2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 587 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 3rd highest complaint count among 23 C-Class model years with reports.
Of the 2012 reports, 8 involved a crash and 7 involved a fire. 10 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints: engine
71 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine, Oct 17, 2017
ROUGH START IN THE MORNING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IT TO THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP AT BUCKHEAD GA. WAS TOLD THAT THE CAM ADJUSTERS NOT FUNCTIONING. ESTIMATED REPAIR COST $4000.
Engine, Sep 27, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ C250. WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO G2 AUTOMOTIVE MERCEDES-BENZ (5935 PARKWAY NORTH BLVD, CUMMING, GA 30040 PHONE NUMBER: (678) 515-9807) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED A NEW TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Engine, Aug 30, 2017
CAR STATIONARY, HESITANT TO START, WHEN STARTED 2-4 SECONDS, THUMPING NOISE. TOOK CAR TO DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. FOUND "INTAKE CAMSHAFT POSITIONER" FAULTY, REPAIR $4000!
Engine, Jul 12, 2017
PURCHASED MY 2012 C250 WITH 45K MILES ON IT AT TIME OF PURCHASE. I PUT 4K MILES AND I STARTED HEARING A TICKING NOISE ON START UPS THEN PROGRESSED. IT HAS TURNED OFF ON ME WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 35 MPH AND ANOTHER AT 25 MPH KINDA SCARED TO DRIVE IT. YOU THINK WHEN YOU PAY FOR QUALITY YOU SHOULD GET IT, NOT HAVING TO $5500 FOR A CAMSHAFT LIFTER REPLACEMENT IN UNDER THE FIRST 50K MILES THAT' INSANE! PLEASE SEND FEED BACK IN GOING TO TALK TO LAWYERS AND GET THERE VIEW ON THE SITUATION BECAUSE THERE'S MORE THEN JUST A COUPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM AND SOME WITH VARY LOW MILES. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME MUCH APPRECIATED .
Engine, Jun 30, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ C250W. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS APPLIED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL RATTLING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (MERCEDES-BENZ OF ST CLAIR SHORES LOCATED AT 20200 E NINE MILE RD SAINT CLAIR SHORES, MI 48080 586-773-2369) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAMSHAFT ADJUSTERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
Engine, Jun 14, 2017
SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING MY CAR IT WILL STUTTER AS IF IT WANTS TO TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN STARTING UP THE VEHICLE IT STALLS BEFORE ACTUALLY TURNING OVER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CERTIFIED MERCEDES DEALERSHIP AND THE DIAGNOSTICS CAME BACK STATING A ISSUE WITH THE "CAMSHAFT ADJUSTERS (INTERNAL FAULT)". APPARENTLY, FIRST GENERATION C250S ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE BUT IT HAS SINCE BEEN CORRECTED WITH LATER GENERATIONS.
Engine, Apr 24, 2017
TIMING CHAIN ON THE VEHICLE STRETCHES OUT OVER TIME. THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO NOT START PROPERLY AND CAN SNAP WHILE DRIVING AND STOP THE CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND DRIVING. THERE IS NO SERVICE RECOMMENDATION FOR THE TIMING CHAIN AND USUALLY STARTS GIVING TROUBLE AFTER THE VEHICLE'S WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. I HAVE NOT HAD MY CAR STOP IN TRAFFIC BUT THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE MERCEDES BENZ FORUMS.
Engine, Apr 14, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ C250. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTED A CHOKING AND KNOCKING SOUND IN THE ENGINE. THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAM SHAFT TENSIONER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR DID NOT ILLUMINATE THIS TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AGAIN WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAM SHAFT TENSIONER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER, BUT THE CONTACT WAS PLACED ON HOLD FOR 1.5 HOURS AND THEN DISCONNECTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.
Engine, Apr 10, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ C250. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, A RATTLING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A CAM SHAFT ISSUE, AND THE TIMING CHAIN AND SPROCKETS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL, BUT THE VEHICLE YEAR WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Engine, Mar 31, 2017, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ C250. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, SMOKE SUDDENLY APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD AND FLAMES WERE PRESENT UNDER THE VEHICLE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,572. UPDATED 06/01/17*LJ UPDATED 09/18/2017*JS
Power train, Engine, Feb 15, 2017
GRADUALLY AS THE CAR IS ACCELERATING IT MAKES A TERRIBLE GRINDING NOISE AND SHAKES ALSO JERKS WHEN CHANGING GEARS, CONFIRMED IT IS A FAILED TRANSMISSION, THE CAR HAS HAD ALL THE APPROPRIATE MAINTENANCE JUST NOT AT A MB DEALER AND THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE TRANSMISSION JUST NOT OFFICIAL RECALL AND MERCEDES IS CLAIMING NO RESPONSIBILITY AS IT WAS NOT SERVICED AT MB DEALER SINCE 2014. CLEARLY THE SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT IS RECOGNITION OF A PROBLEM
Fuel system, Gasoline, Power train, Engine, Jan 19, 2017
THE CEL CAME ON AND THE ENGINE WAS HAVING A ROUGH START . I TOOK IT TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND AFTER USING THE STAR DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM THE DIAGNOSES WAS CAMSHAFT ADJUSTERS IN FAILURE. THE REMEDY REPLACE THE CAMSHAFT ADJUSTERS. COST $3500.00. *TR
Engine, Sep 13, 2016
WHEN STARTING THE CAR THE VEHICLE MAKE LOUD RATTLING NOISE AND THE ENTIRE CAR SHAKES. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC AND HE SAID IT IS THE CAMSHAFT ADJUSTER/ACTUATORS. WHICH NEED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE TIMING CHAIN. HE ALSO SAID IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AS THEY CAN FAIL AND CAR WILL STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF A ROAD. THE CAR WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE SOMETIMES DOESN'T WANT TO GO AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY FELL THE CAR JERK SEEMING AS THE CHAIN IS SKIPPING. IT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. CAR HAS 67,000 MILES AND THIS STARTED HAPPENING AT 57K MILES.
Engine, Sep 1, 2016
DEALER SAID THE CAMSHAFT ADJUSTER WITH CHAIN TENSIONER NEEDS TO BE REPLACE AT 65,000 MILES. ALSO THE HIGH PRESSURE PUMP NEEDS TO BE REPLACE TOO. THIS AFTER SPENDING OVER $773.06 HUNDRED DOLLARS ON ENGINE ANALYSIS. I DECLINE THE SERVICE BECAUSE IT WILL COST ME $5,324.98 TO GET THE JOB DONE. COULD THIS BE A SAFETY RECALL BECAUSE THE DEALER SAID ONE OF THIS DAYS IT MIGHT JUST STOP ON THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. NOW I AM DRIVING THIS VEHICLE WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM I MENTION ABOVE.
Engine, Apr 4, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ C250. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD CLANKING NOISE WHEN IT WAS STARTED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE EXHAUST CAMSHAFT ADJUSTER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,219.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Sep 4, 2015
WHILE DRIVING ON I-5 NORTH COMING FROM LA JOLLA, MY VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING, AND SUDDENLY STOPS IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY FREEWAY. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, THEN RESTARTED AFTER FIVE SECOND. AFTER RESTARTING MY VEHICLE IT STARTED RUNNING AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES ALREADY, AND HAVE BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO THE SERVICE CENTER (ON EACH OCCASION). SERVICE REPORT INDICATE TRANSMISSION ERROR. AT TIMES, THE "SLIPPERY ROAD" SIGN ON MY DASHBOARD WOULD BLINK EVEN THOUGH THE WEATHER IS HOT OR HAS NOT RAIN FOR AGES.
Engine, Jul 7, 2015
REF: NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10676804 SUMMARY: CAMSHAFT INTAKE ADJUSTER REPLACED THERMOSTAT SEALS REPLACED CHAIN TENSIONER REPLACED MY 2012 MB C250, WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY BY YEAR AND MILEAGE, WAS DECLINED TO BE SERVICE BY MERCEDES BENZ OF CUTLER BAY, FLORIDA. THERE REASONING IS THAT I DID NOT USE A MB OIL FILTER; THEY HAVE CANCELLED MY WARRANTY. EVEN THOUGH I HAVE DONE ALL THE PROPER OIL CHANGES SOONER THAT THE MB RECOMMENDATIONS.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 23, 2015, fire
WHILE MY CAR WAS RUNNING IN MY DRIVEWAY PRIOR TO DRIVING, THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE, TOTALING THE VEHICLE. THERE ARE NO OPEN RECALLS ON THIS SPECIFIC CAR, BUT WAS TOLD BY THE FIRE INVESTIGATOR THAT IT WAS EITHER ELECTRICAL OR FUEL PUMP RELATED. *TR
Engine, Jan 20, 2015
CAMSHAFT INTAKE ADJUSTER REPLACED THERMOSTAT SEALS REPLACED CHAIN TENSIONER REPLACED. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, Gasoline, Nov 11, 2013
ON MULTIPLE OCCURRENCES THE VEHICLE HAS STARTED TO MISFIRE AT RANDOM TIMES AND SPEEDS RANGING FROM 45-70 MPH RESULTING IN "LIMP MODE" OR A STALLING CONDITION. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, BUT WILL NOT BE ON WHEN THE VEHICLE IS RESTARTED. THE DEALERSHIP ON NO OCCASION HAS BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE MY CONCERN ALTHOUGH OTHERS HAVE BEEN IN THE CAR TO WITNESS. I FEEL VERY UNSAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AS WHEN IT STALLS ON THE HIGHWAY, I LOSE STEERING AND BRAKES AS WELL. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Oct 19, 2012
THIS WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT, IT IS, IN MY OPINION, A POSSIBLE SAFETY PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE - TURBO LAG; THROTTLE LAG; TRANSMISSION LAG. I ALMOST HAD TWO ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE LAG PROBLEMS, AND HAVE ATTACHED A MORE DETAILED ANALYSIS FOR YOUR REVIEW. TURBO LAG: THIS IS THE TIME IT TAKES FOR THE CAR TO GO FROM ITS NATURALLY ASPIRATED POWER TO THE FULL POWER OF THE CAR AT FULL BOOST/ PEAK BOOST IS REACHED RELATIVELY LOW IN THE REVERSE RANGE, BUT IT IS NOT INSTANTANEOUS POWER LIKE A NATURALLY ASPIRATED ENGINE. THROTTLE LAG: THE DRIVE BY WIRE SYSTEM HAS A BIT OF LAG. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, I MEASURED IT AT .2 OF A SECOND OR SO. WHATEVER THE VALUE, THERE IS ALWAYS LAG THERE, AND WE ARE VERY SENSITIVE TO IT. HOWEVER, DRIVING INS MODE VS E MODE DOES MAKE SOMEWHAT OF A DIFFERENCE. NONETHELESS, THE CAR ALWAYS STARTS OUT IN E MODE WHEN I GET IN AND START THE CAR. WE DIDN'T PURCHASE THE CAR TO ALWAYS DRIVE IN S MODE. TRANSMISSION LAG: THIS I NOTICE SIGNIFICANTLY AND IT IS, IN MY OPINION, PROBABLY THE MOST ANNOYING TO ME. YOU'LL NOTICE THIS WHEN STOMPING THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND THEN DOING THE WAIT... WAIT... WAIT.. DOWNSHIFT. EVEN IF THIS ENGINE WAS RUNNING ONLY ON ITS NATURALLY ASPIRATED FOUR CYLINDERS, THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD RESPOND IMMEDIATELY TO A SURE FOOTED STOMP TO THE FLOOR WITH THE QUICKNESS, AS DOES MY FOUR CYLINDER RAV-4. HOWEVER, THE MB C-250 DOES NOT! IN MY OPINION, YOU CAN RESET THE TCU ALL YOU WANT, THE DELAY WILL REMAIN.