Is the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C 250 a bad year?
272 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other C 250 years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C 250 are in line with other C 250 years. Air bags stands out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2012 C 250 owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 55,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 168 (62%) | 35k–61k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 63 (23%) | 50k–90k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Fuel system | 18 (7%) | 38k–92k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Brakes | 10 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 9 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 7 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 55,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 272 complaints: 3 mention a crash · 2 mention a fire · 2 report an injury · 6 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Sep 2025.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Timing chain on the vehicle stretches out over time. This causes the vehicle to not start properly and can snap while driving and stop the car in the middle of traffic and driving.
Bought car from mercedes lot, used with 70k miles. Delivered it with check engine light. Salesman claimed it was low washer fluid.
The CEL came on and the engine was having a rough start . I took it to the repair shop and after using the star diagnostic system the diagnoses was camshaft adjusters in failure.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 55,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C 250: 5
An incorrect front passenger air bag may have been installed during a prior repair. An incorrect air bag may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. An incorrect replacement front passenger air bag may have been installed. An incorrect passenger air bag may not provide adequate protection, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
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. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. The driver's air bag may unexpectedly deploy due to insufficient grounding of the steering components if an electrostatic discharge occurs and the air bag clockspring is broken. If the driver air bag inadvertently deploys, it can increase the risk of injury and a crash.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Mercedes-Benz: 86
Repair instructions Mercedes-Benz sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C 250. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end)
Tension-releasing impact of the propeller shaft with the force-free in D "KID" function, after vehicle has stopped
Check Engine Light is on with DTC P030185/ P030685 for misfire cylinder 1 and 6
Engine diagnosis warning lamp activated
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Neighbouring years
2013 C 250: 278 complaints, keep it.
Every Mercedes-Benz C 250 year
2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · All C 250 years side by side
Other Mercedes-Benz models: Mercedes-Benz AMG E 55 · Mercedes-Benz C 230 · Mercedes-Benz C 300 · Mercedes-Benz C 320 · Mercedes-Benz C 350 · Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 · Mercedes-Benz E 300 · Mercedes-Benz E 320 · Mercedes-Benz E 350 · Mercedes-Benz E 500 · Mercedes-Benz E 550 · Mercedes-Benz GL 450 · Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 · Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 · Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 · Mercedes-Benz GLK 350 · Mercedes-Benz ML 320 · Mercedes-Benz ML 350 · Mercedes-Benz Metris · Mercedes-Benz R 350 · Mercedes-Benz S 430 · Mercedes-Benz S 500 · Mercedes-Benz S 550 · Mercedes-Benz S Class · Mercedes-Benz SL 500 · Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 · Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C 250 a bad year?
272 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other C 250 years. At 55,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C 250?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: air bags (168), engine (63), fuel system (18), brakes (10), electrical system (9).
How many recalls does the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C 250 have?
5 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 21V-638), Air bags (NHTSA 20V-298), Air bags (NHTSA 19V-010), Air bags (NHTSA 17V-627) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.