Back seat Rattle
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Newbie
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 2
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2017 GLC300
Back seat Rattle
Ok I apologize if this is tough to follow, b/c honestly it's tough to describe. I have a 2017 GLC (North America) - when the back seats are all up (in usable position), while driving I hear a noise that sounds like the rear seats are, let's say loose. Almost like 1 is not fully locked in (say you had the seat down for cargo, then put it back up, but the lock wasn't fully engaged). If I put down just the middle section, or either the driver/passenger rear seat, the problem goes away. But when they are all upright, there it is again. When they are all up, I've tried to find where they may be loose, but they don't move or feel loose at all. You also don't hear it when someone is sitting in the backseat. Anybody else notice this? Any solutions? 
Thanks in advance.
Thanks in advance.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,131
Likes: 194
From: Ireland
GLC 300d 4matic
Well described!
Seat belt buckle hitting of plastic trim?
Sometimes belt gets twisted and metal parts of buckle rattles off plastic trim.
Item in storage tray in centre armrest?
Item in storage area under seat?
Seat belt buckle hitting of plastic trim?
Sometimes belt gets twisted and metal parts of buckle rattles off plastic trim.
Item in storage tray in centre armrest?
Item in storage area under seat?
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 26
Likes: 2
GLC43 & C300
Mine is in the shop for this exact issue. I actually thought it was the strut making the noise. It, according to the dealer, is metal rubbing on metal.
The dealer ordered the replacement part, however it's on back order. I've had a rental since Monday.
I don't know the exact part that they've ordered, I can post that once I get it back, and have the invoice.
-John
The dealer ordered the replacement part, however it's on back order. I've had a rental since Monday.
I don't know the exact part that they've ordered, I can post that once I get it back, and have the invoice.
-John
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,236
Likes: 162
From: DFW
2022 E350 Diamond White Metallic, 2016 GLC300 Dakota Brown Metallic
Mine is in the shop for this exact issue. I actually thought it was the strut making the noise. It, according to the dealer, is metal rubbing on metal.
The dealer ordered the replacement part, however it's on back order. I've had a rental since Monday.
I don't know the exact part that they've ordered, I can post that once I get it back, and have the invoice.
-John
The dealer ordered the replacement part, however it's on back order. I've had a rental since Monday.
I don't know the exact part that they've ordered, I can post that once I get it back, and have the invoice.
-John
Member
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 177
Likes: 25
From: Winston-Salem, NC USA
2019 MB C300 4Matic (me); 2021 BMW 530i xDrive (husband)
My GLC does that, too. But I hear the same kind of rattle from the front door areas, too. Had the car in to have rattles checked out...they did a lot of disassembly and reassembly, and resinsulating...but I still hear it sometimes. I thought maybe the sound was the back seatbelt banging against that plastic piece on the side, but when I insert the seatbelt into that little slot in that plastic piece, I still hear the sound. It's midly annoying, to be sure. I just keep tabs of all these annoying little things to decide if I am going to keep it at lease end or not.
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 53
Likes: 4
From: Coquitlam, BC, Canada
2017 GLC 300 4MATIC (formerly: 2010 Lexus RX 350 & 2013 Mercedes-Benz B250)
Mine is in the shop for this exact issue. I actually thought it was the strut making the noise. It, according to the dealer, is metal rubbing on metal.
The dealer ordered the replacement part, however it's on back order. I've had a rental since Monday.
I don't know the exact part that they've ordered, I can post that once I get it back, and have the invoice.
-John
The dealer ordered the replacement part, however it's on back order. I've had a rental since Monday.
I don't know the exact part that they've ordered, I can post that once I get it back, and have the invoice.
-John
When I turn left going down a ramp/slope, I hear a low-pitched squeak (more like a squawk,maybe?). To me, it sounds like metal on metal moving. Perhaps precipitated by body flex by turning left while going down?
I should experiment with flipping the rear seatbacks forward, and perhaps removing the rear cargo cover as well to see whether that has an effect.
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 43
Likes: 2
From: Somerset, UK
GLC 220D Urban Edition
I've had this problem too and eventually narrowed it down to the back seat rattling because the catch holding the seat-back in position on the "60 side" of the 60-40 split was not properly engaged.
I did think this was due to me not pushing the seat back properly after having it folded and a forceful push back into place seemed to solve the issue for a while but it has come back. I suspect the securing catch has some play in it and the seat-back works loose.
I'll take it into the MB dealer for a fix when I have some time.
I did think this was due to me not pushing the seat back properly after having it folded and a forceful push back into place seemed to solve the issue for a while but it has come back. I suspect the securing catch has some play in it and the seat-back works loose.
I'll take it into the MB dealer for a fix when I have some time.
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Junior Member
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 19
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GLC250
I recently had a warning from the dash saying the backseat is not properly locked. The weird thing is that the seat is where the baby seat is located. We've never put down the seat so that's a bit weird. I hope it is a one off incident or else it is a hazard! Try folding all rear seats and unfold it.
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Newbie
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
GLC AMG Coupe
After lots of trial and error, I realized my GLC Coupe's rattle was coming from the cover to the luggage area. When the cover is open, lots of rattles. When it's closed, no rattle. Hope this helps someone out there.
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 64
Likes: 6
From: Central Coast, NSW, Australia
MB GLC250
Rattle in the back ...I had just after purchase...tracked it down to the latching mechanism for the rear seats. Noticed that the seat backs had a small amount of movement when latched together. The centre seat more than the outside. Put some electrical tape around the 'striker bar' ….no rattle.
Took the tape off , just before the first service (12 months ownership) ….no rattle!!! what ???!! ..I think with some occasional use of the back seats the cushioning has settled a bit and binds the seat back together a bit more ….or dampens the rattle ..whatever!! ..I'm guessing.
of course, I did report it at the service ...they checked ...but found ……..nothing!!!
Also, saw in another post somewhere that the rear luggage cover (tonneau cover) ….someone found the screws holding the ends together were loose …..I checked mine ...while not loose ..they were not tight either ...so got out the hex drivers and tightened them up.
Took the tape off , just before the first service (12 months ownership) ….no rattle!!! what ???!! ..I think with some occasional use of the back seats the cushioning has settled a bit and binds the seat back together a bit more ….or dampens the rattle ..whatever!! ..I'm guessing.
of course, I did report it at the service ...they checked ...but found ……..nothing!!!
Also, saw in another post somewhere that the rear luggage cover (tonneau cover) ….someone found the screws holding the ends together were loose …..I checked mine ...while not loose ..they were not tight either ...so got out the hex drivers and tightened them up.
Member
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 104
Likes: 40
2017 GLC 300
I too had a rattle in the right rear quarter, somewhere behind the back seat. Took it to the dealer who found that a speaker had popped out of its mount, or something to that effect. They've ordered a part for a permanent fix. Meanwhile, the rattle has gone away.
Member
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 168
Likes: 12
From: Western Australia
GLC43
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 1
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E320
@dieseldoc, could you please confirm what was changed from reviewing the service order?
I have the same problem. When the rear seats are occupied, no rattling sound also when I fold the 2 left upright rear seats and lower the 60% side of the rear seat no rattling!
I have the same problem. When the rear seats are occupied, no rattling sound also when I fold the 2 left upright rear seats and lower the 60% side of the rear seat no rattling!
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2021
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2018 E400 coupe
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 58
Likes: 3
'17 GLC43
I had the same issue and all the dealer did was wrap some felt tape around the metal latch of the driver side rear seat. The noise is gone but now I have to push the back down after pulling the release button, before it would just do it by itself. Dealing with that is better than the annoying rattle.
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
glc250d
Hi, I have the same issue, an irritating rumble from the rear of the passenger side back-seat well. Mentioned it to my mechanic and he said he has had a few complaints but no-one willing to spend two hours of labour costs to find out what it is ... cheapskates ... .i didn't pay either ... but I found that if the rear seat portion is not braced to the hilt to the back restraint receiver the noise does disappear, this if course is not satisfactory ...but does cut cut out the noise ...
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 2
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glc250d
Hi, had similar problem in GLC 250d after a rough dirt road trip ... mechanic said other owners have complained about same thing, (rattle behind rear passenger seat, mine is a right-hand drive vehicle)) but none wanted to pay three hours of labour to find out what it was ... I reckon it is the rear seat attachment .. when i wrapped some cloth around the anchor to the seat locking in (there are two areas that may cause the problem both are in this area, first the silver square anchor that attaches to the seat and the other being the dark metal under this that can keep the seat upright) .. with cloth the noise stopped ...
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2025
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GLC 220D 2016
GLC 220D 2016 Hi have finally sorted out my rattle or which i have been trying to solve for a long time, i have dismantled both sides of the boot thinking its coming from behind but everything seemed to be ok, i went under the car and all seems in place, after reading some threads i read about the back seats latch but i was sure it wasn't them, today i put some foam on both latches of the 40/60 including the spacer latch as mine is not a coupe but a station wagon. and also electric tape on the middle seat, the sound finally disappeared, I was so happy i managed to solve it !!!
MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 32,222
Likes: 6,281
GLC 220D 2016 Hi have finally sorted out my rattle or which i have been trying to solve for a long time, i have dismantled both sides of the boot thinking its coming from behind but everything seemed to be ok, i went under the car and all seems in place, after reading some threads i read about the back seats latch but i was sure it wasn't them, today i put some foam on both latches of the 40/60 including the spacer latch as mine is not a coupe but a station wagon. and also electric tape on the middle seat, the sound finally disappeared, I was so happy i managed to solve it !!!
