Used Car Checklists

2024 Mercedes-Benz GLB: What to check before buying

Only 4 owner complaints are on file with NHTSA for this car, so this sheet is short. Problems reported on other GLB years with the same design are listed below the checklist.

Mercedes-Benz GLB2024
Owner complaints
4
Recalls
1
Crashes reported
0
Reliability
Good
72/100 on Auto Reliability Index

Run the VIN before you go

A history report shows accidents, title brands, odometer readings, and open recalls for this 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLB. Ask the seller for the VIN; it is also on the dash at the base of the windshield.

Your inspection sheet

Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.

0/6 checked

1

Paperwork and questions

Before you go, or before you touch the car0/3

2

Test drive

At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/3

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.

Reported on other GLB years with the same design

Few owners have reported problems with this year yet. These years share the 2024's design and most of its parts, so their problems are the ones to look for on this car too.

2023 GLB

12 owner complaints
  • Engine 3
  • Transmission 3

Worth adding to your 2024 checks

  • Scan for stored misfire, injector, and mixture formation codes before buying, even with no check engine light showing.
  • Ask for service records showing any cylinder head or camshaft work, and get written proof of who paid.
  • Pull away hard from a full stop several times and note any hesitation or delay before the car moves.
Open the 2023 checklist

2022 GLB

13 owner complaints
  • Automatic emergency braking 3
  • Acceleration and cruise control 2
  • Suspension 2

Worth adding to your 2024 checks

  • Test adaptive cruise behind highway traffic and confirm it slows and brakes every time.
  • Drive past posted speed-limit signs with cruise on and watch for the car speeding up on its own.
  • Ask a Mercedes dealer whether all transmission software updates have been applied to this car.
Open the 2022 checklist

2021 GLB

30 owner complaints
  • Electrical 5
  • Engine 4
  • Transmission 3

Worth adding to your 2024 checks

  • Ask for records of any cylinder head work, engine replacement, or metal found in the oil.
  • Start the engine and listen for rough, diesel-like idle, shaking, or misfire warnings.
  • Inspect the panoramic sunroof glass for cracks or chips, and ask whether it has been replaced.
Open the 2021 checklist

Which GLB is it?

EPA figures for each version of the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLB. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.

VersionDriveEPA rating
2.0L 4-cylAWD, FWD27–28 mpg
  • On the hybrid, watch for the car moving off on electric power at low speed and for any hybrid system warning on the dash.
  • Reset the trip computer at the start of the drive. A GLB that averages well under the EPA 27 mpg combined on a mixed route may have an engine or tire problem.

Why these checks: what owners reported

NHTSA complaints for the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLB, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.

  • Electrical2No crashes

    The pop-out rear camera flap opens and closes on its own while the car drives forward, making a loud thump that tends to repeat each time the car slows for a stop. Reports also describe the camera recalibrating throughout every drive without reverse being selected, and in some cases no camera image appears on the screen. Owners call the noise a distraction while driving. Dealers and Mercedes have called it normal behavior. One suggested workaround is turning off Parktronic parking assist, which disables a safety feature. The 2 complaints show no mileage pattern.

How the 2024 compares with other GLB years

Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.

The 2024 has the fewest owner complaints of the 5 GLB years we cover, well under the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.

2024 Average of other years
  • Electrical24

Where the 2024 fits in the GLB's history

Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.

The 2024 is the fifth model year of the GLB's first generation (2020 on).

It is also the first year of a mid-cycle update.

What changed for 2024

  • New headlights and taillights
  • Updated MBUX infotainment system
  • Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support
  • New color: Spectral Blue Metallic
  • Option for 18 and 20-inch wheels
  • New 48-volt mild hybrid system (EQ Boost)

Recalls to confirm (1)

Recall repairs are free at any Mercedes-Benz dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.

  1. 24V592000BrakesAug 2024

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2024 AMG GLB 35 4MATIC vehicles. The brake hoses on the rear axle may have been improperly routed, which could allow chafing, and result in a brake fluid leak.

    Risk: A brake fluid leak can cause a loss of brakes and increase the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Dealers will inspect and reroute the rear axle brake hoses as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 11, 2024. Owner may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691.

Also looking at these instead of a GLB?

Cars shoppers compare with the Mercedes-Benz GLB, with their own 2024 checklists.

2024 owner complaints, side by side