Owners have filed 12 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the engine and transmission. The 8 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2023Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/8 checked
2023 Mercedes-Benz GLB: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/2
Engine off, key in hand0/1
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/1
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/4
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
These years share the 2023's design and most of its parts, so their problems are the ones to look for on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2023 checks
Worth adding to your 2023 checks
Worth adding to your 2023 checks
EPA figures for each version of the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLB. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | AWD, FWD | 25–27 mpg |
NHTSA complaints for the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLB, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Misfires and cylinder head failure are the pattern here. The check engine light comes on with misfire, injector, and mixture formation fault codes, and the car can hesitate to pull away from a stop, which creates a real risk in traffic. Dealers confirm the problem and replace the cylinder head. One case also needs new camshafts because of deep scoring. In one report the failure comes soon after the warranty ends. Mercedes reportedly refuses to cover the repair in another, and one owner reports more than $20K in total engine costs.
Sudden loss of power while driving is the main concern, often with the transmission warning light on. Other reports describe abnormal shuddering with no warning light, and engine misfire codes that point to the same cylinder head trouble seen under the engine heading. One GLB35 AMG case pairs a failure to accelerate with rough, unreliable braking that persists after several dealer visits. In one report the power loss happens around 18,000 miles, and the car is towed in but not diagnosed or repaired. Losing power or braking at speed carries crash risk.
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2023 ranks fourth for owner complaints among 5 GLB years, well under the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2023 is the fourth model year of the GLB's first generation (2020 on).
Mercedes-Benz updated the GLB for 2024, so a 2023 does not have those changes.
What changed for 2024 (not on a 2023)
Cars shoppers compare with the Mercedes-Benz GLB, with their own 2023 checklists.
2023 owner complaints, side by side
