The 2018 AMG GT with its hand-built M178 4.0L twin-turbo V8 is a serious performance machine, but early examples suffer from catastrophic engine failures tied to bearing and piston issues. When it runs right, it's spectacular; when it doesn't, you're looking at five-figure engine work.
Connecting Rod and Main Bearing Failures
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 30,000-60,000 mi
Symptoms: Sudden metallic knocking from engine bay, especially cold starts, Drop in oil pressure or oil pressure warning light, Metal shavings or glitter visible in oil during changes, Engine runs rough or misfires before catastrophic failure
Fix: Complete engine teardown to replace rod bearings and/or main bearings. If caught early, bearing replacement runs 20-30 hours. If spun bearing damaged crank or block, you're into short block or complete engine replacement at 40-60 hours. Mercedes extended warranty coverage on some VINs, but not all.
Estimated cost: $8,000-25,000
Piston Ring Land Failure and Piston Cracking
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Excessive oil consumption, burning through a quart every 500-1,000 miles, Blue smoke from exhaust on startup or during hard acceleration, Misfires and rough idle as rings fail to seal, Loss of compression on one or more cylinders
Fix: Requires engine removal and complete tear-down. Replace all pistons and rings, inspect cylinder walls for scoring. Often combined with bearing work since engine is already out. Labor runs 35-50 hours for piston replacement with head removal. Some techs recommend just doing a factory short block at this point.
Estimated cost: $12,000-22,000
Transmission Oil Cooler Leaks
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission fluid puddles under car, usually passenger side, Burning smell after spirited driving, Transmission temperature warnings on dash, Fluid visible on undertray during inspection
Fix: Replace transmission oil cooler and lines. Requires dropping undertray and partial exhaust work for access. Cooler itself isn't expensive, but labor for proper installation and fluid refill with correct MB spec fluid runs 4-6 hours. Flush system if contamination suspected.
Estimated cost: $1,200-2,200
Transmission Mount Failures
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 40,000-70,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking when shifting from Park to Drive or Reverse, Vibration through chassis during acceleration, Excessive driveline movement visible during hard launches, Thud felt through floorboard on deceleration
Fix: Replace rear transmission mount. Common wear item on high-torque applications. Access requires lift and removing heat shields. Mount itself is pricey from Mercedes. Budget 3-4 hours for replacement. Inspect driveshaft carrier bearing and guibo while you're under there.
Estimated cost: $800-1,400
Driveshaft Coupling (Guibo) and Center Support Bearing Wear
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Vibration at highway speeds, especially 65-80 mph, Clunking during hard acceleration or deceleration, Squeaking or squealing from under car during takeoff, Visible cracking in rubber flex disc during inspection
Fix: Replace flex disc (guibo) and center support bearing. Related to NHTSA recall for driveshaft on some VINs—check if yours was covered. Even if recall was done, these wear over time with hard use. Driveshaft removal required, 4-5 hours labor. Use OE Mercedes parts; aftermarket flex discs fail prematurely on this torque level.
Estimated cost: $1,200-2,000
Fuel Filter Clogging and Fuel System Contamination
Occasional · medium severity
Symptoms: Hesitation or stumble during hard acceleration, Intermittent limp mode with reduced power warnings, Hard starting after sitting, especially in heat, Fuel trims way off during diagnostics
Fix: Replace in-tank fuel filter assembly and pump module if contaminated. Mercedes originally spec'd lifetime filter, but that's optimistic with modern ethanol fuel. Access through rear seat area, 3-4 hours. If contamination is severe, may need fuel system flush and injector cleaning. Some cars got bad fuel from factory storage—check service bulletins.
Estimated cost: $900-1,800
Software Glitches in Infotainment and Driver Assistance
Common · low severity
Symptoms: COMAND system freezes or reboots randomly, Backup camera black screen or delayed display, Bluetooth connectivity drops repeatedly, Navigation system crashes or loses route
Fix: Multiple NHTSA recalls for software updates. Dealer must flash latest firmware—cannot be done aftermarket in most cases. Takes 1-2 hours at dealer. Some issues persist even after updates due to hardware limitations in early MY2018 COMAND units. No parts cost if under recall, just programming time.
Estimated cost: $0-350
Owner tips
Absolutely critical: verify full engine service history and oil analysis records before purchase—bearing failures can be lurking even if car runs fine during test drive
Use only Mercedes 229.5 spec oil, change every 5,000 miles maximum regardless of what monitor says—these engines are sensitive to oil quality
Avoid extended idle times and let engine warm fully before hard acceleration—bearing failures often start from cold-start lubrication issues
Budget $2,000-3,000 annually for maintenance beyond typical costs—this is a hand-built AMG engine that demands respect
Consider extended warranty or set aside $15k emergency fund for potential engine work—it's not if, but when something expensive happens
Buy only with comprehensive pre-purchase inspection including borescope and oil analysis, full service records, and budget for engine replacement—when they're good they're incredible, but the engine grenades are real and expensive.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
Fitment notes: AGM battery required; located in rear trunk compartment
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Every control module on the 2018-2023 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT — where it lives, replacement time, and what it takes to program a replacement. Modules marked dealer / factory tool won't work after a part swap alone — budget for programming.
Electric Power Steering Control Unit (EPS)3.5 hr R&Rsecurity gateway +1.2 hr▸ programming details
📍 Steering column, integrated with steering rack assembly
⚠️ Requires Mercedes me connect subscription activation after replacement.
Aftermarket tool coverage varies by software version and vehicle build — treat "aftermarket tool" rows as "usually possible" and verify against your tool maker's coverage list before promising a customer. Spot a wrong location or hour? Tell us — corrections ship fast here.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016-2018 AMG GT vehicles. The bonding between the carbon-fiber driveshaft and the flange may be insufficient, which could result in driveshaft separation.
Consequence: A separated driveshaft may cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the carbon-fiber driveshaft, as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed October 15, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021090008.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE · 21V058000
2021-02-05
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 - 2021 CLA-Class, GLA-Class, GLE-Class, GLS-Class, SLC-Class, A-Class, GT-Class, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, CLS-Class, SL-Class, B-Class, GLB-Class, GLC-Class, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to the Part 573 report for specific vehicle model details. The software design of the communication module may fail to communicate the correct vehicle location for the emergency call system (eCall) in the event of a crash.
Consequence: Failure of the eCall system may result in emergency responders being dispatched to the wrong location, increasing the risk of injury following a crash.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and the communication module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. The recall began March 12, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021020025.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE · 18V724000
2018-10-15
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2018 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Cabrio and AMG GT-C Cabrio vehicles. Due to a software incompatibility, in the event of a low speed crash, both stages of the frontal air bags may deploy instead of only the first-stage deploying as intended.
Consequence: If the air bags do not deploy as intended, it can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update the air bag control unit software, free of charge. The recall began November 2, 2018. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2018100008.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 18V208000
2018-03-29
Mercedes-Benz USA LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2018 AMG GT, AMG GT C, GLC43 AMG 4Matic, GLC300, GLC300 4Matic and GLC350e 4Matic vehicles. The housing for the driver side air bag inflator may have been made with defective steel. In the event of an air bag deployment, the defective steel may cause the inflator to improperly inflate the driver-side air bag and potentially rupture.
Consequence: In the event of a crash involving driver air bag deployment, an improperly inflated air bag and/or an inflator rupture with sharp metal fragments might result in serious injury or death to the driver or to occupants.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin May 29, 2018. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
SEAT BELTS · 17V826000
2017-12-18
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2018 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT, AMG GT R, AMG GT C and AMG GT S vehicles. The seat belts may bind within the guidance loops possibly causing slack in the seat belts.
Consequence: If the seat belt binds, slack may develop through occupant movement which may lead to increased personal injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will reconfigure the seat belt guides, free of charge. The recall began March 30, 2018. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691. MBUSA'S number for this recall is 2017120018.
Performance
Horsepower
469hp
Torque
465lb-ft
0–60 mph
3.9sec
Quarter mile
12.1sec
Top speed
189mph
Fuel economy (EPA)
City
16mpg
Highway
21mpg
Combined
18mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
Capability & size
Curb weight
3,627lb
EPA class
Two Seaters
Wiper blades
C190 AMG GT coupe. No rear wiper on coupe body style.
Size-standard part numbers — verify your connector type before buying. Rear blades are model-specific; check the package's vehicle list.
Fuel economy figures are EPA data via fueleconomy.gov (median across matching trims). Performance figures are compiled estimates for the 2018 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT 4.0L Turbo V8 and can vary by trim.
🔧 Database maintained under the daily editorial review of Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years and Jeff Moore · Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years.