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Mercedes-Benz C350Model year report

2012 Mercedes-Benz C350 Problems

Compared with other Mercedes-Benz C350 years

Fewer complaints than typical for this model

33/100 0.7× a typical year · 50 = typical

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
35filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
55,000miles, 5 complaints with mileage
Recalls
5campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
22 mpgcombined, 3.5L 6-cyl RWD · 19 city / 28 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C350 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 35 consumer complaints for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C350. The part named most often is air bags, with 27 complaints (77% of the total), followed by fuel system (3) and engine (2). 5 of the complaints include a mileage, and 20% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 55,000 miles. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns and 94 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 5 recall campaigns covering the inflator module filed under the same part. Fuel system complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part. Compared with the other 3 Mercedes-Benz C350 model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 33 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (fewer complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Air bags: “Takata recall.... I have been waiting for a new inflator since january 10th, 2017. Mercedes dealers don't seem to care, just want to sell me a new car... Signed frustrated 12/14/17”

NHTSA complaint #11054756, filed 2017-12, 55,000 miles

Fuel system: “The steering wheel locked could not start the car. Car was driven then turned off, when you return to the vehicle, it will not turn on.everything was unresponsive,which wont turn on engine. Had to tow to dealership it cost me 1800.00. So they said the electrical for car was bad. Then my fuel tank leaked, the componets to the fuel tank all were bad, and l could smell the gas in my car and garage. Cost me 805.00 to repair. Lucky it did not blow up”

NHTSA complaint #11221084, filed 2019-06, 47,000 miles

Engine: “Known fault of rattling noise after engine start for several seconds 07-16-2013 engine 276, engine 278, engine 157 topic number version design group date validity reason for change”

NHTSA complaint #11233775, filed 2019-07, 55,000 miles

Suspension: “1. The (RH) rear suspension forward link attach point on the rear Suspension Cross-Member (Mercedes-Benz P/N: 204-350-01-41), separated from the sub frame due to internal corrosion of the Suspension Cross-Member. Part available for inspection. 2. When part failed, the RH rear wheel alignment was no-longer fixed; some loss of vehicle steering control was experienced, especially during braking and also turning. 3. Numerous reports of similar episodes of this failure are reported in owners' and maintainers' forums. …”

NHTSA complaint #11418391, filed 2021-05

Mileage when problems were reported

20% of the 5 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 53,000 and 55,000 miles.

0%0–100%10–2520%25–5060%50–7520%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (5 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 55,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

20171220182019202020212022202320242026
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C350. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
C-Class · sedan AWDnot rated——44 · 10.5% risk
C-Class · sedan RWDnot rated——44 · 10.5% risk

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2012 Mercedes-Benz C350 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
C350 RWD3.5L 6-cyl7-speed automatic202923$3,550
C350 4matic Coupe 4WD3.5L 6-cyl7-speed automatic192722$3,750
C350 Coupe RWD3.5L 6-cyl7-speed automatic192822$3,750
C350 RWD3.5L 6-cyl · flex-fuel7-speed automatic192822$3,750

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C350 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 94 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 94 bulletins →

Other model years of the Mercedes-Benz C350

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2015617,2504423—Not enough data
20141360,0004523—Not enough data
20132165,5006523—Falling
20123555,0005—2233 · FewerFalling
20112652,861442029 · FewerFalling
20101899,0604—20—Rising
20096559,1007—2062 · TypicalRising
200814470,0006—20100 · MoreFalling
2007690,8005—21—Not enough data
20062371,0005—21—Falling

All Mercedes-Benz C350 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C350 have?

NHTSA recorded 35 consumer complaints for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C350 as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C350 is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 27 complaints (77% of the total), followed by fuel system with 3.

Has the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C350 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C350 get?

The EPA rates the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C350 (C350 Coupe, 3.5L 6-cyl) at 22 mpg combined, 19 city and 28 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,750 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C350 reported?

Among the 5 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 55,000 miles and the middle half falls between 53,000 and 55,000 miles; 20% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.