2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class problems and complaints
Owners have filed 587 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The most-reported areas: Air Bags (312), Suspension (74), Engine (69).
Key takeaways
- 587 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 | 62 | 11% |
| Unknown Or Other | 36 | 6% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 29 | 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%.
| 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.
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...
Service Brakes - filed 2026-08-31
Brake line corrosion issues, related and reported along with the sub-frame assembly corrosion. After getting the sub-frame repaired XXX, corrosion and deformation of the tie rods and control arms caused vibration and noise at speed, and while cornering. Repaired XXX and vehicle inspection discovered no leaks in the co...
Suspension - filed 2026-08-24
The rear sub frame has rusted and part of it has failed
Diagnose it yourself
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
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.