2012 Mercedes-Benz C300 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 (42.8% of complaints) — is the subject of an open NHTSA investigation (EA21002, opened Sep 2021).
Air Bags complaints here are 5.0× 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 | 113 · 42.8% | Under investigation | EA21002 |
| Suspension | 64 · 24.2% | No official action | — |
| Structure:body | 30 · 11.4% | No official action | — |
| Structure:frame And Members | 16 · 6.1% | No official action | — |
| Service Brakes | 12 · 4.5% | No official action | — |
| Electrical System | 12 · 4.5% | 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 264 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 C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V010000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO…”NHTSA complaint 11354028 — filed 09/09/2020 · AIR BAGS
“TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V010000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO…”NHTSA complaint 11352316 — filed 08/31/2020 · AIR BAGS
“TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V017000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR…”NHTSA complaint 11348588 — filed 08/11/2020 · 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 C300?
Air bags issues are the most-reported category, cited in 113 of 264 NHTSA complaints (42.8%), followed by suspension (64), structure:body (30), unspecified/other issues (23). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C300 have?
264 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 5 involved a crash, 4 involved a fire, and 6 reported injuries. 1 deaths were reported.
Does the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C300 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 C300'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.
