2012 Mercedes-Benz C250 Problems & Recalls
Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Is this problem acknowledged?
The most-reported problem — Air Bags (61.8% of complaints) — is the subject of an open NHTSA investigation (EA21002, opened Sep 2021).
Air Bags complaints here are 7.3× the median for that category across the 1998 model-years tracked on this site.
1 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 5 rest on owner reports alone.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 168 · 61.8% | Under investigation | EA21002 |
| Engine | 61 · 22.4% | No official action | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 16 · 5.9% | No official action | — |
| Service Brakes | 9 · 3.3% | No official action | — |
| Electrical System | 7 · 2.6% | No official action | — |
| Power Train | 6 · 2.2% | No official action | — |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Percentages are the share of the 272 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
Recalls
No NHTSA recall campaigns are on file for this vehicle. New recalls can be issued at any time — check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
“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…”NHTSA complaint 11111021 — filed 07/12/2018 · AIR BAGS
“TAKATA RECALL, MERCEDES BENZ HAS NOT REPLACED MY AIRBAGS ON MY VEHICLE AND I FEEL AT DANGER.”NHTSA complaint 11104821 — filed 06/29/2018 · AIR BAGS
“RECALL STATUS: RECALL INCOMPLETE. REMEDY NOT YET AVAILABLE NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 17V017 RECALL DATE: JANUARY 18, 2017 MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER: [removed] REQUEST A CLEARING LETTER…”NHTSA complaint 11103706 — filed 06/25/2018 · AIR BAGS
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Complaint trend by year filed
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C250?
Air bags issues are the most-reported category, cited in 168 of 272 NHTSA complaints (61.8%), followed by engine (61), fuel/propulsion system (16), unspecified/other issues (10). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C250 have?
272 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 3 involved a crash, 2 involved a fire, and 3 reported injuries. No deaths were reported.
Does the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C250 have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns are on file for this vehicle. New recalls can be issued at any time — check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has NHTSA acted on the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C250's reported problems?
1 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page is backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. NHTSA has an open investigation (EA21002) into air bags that has not led to a recall. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.
Is a complaint proof of a defect?
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
