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
587 reports, newest first.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Nov 27, 2018
2012 MERCEDES BENZ C300 - REAR TAIL LIGHT TAIL LIGHT FAILURE, FOUND BURN MARKS IN THE VEHICLE BULB ASSEMBLY (BULB PANEL) AND BURNED WIRES IT HAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF TAIL LIGHT LAMPS FUNCTION.
Air bags, Nov 20, 2018
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ C300W4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V017000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. MERCEDES-BENZ OF BOSTON (259 MCGRATH HWY, SOMERVILLE, MA 02143, (617) 666-4100) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, Nov 19, 2018
TAKATA R ECALL. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR AND COMPLAINED ABOUT NO ACTION ON THE AIRBAG RECALL. THE DEALER IS DOING NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. HE SIMPLY SAYS WE DON'T HAVE THE AIRBAGS. I POINTED OUT THEY HAVE PLENTY OF AIRBAGS FOR NEW CARS BUT GOT NO RESPONSE
Air bags, Nov 16, 2018
"TAKATA RECALL": I GOT A LETTER ABOUT THIS RECALL LAST MARCH 2017 I NOT ONE HAS CONTACT ME SINCE THEM. I CALLED MERCEDES BUT THEY JUST SAID THEY DONT HAVE A RESOLUTION RIGHT NOW, PLEASE HELP I DONT WANT TO WAIT ON HAVING A CAR ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BACK DONT WORK.
Air bags, Nov 14, 2018
I HAVE RECEIVED NOTICE THAT MY AIRBAGS ARE AT DEFAULT AND HAVE A RECALL FOR BEING DEFECTIVE. MERCEDES-BENZ HAS TOLD ME THAT THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE, SO I AM DRIVING AROUND WITH AIRBAGS THAT MAY CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH UPON AN ACCIDENT. CURRENTLY I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO HAVE THIS ISSUE REPAIRED OR ADDRESSED .
Air bags, Nov 5, 2018
PARTS HAVE NOT BEEN RELEASED AND MADE AVAILABLE FOR REPAIR TO MYSELF. IT HAS BEEN ONE AND HALF YEARS SINCE THE RECALL NOTICE WAS DELIVERED.
Service brakes, Nov 4, 2018
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 60MPH IN THE LEFT HAND LANE. I WAS ABOUT 7 CAR LENGTHS FROM THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AS I HAD JUST MOVED INTO THAT LANE TO MOVE TO THE RAMP TO MOVE OFF THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME BRAKED, AND WAS GOING AT A LOWER SPEED. I TRIED TO SLOW DOWN AND MY CAR DID NOT SLOW. I PRESSED MY BRAKE TO THE FLOOR AND MY CAR STILL WOULD NOT STOP. I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER AND THE CAR FINALLY CAME TO A STOP CLOSE TO THE RAMP, I THOUGHT IT WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT EXCEPT I SAW ON A WEBSITE, OTHERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.
Air bags, Oct 25, 2018
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ C250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V017000 (AIR BAGS) WAS RECEIVED IN JANUARY OF 2017. AFTER CONTACTING THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER (MERCEDES OF SAN DIEGO, 4750 KEAMY MESA RD, SAN DIEGO, CA), THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE DEFECT WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Structure, Engine, Oct 13, 2018
CAM SHAFT ADJUSTERS WENT OUT AND HAD TO BE REPAIRED FOR NORMAL USE AND DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE ON THE INSIDE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED DUE TO REGULAR USE.
Engine, Oct 12, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ C250. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF COVINGTON (LOCATED AT 8080 WESTSHORE DRIVE, COVINGTON, LA 70433, (985) 900-1212) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAMSHAFT GEAR-SPROCKET AND EXHAUST CAM ADJUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000. *TT
Air bags, Oct 10, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ C250. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V017000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF DAYTONA BEACH (1188 N TOMOKA FARMS RD, DAYTONA BEACH, FL 32124, (386) 675-4677) AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
Air bags, Sep 29, 2018
TAKATA RECALL. NOTIFIED OF RECALL IN FEB 2016, BUT AIRBAGS HAVE NOT BEEN FIXED OR REPLACED.
Air bags, Sep 27, 2018
TAKATA RECALL- NOTIFIED IN MARCH 2017 OF THE RECALL, STILL NOT FIXED. UNACCEPTABLE IF THIS IS A "RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH". 18 MONTHS IS NOT A "REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME". DOUBT WE CAN SELL CAR EITHER. SEEMS LIKE A LAWSUIT WAITING TO HAPPEN. WHAT IS THE WAY FORWARD?
Air bags, Sep 20, 2018
"TAKATA RECALL" I HAVE BEEN WAITING MY LOCAL DEALER OF MERCEDES BENZ TO REPLACE THE AIR BAGS WITH THERE EXCUSE THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE. ITS BEEN OVER A YEAR. I HAVE CALLED THEM TODAY AND THEY HAVE THE SAME EXCUSE. MAKE ME BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE WAITING ME TO CHANGE OR SALE THE CAR TO THEN NOT HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO REPLACE THE EQUIPMENT. I USE THE CAR ON A DAILY BASIS.
Air bags, Sep 13, 2018
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ C250. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V017000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. MERCEDES-BENZ OF BEVERLY HILLS (9250 BEVERLY BLVD, BEVERLY BLVD, CA) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Sep 5, 2018
STEERING WHEEL LOCK AFTER VEHICLE IS SHUT DOWN. WHEN YOU RETURN TO THE VEHICLE INSERT THE KEY THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, SPEEDO, STEERING WHEEL IS UNRESPONSIVE WHICH WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO TURN THE ENGINE. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL IT'S A ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK THAT FAILS ON SEVERAL MERCEDES BENZ CAUSING THE OWNER TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A 2,000 DOLLAR REPAIR. IT HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT COMPLETELY FAILS.
Air bags, Engine, Sep 2, 2018
TAKATA RECALL...ENGINE MAKING A LOUD RATTLE WHEN STARTED.
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?
Air bags, Aug 14, 2018
TAKATA RECALL-I AM DRIVING WITH 4 CHILDREN IN MY VEHICLE AND I HAVE AN AIRBAG MALFUNCTION AND THIS IS VERY CONCERNING. I WOULD LIKE FOR THIS MATTER TO BE RESOLVE ASAP. I'VE BEEN DRIVING MY VEHICLE UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES FAR TOO LONG AND THIS IS CAUSING ME A LOT OF ANXIETY BECAUSE OF THE CONCERNS I HAVE REGARDING MY SAFETY INCLUDING MY FAMILY. I RECEIVED A NOTICE REGARDING A LEGAL ACTION BUT I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANYTHING ELSE AND I HAVE CALLED THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIPS AND THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE IT CONTINUES TO SHOW PENDING RECALL ON THEIR SYSTEM AND THEY PRETTY MUCH CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT UNTIL THEY GET A NOTICE FROM WHOEVER THESE PEOPLE ARE SUPPOSE TO BE. I HAVE AN ALERT ON MY VEHICLE THAT STATES, MALFUNCTION AIRBAG.
Air bags, Aug 10, 2018
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ C250. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V017000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WITHIN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. THE DEALER (CROWN EUROCARS, 8302 US HIGHWAY 19 N, PINELLAS PARK, FL 33781) CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Engine, Aug 5, 2018
ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON , THE CAR HESITATED TO TURN ON AT TIMES, SOMETIMES HAD TO PRESS THE GAS PEDAL TO HAVE VEHICLE TURN ON. TOOK IT TO LOCAL BENZ SHOPS THAT CLAIMED TO WORK ON BENZ, THEY SAID THEIR COMPUTER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CODE. SO TOOK IT TO THE DEALER IN FORT MYERS, FL. WAS TOLD IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN AND THE 2 CAM SHAFTS. WAS QUOTED $5032. SO HAD TO OTHER CHOICE THAN TO HAVE THEM REPAIRED. ONLY RECEIVED THE MANAGERS DISCOUNT OF $150 (WOW). I READ THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEY WILL NOT RECALL . THEY HAVE RECALLED OLDER MODELS LIKE 2006 FOR THIS SAME TYPE OF ISSUE. BUT OF COURSE SEEMS THAT MERCEDES BENZ HAS NO PRESTIGE. ALSO NOTE THIS CAR ONLY HAS 41,000 MILES IN MINT SHAPE TAKE GOOD CARE OF IT. VERY , VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH MERCEDES BENZ, DON'T GET STUCK BUYING A VEHICLE THAT IS NOT DEPENDABLE. THIS MODEL HAS TOO MANY ISSUES.
Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 23, 2018
FEUL TANK LEAK WHEN I PUT ANY AMOUNT OF GAS INTO CAR IT IS LEAKING OUT ON TO THE GROUND WHILE IM DRIVING AND WHEN IM AT A STANDSTILL. THE SMELL IS VERY STRONG AND I SEE THE TRAIL IN MY REARVIEW MIRROR. I READ ON THE WEBSITE THAT IS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT THIS CAR IS HAVING IT WAS REPORTED MARCH 2013 BUT WHEN I CALL THE DEALERSHIP THEY ARE TELLING IT IS NOT A RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE. I WENT TO AUTOZONE TO DO A CHECK AND IT TOLD IT WAS THE FEUL CAPPED WHICH I SWITCH AND THAT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. NOW I WENT TO DO MY INSPECTION AND IT FAILED DUE TO THIS PROBLEM.
Engine, Jul 19, 2018
WHILE STARTING ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WOULD NOT GO AWAY. TOOK TO MERC DEALER,TOLD CAMSHAFT FAILURE. REPLACEMENT COST 5865 DOLLARS. CAR SERVICED AT DEALERSHIP AS PER RECOMMENDATIONS. SEVERAL BLOGS REPORT SIMILAR ISSUE BY DIFFERENT CUSTOMERS. SIMILAR ISSUE IN E 350 ON 2006 MODEL. MERC SEEMS TO AWARE OF THIS ISSUE.
Air bags, Jul 12, 2018
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ C250. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V017000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED W.I. SIMONSON MERCEDES-BENZ AT (855) 677-2690 (LOCATED AT 1626 WILSHIRE BLVD, SANTA MONICA, CA 90403) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL WAS PENDING AND NOT AN ACTUAL RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, Jul 12, 2018
TAKATA RECALL, UNABLE TO GET FIX. VEHICLE CANNOT BE TRADED OR SOLD DUE TO OUTSTANDING RECALL NOT FIXED. WILL NOT USE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. MERCEDES KEEPS PUSHING PARTS AVAILABILITY , NOW 9/2019. THIS STARTED IN 2/2013.