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: other or unspecified
36 reports, newest first. Show all
Structure, Other or unspecified, Mar 14, 2022
Vehicle was in for state inspection at an authorized inspection station. It failed inspection due to severely rusted and deteriorated rear K-Frame which had to be replaced to pass inspection. This is a major defect I feel caused by manufacture negligence. There were no warnings, messages or any signals indicating a problem. This issue could have severely caused an injury or even death had it not been detected by the mechanic inspector. Mechanic stated to me that he had replaced several of the rear K-Frames in the last year on this make and model.
Other or unspecified, Aug 10, 2020
MY VEHICLE STARTED TO PULL LEFT WHEN BRAKING. HAD ALL BRAKES REPLACED AND PULLING CONITNUED. AFTER FURTHER REVIEW, FOUND OUT THAT THE REAR CROSSMEMBER / SUB-FRAME WAS ROTTED ON THE DRIVER SIDE. WHEN BRAKING, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL SHIFTS. YOU CAN SEE THE REAR CALIPER MOVE UP. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE SUBFRAME IS SO ROTTED THAT IT SHIFTS THE ARMS COMING OFF OF IT (EITHER TRAILING OR TORQUE ARM), CAUSING A DANGEROUS SHIFT IN THE BRAKE/WHEEL. CALLED MERCEDES CUSTOMER SUPPORT AND ALL THEY OFFERED WAS A SMALL DISCOUNT ON THE FULL REPAIR COST, WHICH OF COURSE IS ALREADY OVERPRICED. MY VEHICLE IS 8 YEARS OLD, GARAGE KEPT, ORIGINAL OWNERS, AND ONLY HAS ABOUT 45,000 MILES ON IT. NOTHING ELSE ON THE CAR IS ROTTED. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A QUALITY CONTROL ISSUE BY THE MANUFACTURER. UPON FURTHER REVIEW, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR 2008-2015 MERCEDES VEHICLES.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Jan 12, 2020
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND UPON QUICK ACCELERATION THE CAR MISFIRES AND BEGINS TO SHAKE. ALSO HAVING WATER COME THROUGH TOP FRAME WHEN IT RAINS
Other or unspecified, Dec 19, 2018
MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE ON THE INSIDE DOES NOT WORK. I NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS PRIOR TO THIS. I DROVE TO MY APPOINTMENT, GOT OUT OF MY CAR NORMALLY. UPON RETURNING TO MY CAR I NOTICED MY DOOR HANDLE LOOKED LOOSE, THEN COULD NO LONGER OPEN MY DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. I HAVE TO ROLL DOWN MY WINDOW IN ORDER TO OPEN MY DOOR ON THE OUTSIDE, WHICH IS EXTREMELY IRRITATING. THE COST TO REPAIR IS OVER $1,000 WHICH I DO NOT BELIEVE IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY FAR. I AM SCARED TO HAVE MY KIDS IN MY, IN CASE AN ACCIDENT DOES OCCUR AND I CANNOT EXIT THE VEHICLE. AFTER SEARCHING THIS PROBLEM I HAVE LEARNED THAT IT IS EXTREMELY COMMON IN THESE MODELS. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY ON MERCEDES TO RECALL FOR YOUR VALUED CUSTOMERS SAFETY.
Other or unspecified, Aug 15, 2018
INTERIOR DOOR LATCH SPONTANEOUSLY BROKE. I HAD DRIVEN MY CAR TO WORK THAT MORNING AND GOTTEN OUT OF THE CAR TO GO INTO MY OFFICE BUILDING. THERE WAS NO SIGN OF ANY ISSUE WITH THE LATCH. LATER THAT AFTERNOON, I LEFT WORK AND MADE A STOP SOMEWHERE. WHEN I WENT TO GET OUT OF THE CARE THE LATCH JUST FLOPPED. THERE WAS NO SPRING ACTION AND I COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR UNTIL I ROLLED DOWN THE WINDOW AND OPENED THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. ACCORDING TO FORUMS ON MBWORLD.COM DATING AS FAR BACK AS 2012, THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE FOR C-CLASS AND OTHER MB MODELS THIS COULD DEFINITELY BE A SAFETY ISSUE IN THE EVENT AN ACCIDENT OR IN ANOTHER LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. ACCORDING TO THE MERCEDES BENZ SERVICE ADVISOR IN MY AREA, THE COST TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE IS UPWARDS OF $1300 BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE DOOR PANEL. IF THIS IS HAPPENING TO SO MANY OF THESE VEHICLES THROUGH NO FAULT OF THE OWNER, SHOULDN'T THERE BE A RECALL ISSUED FOR THIS? WHY ARE THEY ACCEPTING PARTS THAT THEY KNOW TO BE DEFECTIVE?
Other or unspecified, Mar 14, 2018
THE CAR RATTLES AND SHAKE WHEN STARTS WHICH CAUSE THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM TO WORK HARDER AND SEND OUT FUMES.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Feb 21, 2018
CPSC: I RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM MERCEDES THAT MY CAR MAY SERIOUSLY INJURE OR KILL ME BUT THEY CANT FIX IT YET. I ASKED FOR LOANER CAR UNTIL THEY COULD GET IT FIXED AND THEY SAID "WELL ITS REALLY NOT UNSAFE THEY JUST HAD TO SEND THE LETTER FOR LEGAL REASONS. *DT *JS
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Jan 11, 2018
I HAVE GRANDCHILDREN FREQUENTLY IN MY CAR AND HAVE BEEN ANIOUS FOR MORE THAN A YEAR WITHOUT A REMEDY OR REPAIR TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM FROM STRESS AND WORRY OF INJURY/DEATH TO MYSELF OR FAMILY OR FRIENDS. WILL YOU PROVIDE ME WITH A SAFE VEHIICLE TO DRIVE/TRANSPORT UNTIL REPAIR IS DONE.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Dec 24, 2017
I HAVE CONTACTED THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP TWICE SINCE THE AIRBAG RECALL. I WAS TOLD BOTH TIMES THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO REPLACE MY RECALLED AIRBAGS. MY SAFETY IS IN DANGER UNTIL THE PARTS ARE MADE AVAILABLE. THAT IS MY COMPLAINT.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, May 15, 2017
TAKATA RECALL, NO REPAIR ON 2012 C250 MERCEDES AND NO ESTIMATE ON WHEN THEY WILL HAVE PARTS TO REPAIR. ISN'T IT DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THIS CAR WITH A PASSENGER IN FRONT SEAT? WHAT IS MY RECOURSE? ALSO ENGINE LIGHTS COMES ON AND SENSORS HAVE BEEN CHANGED AND MECHANIC DOES NOT KNOW WHAT ACTUAL PROBLEM IS/ COULD THIS JUST BE A BAD FUSE?
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.