2012 Mercedes-Benz C250 Engine Problems
NHTSA lists 65 engine complaints for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C250, 24% of all complaints filed for the year. Owners most often report camshaft adjuster and timing chain failures with a loud rattling noise, plus two fire incidents. No related recalls are listed.
- Engine complaints
- 65
- 24% of 272
- Crashes reported
- 0
- Fires reported
- 2
- Injuries reported
- 0
- Median mileage
- 69,500 mi
- Related recalls
- 0
Typical engine symptoms owners report
- Loud rattling or clanking noise at startup traced to camshaft intake or exhaust adjuster failure, often requiring timing chain and tensioner replacement.
- Engine stalls or loses acceleration suddenly while driving, including on the freeway, sometimes restarting after being turned off and back on.
- Misfiring at highway speeds between 45-70 mph triggers the check engine light and puts the vehicle into limp mode.
- Two reports describe fire under the hood or at the front of the vehicle, one occurring while parked with the engine running.
- Owners describe turbo, throttle, and transmission lag that made acceleration unpredictable and nearly caused accidents.
When 2012 Mercedes-Benz C250 engine complaints were filed
First complaint Oct 19, 2012, latest Sep 15, 2025.
Engine recalls for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C250
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
Engine complaints by C250 model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- What engine problems do owners report on the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C250?
- The most common pattern involves camshaft adjuster and timing chain failures that cause a loud rattling noise at startup and rough running. Owners also report stalling, misfiring in limp mode, and two engine fire incidents.
- How many engine complaints does NHTSA have for the 2012 C250?
- NHTSA lists 65 engine complaints for the 2012 C250, which is 24% of all 272 complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for the 2012 C250 engine?
- No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for the engine complaints on the 2012 C250.
- At what mileage do 2012 C250 engine problems typically occur?
- The median mileage at failure for engine complaints on the 2012 C250 is 69,500 miles.
- Did any 2012 C250 engine complaints involve fires or crashes?
- NHTSA data shows 2 fire reports and 0 crash reports among the engine complaints for the 2012 C250.