehicle in before the recall remedy may have repair orders documenting the defect prior to MBUSA's formal acknowledgment — strong Song-Beverly evidence. If the LPFP was replaced under 23V445 and then failed again, the second failure under 23V880 establishes a pattern of non-repair qualifying for a lemon buyback.
Dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 28, 2024. Owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, on February 23, 2024, April 19, 2024, June 28, 2024, August 9, 2024, October 1, 2024, and December 2, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA custo
warning light; recall notice; repeated dealer repair
Recall 24V115000 covers 2023-2024 GLC: incorrect 80A fuses may cause contact interruption or increased triggering resistance, potentially leaving the vehicle without propulsion, disabling restraint systems, or blanking the instrument cluster without warning. These are direct safety consequences. For any owner who experienced electrical faults, propulsion loss, or instrument cluster failure before the recall remedy, those dealer visits form part of the repair-attempt record for a Song-Beverly analysis. The recall was later followed by Recall 25V255000 (iss-11) correcting improper remediation — a two-recall chain that further demonstrates systematic failure.
Dealers will replace the main fuse boxes, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 5, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2024030008.
warning light; recall notice; repeated dealer repair
Recall 24V520000 covers 2023 GLC 300 4MATIC: dashboard bolts insufficiently tightened may cause improper airbag deployment or parts separation in a crash. The dual nature of this defect — airbag deployment risk and structural parts ejection — places it squarely in the safety-defect category. Under Song-Beverly, if a dealer attempted the bolt inspection remedy and the owner later identified loose trim or received a subsequent related notice, each dealer visit for the same root cause counts. MBUSA's mailing in August 2024 gives attorneys a clear manufacturing-awareness date.
Dealers will inspect and tighten the bolts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were August 23, 2024. Owner may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691.
warning light; recall notice; repeated dealer repair
Recall 24V658000 covers 2024 GLC 300 and AMG GLC 43: improperly welded integral carrier (engine cradle) can fail, causing sudden loss of vehicle control. This is a structural catastrophic-failure risk — not merely drivability — since a failed engine cradle weld can detach the engine mount from the body mid-drive. The recall remedy is full integral carrier replacement. California Song-Beverly treats structural defects affecting vehicle control as high-priority safety impairments; two unsuccessful repair attempts for control-related defects trigger the buyback presumption.
Dealers will replace the integral carrier, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 11, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2024090013.
driver seat cushion loose; seat fastener recall; seat may not stay secured
Recall 24V808000 covers 2023 GLC 300 and GLC 300 4MATIC: the driver and front passenger seat rails may be incorrectly attached to the vehicle body. A seat that can shift or detach during occupancy is a direct occupant-safety defect. The remedy is bolt inspection and tightening. If the fix requires multiple attempts because the torque spec cannot hold — as can occur with cross-threaded or stripped mounts — each visit builds the repair-attempt record. MBUSA notified owners in December 2024; owners who noticed seat movement or clicking sounds prior to notification have a window to document pre-recall repair visits.
Dealers will inspect the bolt connection and tighten the bolts between the driver and front passenger seat rail and the vehicle body, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 4, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
transmission shifts unexpectedly; hesitation; harsh shift; transmission warning
Recall 24V862000 covers 2024 GLC 300 4MATIC: loose rear axle differential bolts can allow the driveshaft to separate from the differential — a sudden total loss of rear traction in a 4MATIC vehicle operating on rear-biased torque delivery. Driveshaft separation at speed is a loss-of-control event. Owners who noticed vibration, clunking from the rear axle, or traction-related warnings before the recall remedy should document those events and all dealer visits. Two repair attempts for this defect, or 30+ aggregate out-of-service days, triggers Song-Beverly presumption.
Dealers will repair the rear axle differential bolt connection as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2024120005.
warning light; recall notice; repeated dealer repair
Recall 25V255000 is a remediation recall: certain GLC vehicles whose fuse boxes were replaced under Recall 24V115000 received an incorrect fuse box not designed for the vehicle. This 'recall-within-a-recall' is strong Song-Beverly evidence — MBUSA performed a repair that made the defect worse, or at best failed to correct it. Any owner who received the 24V115 remedy and then experienced further electrical failures has a documented failed repair attempt. The June 2025 notification under 25V255000 gives a clear date by which MBUSA acknowledged the second failure.
Dealers will inspect and replace the main fuse boxes, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 6, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2025050003/4.
tail light out; exterior light warning; reduced rear visibility
Recall 25V365000 covers 2023 GLC 300 and GLC 300 4MATIC: missing headlight adjustment prevention caps allow the headlights to be improperly adjusted, causing the vehicle to fail FMVSS lighting standards. While the defect itself is Functional in nature, any owner who received a failed safety inspection or experienced poor night visibility attributable to misadjusted headlights has a documented warranty defect. If the dealer visit for the cap installation cannot be scheduled promptly, each day without the vehicle counts toward the out-of-service tally.
Dealers will inspect the headlights for sealing caps and install caps as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 18, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2025060005.
warning light; recall notice; repeated dealer repair
Recall 25V379000 covers 2023-2025 GLC with panoramic sunroof: in a rear collision, a rear occupant's head can contact the C-pillar due to insufficient cushioning in the roof lining, increasing injury risk. MBUSA's remedy (modifying roof lining and C-pillar trim) is a structural occupant-protection fix. Song-Beverly includes any defect that 'substantially impairs the use, value, or safety' of the vehicle; a known crash-injury risk acknowledged by MBUSA satisfies that standard. Owners who bring the vehicle in for this recall and experience lengthy out-of-service periods while waiting for parts should track those days.
Dealers will modify the roof lining and C-pillar trim, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 9, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
sticky steering; steering wheel feels stuck; increased steering effort; steering recall
Recall 25V533000 covers 2023-2026 GLC: loose steering coupling bolt can allow the steering coupling to detach from the steering rack — a sudden total loss of steering at any speed. Loss of steering is among the most serious vehicle defects under Song-Beverly. Owners who noticed sticky steering, play in the wheel, or groaning noises before the October 2025 notification should document those visits as pre-recall repair attempts. If the torque fix does not hold and the coupling re-loosens — a common failure with fastener-torque recalls on high-vibration systems — the second repair attempt triggers Song-Beverly's safety-defect presumption.
Dealers will tighten the steering coupling bolts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 6, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
driver seat cushion loose; seat fastener recall; seat may not stay secured
Recall 26V172000 covers 2026 AMG GLC43, GLC 300, GLC 300 4MATIC, and GLC 300 4MATIC Coupe: the rear center seatbelt was installed without the child seat protection function and fails to lock a child restraint system properly, violating FMVSS 213. A vehicle that fails to comply with federal child-safety standards at delivery has a defect present from the moment of sale — a strong Song-Beverly position. MBUSA notified owners in May 2026. Any 2026 GLC owner who brought a child in the vehicle before the remedy may have documented a safety-impaired use period.
Dealers will inspect and replace the center rear seat belt assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 15, 2026. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTS
warning light; recall notice; repeated dealer repair
Recall 26V281000 covers 2024-2026 GLC (and other models): the infotainment control unit may reset while the vehicle is in motion, blanking the instrument panel display — eliminating the speedometer, fuel gauge, and warning indicators while driving. MBUSA acknowledged this defect with a recall in mid-2026. Owners who experienced instrument cluster blackout before the June 2026 notification date — and who have dealer repair orders for display resets — have documented prior repair attempts that, combined with the recall, establish MBUSA's manufacturer awareness. Under Song-Beverly, manufacturer awareness of a defect is relevant to willfulness and attorneys' fees arguments.
Dealers will update the infotainment control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed June 26, 2026. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2026050004. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in
48V battery service required warning; check engine light; do not shift into gear message; car shuts off while driving and will not restart; vehicle completely dead and cannot be started for 30-90 minutes; could not turn steering wheel during failure; all warning lights flash simultaneously; car alarm sounds continuously; cannot put car into park; stranded on highway; tow truck required; failure recurs after dealer repair
A vehicle that shuts down at highway speed, loses steering, and cannot be restarted constitutes a safety defect under California Song-Beverly. Multiple owners report 8+ dealer visits for the same electrical/48V failure — well above the two-repair threshold for safety defects. If the vehicle has been out of service 30+ aggregate days within the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, a Song-Beverly buyback claim is directly supported. Dealer 'cannot duplicate' responses — documented in multiple NHTSA complaints — are a known pattern with this vehicle and do not defeat a lemon-law claim.
Software update to 48V ISG control module; if fault codes persist, replace the BSG (belt starter generator) assembly; inspect and replace 12V auxiliary battery if capacity degraded; ensure fuse box is updated per recalls 24V115000 and 25V255000.
car slams on brakes without driver input; emergency brake activates at 35-75 MPH with nothing in front of vehicle; ABA triggers on manhole covers, road paint, parked cars, bridges; seatbelt pre-tensioner fires; objects fly around cabin; following car nearly rear-ends vehicle; Active Brake Assist unavailable warning; Active Emergency Stop Assist currently unavailable message; DISTRONIC PLUS stops working
Unexpected emergency braking at highway speed is a direct safety hazard creating rear-end crash exposure for the driver and all following traffic. Under Song-Beverly, an ADAS system that fires full emergency braking without driver input — and which cannot be permanently corrected after multiple dealer visits — qualifies as a substantial impairment of use and safety. Two NHTSA complaints for this vehicle involved actual crashes (ODI 11607936, 11614976). California law requires only two unsuccessful repair attempts for safety defects to trigger buyback eligibility.
Front radar sensor recalibration via XENTRY; ABA and DISTRONIC software update; if phantom braking persists post-update, replace Front Radar Module (FCM). Disabling ABA in settings prevents false events but removes a safety feature.
12V battery low warning overnight; vehicle will not start in the morning; 12V on-board electrical system service required; all screens dark; cannot unlock car with key fob; Blind Spot Assist inoperative; driver assistance features unavailable; battery replaced but problem returns within weeks; stranded 3+ times with same low-battery fault; check engine light accompanies battery warning; 12V battery shows fault code after sitting unused for 2-3 days
A vehicle that repeatedly fails to start due to 12V battery drain — requiring towing multiple times — constitutes a substantial impairment of use. One owner (ODI 11722368) documented 14 dealer visits and 8 strandings within three years of purchase; this level of chronic repeat-repair is textbook Song-Beverly eligibility. California courts have held that a defect needing more than two repair attempts for a safety condition triggers the presumption, and battery drain that leaves a driver stranded qualifies.
Replace 12V auxiliary battery (AGM type); update 48V ISG control module software; ensure main fuse box is replaced per recalls 24V115000 / 25V255000; check for parasitic draw with XENTRY; if recurring, inspect DC-DC converter function.
engine sputters and hesitates on acceleration; vehicle decelerates unexpectedly; check engine light on; coolant warning light; loud knocking noise from engine area; car stalls and will not restart for 30-60 minutes; engine light returns within weeks of dealer software update; fuel uptake interrupted 3+ times; hesitation pulling into traffic; rough transition from EV-mode to engine start
An engine that stalls on public roads and requires 30+ minutes before restarting is a drivability-impairing defect under Song-Beverly. If a dealer performs a software update and the sputtering recurs within weeks — as documented in multiple NHTSA complaints — that constitutes an unsuccessful repair attempt. Three repair attempts for the same drivability defect, or 30+ days aggregate out of service, triggers the Song-Beverly presumption of a lemon.
Engine control module (ECM) software update via XENTRY; if sputtering persists, inspect high-pressure and low-pressure fuel pumps and replace if defective (separate from existing recall scope); verify 48V ISG torque-fill calibration.
infotainment screen goes black while driving; instrument cluster turns off at speed; speedometer disappears; backup camera unavailable; infotainment reboots in 30-90 seconds; check engine light on after reboot; instrument cluster display blank; navigation lost; wireless Apple CarPlay drops unexpectedly and cannot reconnect; instrument panel intermittently blank while moving; touchscreen freezes and becomes unresponsive
While infotainment freeze alone may be classified as Functional, the instrument cluster blackout — which eliminates the speedometer, fuel gauge, and safety warnings while driving — rises to a Safety concern under Song-Beverly. Recall 26V281000 acknowledges MBUSA's awareness of this defect. If a GLC owner brings the vehicle in for instrument cluster blackout before or after the recall remedy and the problem persists, each dealer visit for the same root cause counts toward the repair-attempt threshold for lemon eligibility.
Software update per recall 26V281000 (infotainment control unit); if display reboots persist post-update, replacement of the infotainment control unit (ICU) is required. Wireless CarPlay drops: update MBUX 2.0 to latest build; if drops persist, replace wireless CarPlay antenna/module.
comfort functions misbehave when exiting (e.g. radio or lights stay on after door opens); electronic parking brake / Auto-Park fails to engage automatically on driver door open; vehicle rollaway
A silent parking-brake non-engagement defect creates rollaway risk with no owner-available remedy until September 2026 — a documented period where the defect cannot be repaired. Pre-recall complaints about door-lock or parking-brake behavior without a lasting fix form relevant repair history under California lemon law.
Dealers will replace the driver's door lock, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 18, 2026. 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.
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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. 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.
remedy available
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2024-2026 AMG GT, C-Class, E-Class, SL, CLE, and GLC vehicles. The infotainment control unit may reset while the vehicle is in motion and cause the instrument panel display to go blank.
remedy available
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2026 AMG GLC43 4MATIC, GLC 300 4MATIC, GLC 300, and GLC 300 4MATIC Coupe vehicles. The center rear seat belts may have been installed without the child seat protection function and fail to lock a child restraint properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection," and FMVSS number 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies."
remedy available
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2023-2026 EQE and GLC vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. The steering coupling bolt may have been improperly tightened, allowing the steering coupling to loosen from the steering rack.
remedy available
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2023 GLC 300 and GLC 300 4MATIC vehicles. The headlights are missing adjustment prevention caps, which can allow the headlights to be improperly adjusted. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
remedy available
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2023-2025 GLC 300, GLC 300 4MATIC, 2024-2025 AMG GLC 43 4MATIC, 2025 GLC 350E 4MATIC, and AMG GLC 63 S E vehicles equipped with a panoramic sunroof. In certain crash scenarios, where the rear occupant's head contacts the C-pillar, the pillar may not absorb an adequate amount of the impact. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 201, "Occupant Protection in Interior Impact."
remedy available
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2023-2024 C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, SL, GLC, EQE SUV, EQE, EQS SUV, and EQS vehicles that were incorrectly repaired under recall 24V-115. An incorrect fuse box that was not designed for the vehicle may have been installed.
remedy available
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2024 GLC 300 4MATIC, and S 580 4MATIC vehicles. The bolts that secure the rear axle differential to the rear axle carrier may come loose, which can result in a separation of the drive shaft from the rear axle differential.
remedy available
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2023 GLC 300 and GLC 300 4MATIC vehicles. The driver's and front passenger seat rail may have been incorrectly attached to the vehicle body.
remedy available
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2024 GLC 300 and AMG GLC 43 vehicles. The integral carrier that supports the engine may fail due to improper welds, which can cause a loss of vehicle control.
remedy available
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2023 GLC 300 4MATIC vehicles. Certain dashboard area bolts may have been insufficiently tightened, potentially causing improper air bag deployment or parts separation during a crash. In addition, the 12-Volt electric auxiliary heater connections may be loose, possibly causing the electrical wiring to overheat.
remedy available
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2023-2024 C300, AMG C43, S580e, S580, Maybach S580, Maybach S680, AMG SL43, AMGSL63, GLC300, EQE350, EQE500, EQS450, EQS580, AMG EQS, 2023 S500, AMG SL55, AMG EQE, 2024 E350, E450, AMG C63e S, CLE300 Coupe, CLE450 Coupe, and GLC300 Coupe vehicles. The 80-Amp fuses may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause the fuses to fail.
remedy available
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2023 GLC300, 2024 GLE350, and GLE450 vehicles equipped with an M254 engine. The incorrect screws, installed on the high-pressure fuel pump, may prevent a proper seal from forming between the high-pressure fuel pump and the tandem oil pump.
remedy available
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021-2024 GLE, GLS, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, SL, GLC, CLS, AMG GT, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle details. The fuel pump may shutdown, causing a loss of drive power.
remedy available
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2024 GLC 300 vehicles. The front, rear, and fixed side windows may not be properly secured and can detach. In addition, the front air bags may not be properly supported by the windshield during deployment.
remedy available
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2023 GLC300 vehicles. The front tow eye may be inadequately threaded to the crossmember and can detach during towing.
remedy available
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021-2023 C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, CLS, SL, GT, GLC, GLE, GLS, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle details. The fuel pump may shutdown, which can result in a loss of drive power.
Every item below comes from this vehicle's documented defects. The more you recognize, the more a free case review is worth your time.
California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act gives GLC owners real leverage. If your 2023-2026 GLC has a defect that impairs use, value, or safety — and MBUSA's dealers have been given a reasonable number of chances to fix it — you may be entitled to a full refund or a free replacement vehicle.
SAFETY DEFECTS — including 48V ISG failures, Active Brake Assist phantom braking, steering coupling separation (Recall 25V533), engine cradle weld failure (Recall 24V658), and instrument cluster blackout while driving — require only TWO unsuccessful repair attempts within the first 18 months or 18,000 miles to trigger the buyback presumption.
OTHER DEFECTS — including the fuel pump recalls (23V445, 23V880, 23V878), 12V battery drain, and fuse box failures (24V115, 25V255) — require FOUR repair attempts, or 30 or more aggregate days out of service during the warranty period.
WHAT YOU ARE OWED: MBUSA must refund your full purchase price — down payment, monthly payments, tax, title, registration, and dealer fees — minus a mileage offset for use before the defect first appeared. Or they must replace the vehicle.
ATTORNEYS' FEES: Song-Beverly requires MBUSA to pay your attorney's fees if you prevail, meaning you typically pay nothing out of pocket. Don't wait — California claims must be filed within four years of when you knew or should have known of the defect.
“Could not duplicate” doesn't mean the defect isn't real. Here's exactly what to do to protect a potential California lemon-law claim.
Document the moment it happens. Photos, video, and screenshots of any warning lights — with the date and the mileage.
Get a repair order every visit — even “found nothing.” That paperwork is the foundation of a claim.
Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Note any recall that has no available remedy yet.
Track your out-of-service days. California law counts the cumulative days your vehicle spends in the shop.
Keep loaner & rental records. Alternate-transport paperwork during long repairs matters.
Save everything in one place. Symptoms, dates, repair orders, and every repeat visit — the intermittent ones especially.
Mercedes-Benz dealers regularly respond to GLC electrical and ADAS complaints with 'could not duplicate' — especially for intermittent 48V ISG faults, phantom braking, and instrument cluster reboots. Here is what to do:
1. DOCUMENT IN WRITING WITHIN 24 HOURS. After every warning light, phantom brake, or no-start event, email your service advisor immediately: date, time, speed, road conditions, and the exact warning message. This creates a timestamped record.
2. GET A REPAIR ORDER FOR EVERY VISIT — INCLUDING 'CND.' California law counts 'cannot duplicate' visits toward your repair-attempt tally. An RO saying 'no fault found' is evidence of an unsuccessful repair attempt, not a clean bill of health.
3. ASK FOR STORED FAULT CODE HISTORY. The XENTRY system retains fault-code history even after codes auto-clear. Request a printout. For 48V ISG faults, ask specifically for 'BSG Fault Memory' and 'ICM Stored Events.'
4. FOR PHANTOM BRAKING: photograph the road location and note GPS coordinates. Ask the dealer to retrieve the ABA radar trigger event from ADAS fault memory — it is stored even when no active code is present.
5. ESCALATE TO MBUSA IN WRITING. Written complaints to MBUSA — not just the dealer — start the manufacturer's internal clock and are relevant to willfulness findings under Song-Beverly.
6. LOG YOUR OUT-OF-SERVICE DAYS. Every calendar day the vehicle is unavailable counts toward the 30-day aggregate threshold. Track: date in, date out, dealer name, reason.
The X254 GLC launched with ambitious 48V mild-hybrid architecture — and MBUSA brought it to market before it was stable. Sixteen NHTSA recalls in three years, including a fuse-box recall that generated its own follow-up recall, reflects engineering failures that were knowable at launch. The 48V ISG failure — which strands owners and has linked to two injury crashes — is the loudest complaint in NHTSA's database for this vehicle and still lacks a standalone recall as of mid-2026. If you have made multiple dealer visits for any of these issues, California law gives you real leverage. The question is not whether the GLC has defects — sixteen recalls confirm it does — but whether your specific repair history meets the Song-Beverly threshold.
— The Margarian Law team
If your 2023-2026 Mercedes-Benz GLC has visited the dealer multiple times for electrical failures, phantom braking, or fuel pump problems — or has been out of service 30+ days — you may have a lemon-law claim. Margarian Law has handled thousands of California lemon-law cases and offers a free case review.
The 2023 GLC 300 uses a 48-volt integrated starter-generator (ISG) mild-hybrid system that replaces the traditional alternator and starter motor. When the ISG control module faults — which NHTSA has received 20+ complaints about in MY2023 alone — the entire vehicle can shut down with simultaneous warnings: '48V Battery Service Required,' 'Do Not Shift Into Gear,' and 'Check Engine.' The car may not restart for 30-90 minutes. The fix is a software update to the ISG control module; if the fault persists, the belt starter-generator (BSG) unit must be replaced. Note that the fuse box recalls (24V115000 and 25V255000) address related electrical architecture issues but do not resolve ISG hardware failures. If you have been stranded three or more times, or brought the car in for this issue more than twice, California's lemon law may apply.
This is the Active Brake Assist (ABA) system falsely triggering emergency braking. NHTSA has received over 10 complaints for the 2023 GLC-Class describing identical events at 35-75 MPH with no objects present. The radar-based ABA mis-identifies stationary road features — metal expansion joints, manhole covers, parked cars in adjacent lanes — as collision hazards and applies full braking without driver input. One Mercedes dealer acknowledged to an owner that the system 'sometimes mis-identifies metal plates in roads as vehicles' (ODI 11725254). Two NHTSA complaints for this vehicle involved actual crashes (ODI 11607936, 11614976). The dealer remedy is front radar recalibration and a software update; if phantom braking recurs, the Front Camera Module (FCM) may need replacement. Two unsuccessful dealer visits for this safety defect trigger California's lemon-law buyback presumption.
As of mid-2026, the X254-generation GLC has sixteen NHTSA recalls. Several are serious safety defects: (1) the low-pressure fuel pump can shut down mid-drive (Recalls 23V445 and 23V880 — two separate campaigns); (2) the high-pressure fuel pump has a sealing defect that can cause fuel leaks (Recall 23V878); (3) the main fuse box had incorrect fuses that could disable propulsion and restraint systems (Recall 24V115), and the replacement fuse boxes were also defective, requiring a second recall (25V255); (4) the engine cradle welds may fail, causing loss of vehicle control (Recall 24V658); (5) the steering coupling bolt can loosen, risking total loss of steering (Recall 25V533); and (6) the instrument cluster can go blank mid-drive (Recall 26V281). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov to see which recalls remain open on your specific vehicle. Under California law, a recall establishes that MBUSA knew about the defect — which is directly relevant to a lemon-law claim if the remedy does not hold.
The 2023-2024 GLC 300 uses a 48V primary electrical network with a DC-DC converter stepping down to 12V for accessories and starting. When the 48V system faults, or when the fuse box develops the defect addressed by Recalls 24V115000 and 25V255000, the 12V battery is no longer properly maintained. Additionally, the MBUX 2.0 infotainment system and the always-on LTE connectivity module draw power continuously, which can exceed the 12V battery's capacity during extended parking periods. NHTSA ODI 11722368 documents one owner who was stranded 8 times and made 14 dealer visits for the same electrical failure before 2026. The fix involves replacing the 12V AGM battery, updating 48V ISG software, and ensuring the main fuse box is corrected per the active recalls. If you have replaced the 12V battery once or twice and it keeps failing, the root cause is not the battery itself — it is the upstream 48V system. Multiple dealer visits for the same no-start condition qualify for lemon-law analysis.
Yes. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, a 'cannot duplicate' dealer response does NOT defeat a lemon claim. California Vehicle Code section 1793.22 counts each dealer visit — including visits where the dealer finds nothing wrong — toward the repair-attempt threshold. Courts have held that an owner who brings the vehicle in good faith for a documented symptom is not penalized because the dealer fails to reproduce the fault. The key is documentation: every time your GLC stalls, loses propulsion, or displays the 48V battery error, send your service advisor a written description of the event before the car is towed in. Request a repair order for every visit — even if it ends with 'no fault found.' The XENTRY diagnostic system stores historical fault codes even after they auto-clear; ask the dealer to provide a full stored-fault-code printout on every visit. If you have three or more visits for the same stalling, electrical, or safety issue, or 30+ aggregate days out of service, a Song-Beverly claim is viable regardless of how many times the dealer said it could not duplicate the problem.
California's Song-Beverly Act creates a separate lemon presumption based purely on out-of-service days: if your GLC was unavailable for your use for 30 or more aggregate days during the first 18 months or 18,000 miles — across any number of repair visits — it is presumed to be a lemon. This is separate from the repair-attempt count. Days at the dealer waiting for parts, waiting for a technician appointment, or waiting for a loaner vehicle all count. So do days you lost use of the car while it was towed, even if the tow was only overnight. To establish your total out-of-service time: gather all repair orders, note the 'date in' and 'date out' on each, and add up every calendar day the car was unavailable. If your GLC has been in for the fuel pump recalls, fuse box recall, and one or two additional issues — plus a few 'cannot duplicate' visits — 30 aggregate days can accumulate faster than most owners expect. Request your complete dealer service history in writing from both the dealership and from MBUSA's customer file.
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