2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class problems and complaints
Owners have filed 589 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The most-reported areas: Air Bags (312), Suspension (74), Engine (69).
Key takeaways
- 589 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 8 involve a crash, 7 a fire, 10 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 312 | 53% |
| Suspension | 74 | 13% |
| Engine | 69 | 12% |
| Structure | 63 | 11% |
| Unknown Or Other | 36 | 6% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 30 | 5% |
| Service Brakes | 27 | 5% |
| Electrical System | 27 | 5% |
| Steering | 15 | 3% |
| Power Train | 12 | 2% |
| Exterior Lighting | 8 | 1% |
| Fuel System | 8 | 1% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
Parts for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
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- Engine oil
- Wiper blades
- Headlight bulb
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| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4 DR AWD | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | 4/5 |
| 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4 DR RWD | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Structure - filed 2026-10-24
Did a winter inspection of vehicle and found rust on the rear frame. Rust has already made a hole on the subframe and hair line crack already forming, only a matter of time before it brakes.
Fuel/Propulsion System - filed 2026-10-15
Fuel leaking in the back seat of the car
Fuel/Propulsion System - filed 2026-09-12
Fuel tank is rusting. Leaking fuel, heavy fuel smell inside cabin. My saftey and anyone around the vehicle would be at risk due to fire chance. Confirmed by independent service center Vehcile has only been inspected by me and the shop Only symptom that appeared was fuel smell in my garage and a puddle of gasol...
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More for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.