YearToAvoid

2012 Mercedes-Benz C350 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

86/100

#2 most-complained of 8 C350 years

The 2012 Mercedes-Benz C350 has a complaint index of 86 and ranks 2nd-worst of 8 model years, earning an Avoid verdict. It carries 35 NHTSA complaints, 5 recalls, and airbags account for 77% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 55,000.

Complaints
35
Recalls
5
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
22
19 city / 28 hwy

Top 2012 Mercedes-Benz C350 problems

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

  1. Airbags27 (77%)
  2. Fuel System3 (9%)
  3. Engine2 (6%)
  4. Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (6%)
  5. Brakes1 (3%)
  6. Electrical System1 (3%)
  7. Other1 (3%)
  8. Structure & Body1 (3%)
  9. Transmission & Powertrain1 (3%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers1 (3%)

What owners report

  • Owners report long delays getting the Takata front passenger airbag inflator replaced under recall, with some waiting many months for parts.
  • Some owners smelled gas inside or near the cabin and were unsure if the car was safe to drive, pointing to a fuel system or fuel tank leak issue.
  • One owner reported the steering wheel locked and the car became completely unresponsive, requiring a tow after electrical failure and a fuel tank leak.
  • A rattling noise was reported for several seconds after engine start, described as a known issue affecting multiple engine variants.
  • The rear suspension cross-member reportedly corroded internally and separated at the attachment point, causing a partial loss of steering control.
  • The sunroof glass reportedly shattered while driving with no apparent impact, and a rear subframe was found cracked from corrosion, causing the car to veer while braking.
2012 Mercedes-Benz C350 complaints: complaints filed per month7Jul 2017Dec 2017Sep 2018Jan 2019Jun 2019Sep 2019Mar 2020Feb 2023
40 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jul 2017 to Aug 2026; peak Dec 2017 (7).

2012 Mercedes-Benz C350 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 C350 →

2012 Mercedes-Benz C350 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
19 MPG
Highway
28 MPG
Combined
22 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,650
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 C350 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020102011201220132014201520172020
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Avoid10018420
2011Caution7126420
2012Avoid8635522
2013Good4321623
2014Caution5713423

All Mercedes-Benz C350 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C350 a good year to buy?
No. It ranks 2nd-worst out of 8 model years tracked, with a complaint index of 86 and a verdict of Avoid relative to other C350 years.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C350?
Airbags are the top problem area, making up 77% of the 35 NHTSA complaints filed for this year, mostly tied to Takata recall delays.
Does the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C350 have recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2012 C350, all related to airbags, including multiple Takata inflator and passenger airbag module replacements.
How many complaints does the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C350 have?
NHTSA lists 35 complaints for the 2012 C350, with a median mileage at failure of 55,000 miles and no reported crashes, fires, injuries, or deaths.
How does the 2012 C350 compare to other years?
The 2012 model's complaint index of 86 is worse than 2013 (43, Good), 2014 (57, Caution), and 2015 (29, Good), but slightly better than 2010's index of 100.

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.