GLC Coupe Crabbing issue

[Lolly9416]

Bought my 2018 plate GLC Coupe in March ‘21 so it’s still under the one year warranty.

I’ve recently, due to cold weather, started having problems with crabbing. I have an email chain where I asked them specifically about crabbing in this plate and model and if we can do something before I buy the car. In the response they say only AMG lines have the problem but my vehicle will be checked for issues and if this ever becomes an issue all I have to do is let them know.

Now I want to phone them this week about it but how do you all think I should approach them.

Ideally I would like the steering knuckle replaced because after some, not extensive, googling this seems to be the best remedy.

Any advice and/or what anybody else did in this situation?

[Lemanandbeyond]

Not helpful but good luck!

Mines always done this and they just say its a characteristic of the car, along with the shocking gearbox. The only time this isn't an issue is when the 21" summer wheels are swapped for 19" winter wheels. The winter wheels never crab but the summer ones become really bad in the cold.

[Lolly9416]

Lemanandbeyond said:

Not helpful but good luck!

Mines always done this and they just say its a characteristic of the car, along with the shocking gearbox. The only time this isn't an issue is when the 21" summer wheels are swapped for 19" winter wheels. The winter wheels never crab but the summer ones become really bad in the cold.

Thanks for the response. I think I have 19" wheels but will have to check that

[Lemanandbeyond]

The softer compound of the winter tyres really helps, may be worth looking into an all season as they seem to have good reports on helping the issue.

All the best.

[juice]

I had mine done in '19 under warranty FOC. It's basically erradicated the issue unless it's icy when it will happen slightly (but I suspect most other cars would too).
https://www.glcforums.com/threads/steering-knuckle...

As you're still under warranty you should be able to get this done. MB know about this fix and will most probably fob you off but keep at it.

[LaurasOtherHalf]

My old man had this problem, our Mercedes dealership refused to do anything as he wasn't the original purchaser (he bought off a pal at 6 months old or so). He's ended up funding winter tyres at his own cost.

He went through Mercedes Benz UK but they did everything to get out of sorting the issue and in the end he got so fed up of getting the run around he just bought the tyres himself.

[MrC986]

I believe the front-wheels are demonstrating the Ackermann effect which happens on some 4wd cars when turning at low speeds and on full lock. My parents have a 2016 GLC AMG spec that was a demo car and it started doing it - the dealer replaced the tyres at the time under warranty & it certainly reduced the effect.

[Lolly9416]

So a little update. My car is booked in for it’s service tomorrow and they phoned me up today to confirm.
I mentioned the crabbing issue and straightaway the denials and bs started.
Will be interesting to see what happens tomorrow when I go in.
The young lad on the phone was so condescending. Claiming it’s a characteristic of the vehicle and then saying my steering knuckle was replaced in 2019 but refusing to give me proof of it because it has “mechanical info” on the paperwork. Yip, the bs is strong with this lot 😂

[juice]

Lolly9416 said:

So a little update. My car is booked in for it’s service tomorrow and they phoned me up today to confirm.
I mentioned the crabbing issue and straightaway the denials and bs started.
Will be interesting to see what happens tomorrow when I go in.
The young lad on the phone was so condescending. Claiming it’s a characteristic of the vehicle and then saying my steering knuckle was replaced in 2019 but refusing to give me proof of it because it has “mechanical info” on the paperwork. Yip, the bs is strong with this lot ??

Doesn't make much sense. I got a complete invoice print-out of the knuckle fix work done with mine, all with zero cost against it.

[Lolly9416]

So just came back from MB and they actually changed the tyres and steering knuckles in 2019.
So fair okay they weren’t full of bs.

However it’s shocking that the crabbing is still so bad if it’s all been done. This is my first winter with the car and we’ve been very lucky that it’s been mild. I dread to think what it will be like in a proper UK winter

[Sheepshanks]

I fancied a GLC to replace my C Class estate but the crabbing issue, and other problems with tyres, just seem to be ongoing so not sure I want to get myself into that.

[Lolly9416]

Sheepshanks said:

I fancied a GLC to replace my C Class estate but the crabbing issue, and other problems with tyres, just seem to be ongoing so not sure I want to get myself into that.

Tbh I don’t regret buying the car as I love it. For me it’s more of an honesty thing. Like be up front about the problem don’t try and claim now it’s a characteristic of the vehicle.

I would suggest taking one for a test drive in the winter and you might not be to bothered by it. It’s a bit annoying for me because our driveway is at an angle so I get the crabbing when it’s below 7•C.

Not sure what the newer ones are like but I have an ‘18 plate.

[Sheepshanks]

Lolly9416 said:

Tbh I don’t regret buying the car as I love it. For me it’s more of an honesty thing. Like be up front about the problem don’t try and claim now it’s a characteristic of the vehicle.

At one point dealers were asking customers to sign waivers when they placed orders saying they accepted the crabbing issue.

[chrisABP]

My wife's GLC 43AMG suffered from horrendous crabbing issues to the degree she was considering selling the car!

But after doing some research I fitted a set of Michelin All Season cross-climate tyres and its 95% cured. Rides better than the OE Michelin Primacy and we have the added benefit of a tyre better suited to UK typical weather.

[Lolly9416]

chrisABP said:

My wife's GLC 43AMG suffered from horrendous crabbing issues to the degree she was considering selling the car!

But after doing some research I fitted a set of Michelin All Season cross-climate tyres and its 95% cured. Rides better than the OE Michelin Primacy and we have the added benefit of a tyre better suited to UK typical weather.

That's good to know thanks. I do have All Season tyres that came with the car but MB did say they're not the best. I don't mind spending a bit more for Michelins.

Although your crabbing must be far worse than mine. I don't have an AMG but I dread to think how bad that must've been

[hafodgrowler]

Just bought a brand new AMG GLC43, crabbing is horrendous, I've only had it 3 weeks, we'll see what MB dealer says, I'll keep you posted.

[Ron240]

As far as I have learned this 'crabbing' issue affects all right hand drive AWD Mercedes to some degree or another.
I have even experienced it once or twice in my CLA.

[cerb4.5lee]

I had a GLC350d for just short of 5 years and over a 100k miles and I just turned a bit of a blind eye to it. I will admit that I do like the fact that the GLE400d that replaced it doesn't do it though.

[minghis]

cerb4.5lee said:

I had a GLC350d for just short of 5 years and over a 100k miles and I just turned a bit of a blind eye to it. I will admit that I do like the fact that the GLE400d that replaced it doesn't do it though.

Interesting. My GLE400d does it quite a lot, more so now its cold.

Have you tried searching for all season tyres for yours? I looked and it seems the fronts are easy to get but the rears not so.

[cerb4.5lee]

minghis said:

cerb4.5lee said:

I had a GLC350d for just short of 5 years and over a 100k miles and I just turned a bit of a blind eye to it. I will admit that I do like the fact that the GLE400d that replaced it doesn't do it though.

Interesting. My GLE400d does it quite a lot, more so now its cold.

Have you tried searching for all season tyres for yours? I looked and it seems the fronts are easy to get but the rears not so.

The GLC dug a massive groove in the drive because it was pretty bad, but the GLE feels nothing like that in comparison.

I do miss the all season tyres that I had on the GLC big time. The rears lasted 70k miles on the GLC, whereas the summer tyres that are on the GLE need changing after only 20k miles in comparison.