2012 Mercedes-benz C250 reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2012 Mercedes-benz C250 — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 317
- 55 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- AIR BAGS
- 168 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 5
- see below
- Reported harm
- 4 reported crashes · 3 injuries · 2 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#1,669
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Mercedes-benz median
+148
median 169 across 69 Mercedes-benz records
Vs 2010-2014
+25
median 292 complaints in 613 records
Top component share
53%
Air Bags: 168 complaints
What owners report fails — 2012 Mercedes-benz C250
- AIR BAGS 168
- ENGINE 61
- FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 16
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 10
- SERVICE BRAKES 9
5 recalls on record for the 2012 Mercedes-benz C250
- NHTSA 21V638000 · 2021 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL An incorrect air bag may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- NHTSA 20V298000 · 2020 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR An incorrect passenger air bag may not provide adequate protection, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a cras
- NHTSA 19V010000 · 2019 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the passenger or other occupants resulting in serious
- NHTSA 17V017000 · 2018 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- NHTSA 17V627000 · 2017 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL If the driver air bag inadvertently deploys, it can increase the risk of injury and a crash.
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2012 Mercedes-benz C250
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2012 Mercedes-benz C250 units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Mercedes-benz C250 reliable?
NHTSA has 317 consumer complaints on record for the 2012 Mercedes-benz C250 and 5 recalls. The most-reported problem area is air bags (168 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2012 Mercedes-benz C250 units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Mercedes-benz C250?
Owners most often report problems with: air bags (168), engine (61), fuel/propulsion system (16), unknown or other (10). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2012 Mercedes-benz C250?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.