Mercedes GLC Clonking and juddering on near full steering lock

[Tony Mac]

Did your A class drive like this,

https://youtu.be/g2wfEMQY0nc

Or this,

https://youtu.be/E9vpoYz0Msw

Do you honestly believe it's acceptable to pay the best part of £50k for a car that drives like a tractor and have MB tell me it's just a comfort characteristic - live with it

Tony

 

[whitenemesis]

Did none of these cars display this 'characteristic' when on the test drive?

 

[dejongj]

This juddering characteristic is a feature of the steering geometry and it is something that affects many many vehicles not just Mercedes Benz cars. Both my A classes and my B class did this when reversing on full lock. To claim it is a safety issue is ridiculous. As for saying the car went straight on when turning can only be down to a very slippery surface.

Well I'm glad you think it it is normal, my standards are a little higher than to just accept it Sorry but to me it is people like you who accept it as normal that are a huge part of the problem. Cars do not have to do this. We shouldn't accept it when they do it

 

[dejongj]

Did none of these cars display this 'characteristic' when on the test drive?

Nope - and no GLC43 was available to test drive either in my case back in September. It is not reasonable to expect a car to do this. My previous Mercedes GLS most definitely did not. I don't know about you, but I've never asked a sales guys whether the car jumps, judders, skips, crabs and does bunny hops when you go around a corner. That is not a reasonable expectation to have of a car, so why would one has to explicitly enquire about it?

 

[DRIVER200]

This juddering characteristic is a feature of the steering geometry and it is something that affects many many vehicles not just Mercedes Benz cars. Both my A classes and my B class did this when reversing on full lock. To claim it is a safety issue is ridiculous. As for saying the car went straight on when turning can only be down to a very slippery surface.

If you really want to contribute to this why don't you test out a GLC/C Class 4Matic at your local dealership and see how you get on. I would be very interested to know whether you would still come to the same conclusion.

 

[whitenemesis]

Did none of these cars display this 'characteristic' when on the test drive?

Nope - and no GLC43 was available to test drive either in my case back in September. It is not reasonable to expect a car to do this. My previous Mercedes GLS most definitely did not. I don't know about you, but I've never asked a sales guys whether the car jumps, judders, skips, crabs and does bunny hops when you go around a corner. That is not a reasonable expectation to have of a car, so why would one has to explicitly enquire about it?

It was a simple question, no accusation or criticism implied.

How long into ownership was this first commented on to the dealership?

 

[Alfie]

Well I'm glad you think it it is normal, my standards are a little higher than to just accept it Sorry but to me it is people like you who accept it as normal that are a huge part of the problem. Cars do not have to do this. We shouldn't accept it when they do it

The characteristic is exhibited on many many cars and is not just confined to Mercedes. It is a function of the steering geometry.

We have a new GLC here and compared to my experiences with other cars, which I drive many types throughout the course of my day, and my ownership of previous Mercedes cars, its no worse than ive seen before. Your experiences may well be different and I wouldnt dare to deny those so please have the courtesy not to deny my experiences.

Its a shame that some cannot accept other peoples views based on their genuine experiences. Just because you go onto a forum (and others) and seek to expose what you feel is a serious issue, does not mean others are compelled to agree with you.

 

[markjay]

This video demonstrates the issue well:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTT0U8fciR0

I don't recall experiencing this on my W203 or W204, but then I don't fit low-profile tyres - all my cars had the mundane 205/55 R16 tyre.

It seems to me that this issue is related to (or made worse by) using low-profile tyres.

 

[hallra]

Well I'm glad you think it it is normal, my standards are a little higher than to just accept it Sorry but to me it is people like you who accept it as normal that are a huge part of the problem. Cars do not have to do this. We shouldn't accept it when they do it

There is also a problem where people make an assumption that they understand the problem, when they don't and then make uninformed statements about it.

Those that easily dismiss, including some at Mercedes, truly don't understand the problem or they are in denial.

 

[DRIVER200]

The characteristic is exhibited on many many cars and is not just confined to Mercedes. It is a function of the steering geometry.

We have a new GLC here and compared to my experiences with other cars, which I drive many types throughout the course of my day, and my ownership of previous Mercedes cars, its no worse than ive seen before. Your experiences may well be different and I wouldnt dare to deny those so please have the courtesy not to deny my experiences.

Its a shame that some cannot accept other peoples views based on their genuine experiences. Just because you go onto a forum (and others) and seek to expose what you feel is a serious issue, does not mean others are compelled to agree with you.

Would you feel the same if your Ducati 999 started to crab and judder at low speeds? (please don't say because it's got two wheels that would definitely be a safety issue as that would be too easy an answer).

 

[whitenemesis]

This video demonstrates the issue well:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTT0U8fciR0

I don't recall experiencing this on my W203 or W204, but then I don't fit low-profile tyres - all my cars had the mundane 205/55 R16 tyre.

It seems to me that this issue is related to (or made worse by) using low-profile tyres.

But isn't this 'characteristic' only seen in AWD versions?

I certainly didn't have this on my S203 or W219 both fitted with low profile tyres.

Certainly wouldn't fill me with confidence that the suspension/steering is going to last too long before something gives..

 

[Flackadder]

This video demonstrates the issue well:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTT0U8fciR0

I don't recall experiencing this on my W203 or W204, but then I don't fit low-profile tyres - all my cars had the mundane 205/55 R16 tyre.

It seems to me that this issue is related to (or made worse by) using low-profile tyres.

Looks to me that the video is screaming geometry. The angle of the dangle and all that.

 

[Alfie]

Would you feel the same if your Ducati 999 started to crab and judder at low speeds? (please don't say because it's got two wheels that would definitely be a safety issue as that would be too easy an answer).

That is a rather poor analogy as the issue in question relates to the steered driven wheels. How on earth would a motorcycle exhibit the same characteristic?

As I have said already, we have a new GLC here and in my experience it is no worse than I have experienced with other cars/models.

Sorry if a different view/experience is inconvenient for some.

 

[Tony Mac]

The characteristic is exhibited on many many cars and is not just confined to Mercedes. It is a function of the steering geometry.

Yes, it probably is a function of steering geometry, but that doesn't make it right, normal or acceptable to most GLC owners. MB have got something wrong with this car, they have actually accepted this and customer shave to sign a waiver / disclaimer saying they are happy to take their new car and live with the fault, and not expect MB to fix it.

I am NOT AWARE of any other manufacturer making new owners sign a waiver prior to purchase - this is very unusual??

It's a cross-over SUV family car, most are 170 - 200bhp diesels, not high performance sports cars. We've had very similar spec BMW, Audi, Ford & VW's - none of them have this poor driving characteristic

Your comment - 'The characteristic is exhibited on many many cars and is not just confined to Mercedes ...' implies this is normal, IT's NOT NORMAL and I cannot believe you are trying to defend it - unless you are an MB salesperson

Tony

 

[DRIVER200]

That is a rather poor analogy as the issue in question relates to the steered driven wheels. How on earth would a motorcycle exhibit the same characteristic?

As I have said already, we have a new GLC here and in my experience it is no worse than I have experienced with other cars/models.

OK let me put it another way. If your Ducati did something that you did not expect would you except that it was a 'characteristic' or poor design/engineering?

 

[markjay]

If I had it on a new car?

(a) I would have considered it an unacceptable characteristic affecting the refinement of the car and my enjoyment of it

(b) I would not have considered it a safety issue

(c) I would be worried that the constant mechanical 'knock' might eventually cause premature suspension or steering component wear

 

[hallra]

The characteristic is exhibited on many many cars and is not just confined to Mercedes. It is a function of the steering geometry.

We have a new GLC here and compared to my experiences with other cars, which I drive many types throughout the course of my day, and my ownership of previous Mercedes cars, its no worse than ive seen before. Your experiences may well be different and I wouldnt dare to deny those so please have the courtesy not to deny my experiences.

Its a shame that some cannot accept other peoples views based on their genuine experiences. Just because you go onto a forum (and others) and seek to expose what you feel is a serious issue, does not mean others are compelled to agree with you.

Maybe just maybe, you haven't actually seen the problem at its worst? And maybe you might misunderstand the problem?

With the amount of people complaining, it is an indication that something is very wrong!

Many factors are involved including road surface, gradient, temperature, wetness of the road, etc and the issue has a variance, with some GLCs crabbing more than others.

With no correct acknowledgement from Mercedes, the true problem is not understood, there is no correct procedure to reproduce it, so you cannot with confidence know that you are reproducing the problem, you can only assume.

Most people would conclude if they think something isn't bad and others do strongly believe that it is very bad, then they are not comparing the same thing.

 

[Alfie]

Yes, it probably is a function of steering geometry, but that doesn't make it right, normal or acceptable to most GLC owners. MB have got something wrong with this car, they have actually accepted this and customer shave to sign a waiver / disclaimer saying they are happy to take their new car and live with the fault, and not expect MB to fix it.

I am NOT AWARE of any other manufacturer making new owners sign a waiver prior to purchase - this is very unusual??

It's a cross-over SUV family car, most are 170 - 200bhp diesels, not high performance sports cars. We've had very similar spec BMW, Audi, Ford & VW's - none of them have this poor driving characteristic

Your comment - 'The characteristic is exhibited on many many cars and is not just confined to Mercedes ...' implies this is normal, IT's NOT NORMAL and I cannot believe you are trying to defend it - unless you are an MB salesperson

Tony

I havnt defended it. What I have said is that it is a characteristic that affects many other makes/models and is not confined to Mercedes Benz. Some are clearly very unhappy with it. Others are fine with it. I lived with it as I do now on my A class. It doesnt bother me as I accept it on my car as it happens at slow speed in reverse on full lock, something I rarely do. I certainly wouldnt reject a car because of it. But I accept others would want to. That doesnt make me wrong or them wrong. Its called a different opinion.

As for my Ducati if it exhibited a characteristic that was seen on other motorcycles and I understood what it was and why then yes I would accept it. In any event a Ducati has many unpleasant characteristics, not least its temperamental idle, uncomfortable riding position, fussy on fuel type etc. I accept it because I like the bike.

 

[Tony Mac]

That is a rather poor analogy as the issue in question relates to the steered driven wheels. How on earth would a motorcycle exhibit the same characteristic?

As I have said already, we have a new GLC here and in my experience it is no worse than I have experienced with other cars/models.

Sorry if a different view/experience is inconvenient for some.

It truly doesn't matter what the fault relates to, it could be an aeroplane, tricycle or unicycle - if you paid good money for a luxury version you would expect it to drive smoothly without crabbing and juddering. Would you accept it was normal for your Ducati to feel like it was on ice at low speed, but ok once you got over 10mph - I don't believe you would.

It would be interesting if you could video your A class crabbing and juddering so we can make a comparison?

Tony

 

[whitenemesis]

I wonder what number, as a percentage of owners, have complained about this? Would it be possible to discover with a FoI request?