2012 Mercedes-Benz C300

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2012 Mercedes-Benz C300 has 333 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 4.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (35% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2012 mercedes benz c300. the contact stated that the driver veered into oncoming traffic and the vehicle rolled over. the driver then crashed into another vehicle. the air bags failed to deploy. the driver sustained fatal injuries and the passenger was taken to the hospital f. ⚠️ 4 fire reports filed.

4 fire reports 4 crash reports 5 injuries

333

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

4.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

115 complaints

35%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER VEERED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER. THE DRIVER THEN CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES AND THE PASSENGER WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL F
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER TO BE UNABLE TO VIEW THE ROAD OR CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE INJURED. THE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT PRETENSION DID NOT FUNCTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFI

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER VEERED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER. THE DRIVER THEN CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES AND THE PASSENGER WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL F”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

69 complaints

21%

• THE REAR SUBFRAME HAS CORRODED AROUND THE AREAS WHERE THE TRAILING ARM AND CONTROL ARM MEET THE SUBFRAME ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE, AND HAS DISINTEGRATED AROUND THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR TRAILING ARM CAUSING IT TO HAVE DETACHED, ALONG WITH A PIECE OF THE SUBFRAME. THE METAL OF THE SUBFRAME IS DISTORT
• DRIVING LOW SPEED IN TOWN IN FAIR WEATHER AND HIT BRAKES, NOISE AND STRANGE "LOOSENESS" IN BACK END. HAD NEARBY SERVICE STATION INSPECT AND REAR SUB FRAME HAD RUSTED OUT, SEARCHED AND FOUND MULTIPLE REPORTS OF EXACT ISSUE. CONFIRMED W/ LOCAL MB DEALER KNOWN ISSUE AND THEY ARE SEEING ABOUT 1 MONTH
• REAR SUBFRAME (AS RECALLED IN PREVIOUS YEARS) WAS COMPLETED CORRODED - FAILED VIRGINIA INSPECTION - IN SUCH POOR SHAPE THAT ENTIRE SUBFRAME HAD TO BE REPLACED - CORROSION RIDDLED THE PIECE SO THAT HUGE HOLES RESULTED IN NO POSSIBILITY OF WELDING TO FIX/SUPPLEMENT WEAKNESS - AUTO REPAIR PLACE HAD NOT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THE REAR SUBFRAME HAS CORRODED AROUND THE AREAS WHERE THE TRAILING ARM AND CONTROL ARM MEET THE SUBFRAME ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE, AND HAS DISINTEGRATED AROUND THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR TRAILING ARM CAUSING IT TO HAVE DETACHED, ALONG WITH A PIECE OF THE SUBFRAME. THE METAL OF THE SUBFRAME IS DISTORT”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

54 complaints

16%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW EXHIBITED A LOUD, ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN OPENED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A TEMPORARY LOSS OF HEARING FROM THE HIGH PITCH OF THE NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE
• TAKATA RECALL WAS MADE ON THIS CAR IN JANUARY 2017 AND NO REMEDY HAS BEEN RELEASED OVER TWO YEARS LATER. ALSO, THE PAINT ON THE WHOLE CAR BUBBLED BEING A DEFECT FROM MERCEDES.
• REAR SUBFRAME (AS RECALLED IN PREVIOUS YEARS) WAS COMPLETED CORRODED - FAILED VIRGINIA INSPECTION - IN SUCH POOR SHAPE THAT ENTIRE SUBFRAME HAD TO BE REPLACED - CORROSION RIDDLED THE PIECE SO THAT HUGE HOLES RESULTED IN NO POSSIBILITY OF WELDING TO FIX/SUPPLEMENT WEAKNESS - AUTO REPAIR PLACE HAD NOT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW EXHIBITED A LOUD, ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN OPENED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A TEMPORARY LOSS OF HEARING FROM THE HIGH PITCH OF THE NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

23 complaints

• CPSC: I RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM MERCEDES THAT MY CAR MAY SERIOUSLY INJURE OR KILL ME BUT THEY CANT FIX IT YET. I ASKED FOR LOANER CAR UNTIL THEY COULD GET IT FIXED AND THEY SAID "WELL ITS REALLY NOT UNSAFE THEY JUST HAD TO SEND THE LETTER FOR LEGAL REASONS. *DT *JS
• INTERIOR DOOR LATCH SPONTANEOUSLY BROKE. I HAD DRIVEN MY CAR TO WORK THAT MORNING AND GOTTEN OUT OF THE CAR TO GO INTO MY OFFICE BUILDING. THERE WAS NO SIGN OF ANY ISSUE WITH THE LATCH. LATER THAT AFTERNOON, I LEFT WORK AND MADE A STOP SOMEWHERE. WHEN I WENT TO GET OUT OF THE CARE THE LATCH JUST
• Vehicle was in for state inspection at an authorized inspection station. It failed inspection due to severely rusted and deteriorated rear K-Frame which had to be replaced to pass inspection. This is a major defect I feel caused by manufacture negligence. There were no warnings, messages or any sign

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“CPSC: I RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM MERCEDES THAT MY CAR MAY SERIOUSLY INJURE OR KILL ME BUT THEY CANT FIX IT YET. I ASKED FOR LOANER CAR UNTIL THEY COULD GET IT FIXED AND THEY SAID "WELL ITS REALLY NOT UNSAFE THEY JUST HAD TO SEND THE LETTER FOR LEGAL REASONS. *DT *JS”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

15 complaints

• I MADE A SHARP TURN INTO A PARKING AREA THEN ANOTHER SHARP TURN INTO THE PARKING SPACE AND WHEN I STRAIGHTEN THE WHEEL OUT TO COMPLETE PARKING AN APPLIED MY FOOT ON BRAKE THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND CAR WOULD NOT STOP THE ONLY THING THAT STOPPED ME WAS THE CONCRETE CURBING WHICH I HIT HARD AND D
• MY VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED BY K AND H AUTO. THE ELECTRICAL UNIT IS MALFUNCTIONING, THE LIGHT IS BROKEN ON THE RIGHT SIDE, AND THE ROTORS AND BRAKES HAVE BEEN RUSTED, PLEASE HAVE SOMEONE ATTEND TO THIS MATTER. THANKS, AND HAVE A VERY BLESSED DAY. ANOTHER COMPANY BY THE NAME OF ANS TOWING, TOWED MY VEHI
• The rear drivers side had a loud chunking/clanking noise while driving and the vehicle was unable to control and break when in motion. Driving was impossible as the breaking component was a total failure and car could not be controlled while traveling down 45-50mph zone. I reduced my speed to 20-25

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“I MADE A SHARP TURN INTO A PARKING AREA THEN ANOTHER SHARP TURN INTO THE PARKING SPACE AND WHEN I STRAIGHTEN THE WHEEL OUT TO COMPLETE PARKING AN APPLIED MY FOOT ON BRAKE THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND CAR WOULD NOT STOP THE ONLY THING THAT STOPPED ME WAS THE CONCRETE CURBING WHICH I HIT HARD AND D”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 333 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER VEERED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER. THE DRIVER THEN CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES AND THE PASSENGER WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL F
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SUSPENSION: THE REAR SUBFRAME HAS CORRODED AROUND THE AREAS WHERE THE TRAILING ARM AND CONTROL ARM MEET THE SUBFRAME ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE, AND HAS DISINTEGRATED AROUND THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR TRAILING ARM CAUSING IT TO HAVE DETACHED, ALONG WITH A PIECE OF THE SUBFRAME. THE METAL OF THE SUBFRAME IS DISTORT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW EXHIBITED A LOUD, ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN OPENED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A TEMPORARY LOSS OF HEARING FROM THE HIGH PITCH OF THE NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: CPSC: I RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM MERCEDES THAT MY CAR MAY SERIOUSLY INJURE OR KILL ME BUT THEY CANT FIX IT YET. I ASKED FOR LOANER CAR UNTIL THEY COULD GET IT FIXED AND THEY SAID "WELL ITS REALLY NOT UNSAFE THEY JUST HAD TO SEND THE LETTER FOR LEGAL REASONS. *DT *JS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)