YearToAvoid

2012 Mercedes-Benz C250 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

75/100

#2 most-complained of 5 C250 years

The 2012 Mercedes-Benz C250 has a Complaint Index of 75, ranks 2nd worst out of 5 model years, and carries an Avoid verdict. Airbags account for 62% of complaints, with 5 recalls filed, mostly tied to Takata passenger air bag issues.

Complaints
272
Recalls
5
Crashes / fires
3 / 2
Injuries / deaths
3 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
25
21 city / 30.5 hwy

Top 2012 Mercedes-Benz C250 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags168 (62%)
  2. Engine65 (24%)
  3. Fuel System18 (7%)
  4. Brakes11 (4%)
  5. Electrical System10 (4%)
  6. Other10 (4%)
  7. Structure & Body10 (4%)
  8. Transmission & Powertrain6 (2%)
  9. Steering5 (2%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (1%)

What owners report

  • Owners report Takata passenger airbags failing to deploy during real crashes, in one case above 45 mph.
  • Some vehicles reportedly caught fire without warning while parked or shortly after being driven, with flames spreading from the front of the car.
  • Owners describe brake failure at highway speed traced to a defective brake vacuum component.
  • Drivers report engine misfires and stalling at speeds between 45 and 70 mph, sometimes triggering limp mode.
  • Some owners noted long waits for replacement airbag parts under recall 17V017000 due to part unavailability.
  • Turbo lag and throttle lag were reported as causing near-accident situations during acceleration.
2012 Mercedes-Benz C250 complaints: complaints filed per quarter432012 Q22016 Q22018 Q12019 Q32021 Q12022 Q32024 Q2
311 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2012 Q2 to 2025 Q3; peak 2017 Q4 (43).

2012 Mercedes-Benz C250 recalls

5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 21V638000Aug 13, 2021Airbags205 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2015-2016 E400 Coupe, 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2011-2014 E350 Coupe, and 2012-2014 E350 Cabrio vehicles. An incorrect front passenger air bag may have been installed during a prior repair.

    Risk: An incorrect air bag may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag on the affected vehicles, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 10, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

  2. NHTSA 20V298000May 22, 2020Airbags640 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2012 C250, C250 Coupe, C300, C350, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG, and C63 AMG Coupe vehicles equipped with a front passenger air bag assembly replaced under a prior recall. An incorrect replacement front passenger air bag may have been installed.

    Risk: An incorrect passenger air bag may not provide adequate protection, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

    Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag module, free of charge. The recall began July 10, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2020060011.

  3. NHTSA 19V010000Jan 9, 2019Airbags288,779 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2014 C250, C300 4Matic, C350, C63 AMG, E350 4Matic Coupe, E350 Cabrio, E350 Coupe, SLS AMG Cabrio, SLS AMG Coupe, 2014-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 4Matic Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, GLK 350, GLK250 BlueTec 4Matic, GLK350 RWD, 2015-2017 E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabrio, E400 Coupe, 2014-2017 E550 Cabrio, and 2014-2016 E550 Coupe vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Zone A." Additionally, MBUSA is recalling certain 2012-2014 C250, E350 4Matic Coupe, SLS AMG Cabrio, 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 4Matic Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2011 C300, 2011-2014 C300 4Matic, C350, C63 AMG, E350 Cabrio, E350 Coupe, SLS AMG Coupe, 2015-2016 E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabrio, E400 Coupe, 2011-2016 E550 Cabrio, E550 Coupe, 2011-2015 GLK350 4Matic, GLK350 RWD, and 2013-2015 GLK250 BlueTec 4Matic vehicles ever registered in the states of AZ, AR, DE, DC, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV or "Zone B." MBUSA is also recalling certain 2012-2014 C250, E350 4Matic Coupe, SLS AMG Cabrio 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 4Matic Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2010-2011 C300, 2010-2014 C300 4Matic, C350, C63 AMG, E350 Coupe, 2011-2014 E350 Cabrio, SLS AMG Coupe, 2015-2016 E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabrio, E400 Coupe, 2016-2017 E550 Cabrio, 2010-2016 E550 Coupe, 2010-2015 GLK350 4Matic, GLK350 RWD, and 2013-2015 GLK250 BlueTec 4Matic vehicles ever registered in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MO, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI and WY or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

    Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began March 29, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

See all 5 recalls for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C250 →

2012 Mercedes-Benz C250 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
21 MPG
Highway
30.5 MPG
Combined
25 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,200
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2012 compared with other C250 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020122013201420152016
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2012Avoid75272525
2013Avoid100278725
2014Caution50163525

All Mercedes-Benz C250 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C250 reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2012 C250 ranks 2nd worst among its 5 model years, with a Complaint Index of 75 and an Avoid verdict. Airbags make up 62% of all reported complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C250?
Airbags are the top problem area, with 168 complaints (62% of the total) and a median failure mileage of 55,000 miles, largely linked to Takata recalls.
Does the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C250 have a Takata airbag recall?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2012 C250, all involving airbags, including multiple campaigns for replacing the front passenger air bag module.
How does the 2012 C250 compare to other model years?
The 2012 C250 has a Complaint Index of 75, worse than 2014 (50), 2015 (25), and 2016 (0), but slightly better than 2013, which has the highest index at 100.
What is the fuel economy of the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C250?
EPA rates the 2012 C250 at 25 mpg combined (21 city / 30.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,200.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.