Recall 18V177 affects 121,858 2016-2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC vehicles for rear seat belt latch plates that retract. Repair is free at any franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer.
Mercedes-Benz is recalling 121,858 2016-2018 GLC300, AMG GLC43, Glc 350 E, and AMG GLC63 vehicles because rear outboard seat belt latch plates are at risk of retracting into the interior paneling. If rear passengers cannot buckle up, their injury risk increases in a crash, and Mercedes-Benz dealers will complete the free repair.
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What's wrong?
The rear seat belt latch plate on the 2016-2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC is the metal tongue that slides into the buckle. In normal use, it stays within reach on the belt webbing so an outboard rear-seat passenger can pull the belt across the body and click it into place. The latch plate and buckle work together to hold the passenger in the seat during a crash.
On affected vehicles, the shape of the C-pillar paneling and rear side paneling leaves a gap where the latch plate can retract. If the belt retracts too far, the latch plate slips into the interior panel area instead of staying accessible. Without that metal tongue, the outboard rear passenger cannot buckle the seat belt.
There is no warning sign before failure. The problem is visible only when the latch plate has pulled back into the paneling or the rear passenger reaches for the belt and cannot find a usable latch plate.
Who's affected?
The scope is split across GLC and AMG GLC variants, with seat belt and body structure listings for each covered year and trim.
| 2018 Mercedes-Benz Glc 350 E | seat belt |
|---|---|
| 2018 Mercedes-Benz Glc 350 E | body structure |
| 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC300 | seat belt |
| 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC300 | body structure |
| 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC300 | seat belt |
| 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC300 | body structure |
| 2017 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLC43 | seat belt |
| 2017 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLC43 | body structure |
| 2018 Mercedes-Benz Glc 300 | seat belt |
| 2018 Mercedes-Benz Glc 300 | body structure |
| 2018 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLC43 | seat belt |
| 2018 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLC43 | body structure |
| 2018 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLC63 | seat belt |
| 2018 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLC63 | body structure |
| Units affected | 121,858 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 2 field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific SUV is included.
What's the safety risk?
If a rear seat passenger cannot fasten a seat belt, that passenger has a higher injury risk in a crash. Before carrying anyone in the rear seat, make sure each belt latches and stays accessible. Schedule the recall repair soon. Repair is free at any franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2016-2018 Mercedes-Benz Glc 350 E, GLC300, AMG GLC43, Glc 300, or AMG GLC63 is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer to schedule the free C-pillar buffer installation, which keeps the rear seat belt latch plates from retracting into the interior paneling.
- Bring the recall notice if Mercedes-Benz mailed one, or reference recall number 18V177 when you call.
- Keep rear passengers belted only when the latch plates are accessible and buckle correctly; ask the dealer before carrying rear passengers if the latch plates retract into the paneling.
- Call Mercedes-Benz customer service at 1-800-367-6372 with questions about the repair or scheduling.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Mercedes-Benz technician installs a buffer behind the C-pillar paneling so the outboard rear seat belt latch plates do not retract into the trim. The recall repair is free, with parts and labor covered. Out-of-pocket repairs already paid are handled through the new vehicle warranty, not through a separate reimbursement notice. Ask the service desk how warranty coverage applies if you have prior repair paperwork.
| Reimbursement | Warranty coverage applies |
|---|
Timeline
| March 15, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| March 31, 2018 | Dealer notification began |
| March 31, 2018 | Dealer notification ended |
| April 25, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
| May 14, 2018 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| May 14, 2018 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V177?
Recall 18V177 covers 121,858 2016-2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC vehicles with rear seat belt latch plates that can retract into the interior paneling. When that happens, rear passengers cannot fasten those seat belts. Mercedes-Benz dealers install a buffer to the c-pillar paneling for free.
What should I do if my 2016-2018 Mercedes-Benz Glc 350 E, GLC300, AMG GLC43, Glc 300, or AMG GLC63 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 18V177. If it is, call a franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer and ask for recall repair 2018030012. The dealer installs a c-pillar buffer free of charge.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. For recall 18V177, a franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer installs the c-pillar paneling buffer free of charge, including parts and labor.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is that rear seat passengers cannot fasten their seat belts if the latch plates retract into the interior paneling. Without a fastened seat belt, rear passengers have an increased risk of injury in a crash. The free dealer repair is designed to keep the latch plates accessible.
What if I bought the Mercedes-Benz GLC used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific GLC is included, then give the dealer recall number 18V177 or Mercedes-Benz repair number 2018030012 when you schedule service.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V177000 |
|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz customer service | 1-800-367-6372 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V177 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V177000 |
Source documents
-
Download Owner Notice (PDF) - Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →