Glc crabbing - my brother in law just got his money back after three years!

13036 Views 31 Replies 14 Participants Last post by Jessiej99, Apr 14, 2022

RehanGLC

Discussion Starter · Nov 23, 2019

My brother in law just got most of his money back via the financial Ombudsman and MB have made the payment.

The following is the decision:

https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/files/259069/DRN1169848.pdf

1 - 20 of 32 Posts

Tony Mac

· #2 · Nov 23, 2019

Thanks Rehan for this positive news

Pleased to see MB have been found out and held to account 😃 Good news for GLC owners who cannot live with the Crabbing Fault

TM

oa81

· #3 · Nov 27, 2019

Rehan - this is great news - I'm glad your brother in law was successful - I have the same issues and am seriously thinking of going down this route.

wbjohn

· #4 · Nov 28, 2019

Took my 2017 glc in to Mercedes Newcastle yesterday, which I have owned for 8 months, which is showing signs of the crabbing issue and actually understeering in colder weather around roundabouts. After having the car for a full day and only taking the car out for 10 minutes, I think they forget the cars have gps on them. I collected the car at 18.00 to be told nothing wrong with it, I just need to change the tyres on the front for newer ones, even though there is 5mm left on them, but excessive wear on the outer side. I mentioned Mercedes know about the knuckle issue to be told no idea what I was talking about.
Not happy, I have already had a number of discussions with this dealership due to selling me starguard and it not being applied correctly or at all.
I expected better from Mercedes.

LONS

· #5 · Nov 28, 2019

wbjohn said:
Took my 2017 glc in to Mercedes Newcastle yesterday, which I have owned for 8 months, which is showing signs of the crabbing issue and actually understeering in colder weather around roundabouts. After having the car for a full day and only taking the car out for 10 minutes, I think they forget the cars have gps on them. I collected the car at 18.00 to be told nothing wrong with it, I just need to change the tyres on the front for newer ones, even though there is 5mm left on them, but excessive wear on the outer side. I mentioned Mercedes know about the knuckle issue to be told no idea what I was talking about.
Not happy, I have already had a number of discussions with this dealership due to selling me starguard and it not being applied correctly or at all.
I expected better from Mercedes.

Hi
I've sent you a pm and happy to share my experience with that dealer if you wish. I'm not sure if it's prudent to discuss in detail on an open forum.

I'm really surprised they said they don't know about the knuckles as they fitted mine 5 months ago at the end of June. Had my car back in for 2 days recently as I was extremely unhappy with the car handling in the wet following the swap out and they way I'd been brushed off prior to me getting the service manager involved. Car is much better now but I'll never know exactly why.

Philamg

· #6 · Nov 28, 2019

Phone customer services and complain, tell them your dealer is saying he knows nothing about the knuckle issue and needs educating. I assume your car isn't a 43.

oa81

· #7 · Nov 28, 2019

I sent my Mercedes dealer an email stating that I'm contemplating terminating the PCP agreement due to the crabbing and clonking issues - which they have known about since last October - a month after I got the car - and they have up until now constantly told me there's no issues with it. To my surprise they have said that one option available to me would be to change it for another model - this to me suggests that they are aware of the issues and don't want people to go down the ombudsman route (which I still may explore)

Ravenkeeper

· #8 · Nov 30, 2019

Interesting read, as we've been experiencing our GLC 300 feeling like the tires are getting stuck in the grooves in the highway, or like the lug nuts are loose. It hasn't been "crabbing" to one side or the other, but more like wobbling to both sides, even on smooth asphalt.

wbjohn

· #9 · Nov 30, 2019

Chris, in theory if you have a 2019 model you should not be experiencing the crabbing effect as current vehicles have the modified knuckles as well looking at your location, you probably have a lhd vehicle which again does not usually result in the crabbing effect.
By the sounds of your issue it sounds like the effect you get from run flat tyres due to there increased stiff side walls.

robwils

· #10 · Dec 4, 2019

This is indeed good news and I am now going to go down same route, we have a GLC 43 and there is no cure for this in terms of the new knuckle or all season tyres due to size. This is now second winter for us and its unbearable again.

Thanks for info.

Doug McWilliams

· #11 · Jun 3, 2020

Not having read all this deeply I hope this is not off base. I think I get the crabbing thing; run over even a minor blemish in the road and the car wobbles a bit. The recommended pressures are pretty high. Not found in the manual nor the door jamb but under the fuel cap are alternative pressures. For normal use with my 18' tires the pressure prescribed is 32lbs. I run that and it makes a world of difference. We purchased the 2016 used and have put about 12k miles on it making 40k now and it is time for new ones. I am looking to find the best for us. My wife really wants to keep RFs on and my advisor likes Michelins as a good choice. Any thoughts welcome.

And in my last service they adjusted the pressure back to 42lbs and it was back. I adjusted back and it is gone.

Alsx200

· #12 · Jan 17, 2021

robwils said:
This is indeed good news and I am now going to go down same route, we have a GLC 43 and there is no cure for this in terms of the new knuckle or all season tyres due to size. This is now second winter for us and its unbearable again.

Thanks for info.

Hi Rob.
What year is your GLC 43?

I have a 69 plate which has been awful in the cold weather. We have 21” wheels, and I will be getting the dealer to look at it when it goes in for service in feb

Vikas

· #13 · Jan 24, 2021

LONS said:
Hi
I've sent you a pm and happy to share my experience with that dealer if you wish. I'm not sure if it's prudent to discuss in detail on an open forum.

I'm really surprised they said they don't know about the knuckles as they fitted mine 5 months ago at the end of June. Had my car back in for 2 days recently as I was extremely unhappy with the car handling in the wet following the swap out and they way I'd been brushed off prior to me getting the service manager involved. Car is much better now but I'll never know exactly why.

Hi there i would be interested i knowing what the outcome was. I brought a GLC from MB about 2 months ago and been in the garage more then me actually driving it and really has taken the fun and joy of owning a new car especially a GLC after part ex my c class which had nothing wrong with it. Hoping the new purchase will run smooth but this issue has.rrally put me off driving the GLC. So any help would be great. Dealership ignoring and even though its under a year warranty when dealership themselves telling me wheel knuckles need to be replaced then after telling me no it Will be fine due to the cost. Not happy so thinking of making a complaint or call me finance to cancel my finance and take car due to this issue.

Tony Mac

· #14 · Jan 24, 2021

Which GLC do you have?

If it’s an AMG C43 or C63 then afraid you are stuck with the Faulty Crabbing, that gets worse with age and eats tyres every 4K miles 😩

if it’s non-AMG then new Knuckles fixes the problem - your dealer will fit these under warranty - it’s half a days work.

There are new reports that the Crabbing & Juddering is causing premature Ball-joint failure, which MB dealers are accepting as almost certainly due to the Crabbing fault having stressed these components.

Keep talking to your Dealer and MB UK

Vikas

· #15 · Jan 24, 2021

Tony Mac said:
Which GLC do you have?

If it’s an AMG C43 or C63 then afraid you are stuck with the Faulty Crabbing, that gets worse with age and eats tyres every 4K miles 😩

if it’s non-AMG then new Knuckles fixes the problem - your dealer will fit these under warranty - it’s half a days work.

There are new reports that the Crabbing & Juddering is causing premature Ball-joint failure, which MB dealers are accepting as almost certainly due to the Crabbing fault having stressed these components.

Keep talking to your Dealer and MB UK

Thanks for your reply. Mine isn't amg just glc 220 amg premium 65 plate. Brought this end of October 2020 used approved from mb. Will make an official compliant tomorrow.

Alsx200

· #16 · Jan 25, 2021

Does anyone know why the knuckle joint mod is not available on AMG models?
I’m assuming the latest model already has the newest design.

my 69 plate has been crabbing badly in the cold weather.
I have experimented with different tyre pressures which makes no difference, my tyres are also not run flat.
The car is having a service at the beginning of Feb so will be asking the dealer what can be done.
I can see that the steering geometry is complex while putting the car on full lock while stationary. There is not much tyre in contact with the road, but can’t see what could be done to change that.
I’d be interested to know what tyres other 43AMG owners are using

Tony Mac

· #17 · Jan 25, 2021

Shockingly New AMG models still have exactly the same Crabbing fault - 6 years after the GLC C43 was launched in the UK. How MB continue to sell this car is unbelievable.

Dealers were supposed to inform all prospective customers that these cars have this Comfort characteristic - not a fault in their view. Even though MB went to huge expense to Re-engineer, supply & fit new steering knuckles that Fix the Crabbing Fault in all Non-AMG models.

The AMG Sport suspension must be completely different, making it impossible to change. Because this issue has been very painful for Customers & MB HQ, it would have been fixed if it was possible 😩

Summary

All AMG models - even brand new cars - will suffer from the Crabbing & Juddering Fault + Excessive, Rapid Tyre wear 😞

New Non-AMG models have the New Fixed Knuckles that Fix the Steering Geometry and significantly Improves Tyre life.

Pre 2019 Non-AMG models can be fitted with New Knuckles - under warranty / expensive if out of warranty

See less See more

Gary H

· #18 · Mar 1, 2021

Hi guys
I too am an owner of AMG 43 GLC with the 21” inch wheels and the same crabbing condition. Mercedes MK dismiss this “characteristic” as an AMG performance characteristic” as per their instructions from Germany. They changed the front tyres back in 2015 with just 6500 miles on the clock as the were below the legal limit as a “gesture of good faith” end now in 2021 with just 15500 miles completed from new on March 1 2018 they refused to 1 replace the fronts again and denied any fault with the vehicle’s steering stating it’s just the performance characteristic. I am going to write to them and Mercedes UK demanding a tyre support package, compensation and threatening legal action for refund if they do not help me out. Any thoughts from you guys or suggestions? Hints/ tips much appreciated
Cheers

Tony Mac

· #19 · Mar 1, 2021

Hi Gary,

Your frustration with the Crabbing and Tyre wear faults is totally understandable - disgraceful characteristic for a luxury car.

However, this issue has been bouncing around for 6 years with Zero success for C43 or C63 owners. I know owners who have complained to the Ombudsman both directly and through solicitors, at great cost and time - without success.

After owning the your car for 5+ years, my suggestion would be - either accept and live with this fault or sell the car. You will invest huge amounts of time and energy without a positive outcome.

MB screwed-up the steering on these cars - They got it wrong and it’s far to costly for them to admit this - We live and learn, sadly 😞

Apart from the Crabbing / steering fault the GLC is an excellent car

Alsx200

· #20 · Mar 1, 2021

I have also experienced the same frustration with MB about this.
I had the car serviced recently and spoke to the after sales manager, saying I wanted MB to cover the cost of new all season front tyres.
He took about a week to get back to me and said that basically they would not cover the cost of tyres and that he had done all he could.
I’m pretty unimpressed as it’s so annoying in wet and cold weather.
Looks like I will need to pay for tyres myself to try and resolve the issue.
Gary, I would be interested in what make and model tyres you are using on the front.

We have a 69 plate GLC 43 AMG.

thanks

1 - 20 of 32 Posts

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