2012 Mercedes-Benz CLA250

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Excellent Reliability

Quick Summary

The 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 has 9 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.1x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (33% of all complaints), specifically: takata recall. the car has been parked for some time due to inability to have the recall repair done. is there a remedy? 1.

1 crash report 1 injury

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.1x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

3 complaints

33%

• TAKATA RECALL. THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED FOR SOME TIME DUE TO INABILITY TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIR DONE. IS THERE A REMEDY? 1
• TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ CLA250. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACT
• WAS NOTIFIED BY MERCEDES BENZ THAT MY VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL AND THAT REPLACEMENT PARTS WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL DEC 2018. SINCE IT WAS THE ONLY VEHICLE I OWNED AND I HAD TO CONTINUE WORK I DROVE THE VEHICLE WITH DEFECTIVE PARTS UNTIL I WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACC

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

“TAKATA RECALL. THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED FOR SOME TIME DUE TO INABILITY TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIR DONE. IS THERE A REMEDY? 1”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

3 complaints

33%

• THE CAM SHAFT INTAKE AND EXHAUST ADJUSTERS NEED TO BE REPLACED AT 77K MI, THIS IS A $5K REPAIR. I INITIALLY REPLACED THE CAM SHAFT POSITION SENORS AT 65K MI AND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REGULARLY SERVICED. CONSISTENT WITH REPORTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY THIS CAM SHAFT COMPONENT WILL FAIL AROUND 50K-80K MIL
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ CLS 550. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF ALEXANDRIA (200 S PICKETT ST, ALEXANDRIA, VA 22304) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS I
• WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PASS OR PULLING OUT ONTO ROAD WAY THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY LOSE POWER, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. THIS LEAVES THE DRIVERS IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH ON-COMING TRAFFIC.

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

“THE CAM SHAFT INTAKE AND EXHAUST ADJUSTERS NEED TO BE REPLACED AT 77K MI, THIS IS A $5K REPAIR. I INITIALLY REPLACED THE CAM SHAFT POSITION SENORS AT 65K MI AND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REGULARLY SERVICED. CONSISTENT WITH REPORTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY THIS CAM SHAFT COMPONENT WILL FAIL AROUND 50K-80K MIL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

2 complaints

22%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ CLS 550. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF ALEXANDRIA (200 S PICKETT ST, ALEXANDRIA, VA 22304) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS I
• ELECTRICAL IGNITION LOCK, REPARKED CAR ONE DAY, NEXT DAY ENGINE WOULD NOT CRANK. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN DRIVEWAY. *TR

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ CLS 550. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF ALEXANDRIA (200 S PICKETT ST, ALEXANDRIA, VA 22304) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS I”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

1 complaints

11%

• WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PASS OR PULLING OUT ONTO ROAD WAY THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY LOSE POWER, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. THIS LEAVES THE DRIVERS IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH ON-COMING TRAFFIC.

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

“WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PASS OR PULLING OUT ONTO ROAD WAY THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY LOSE POWER, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. THIS LEAVES THE DRIVERS IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH ON-COMING TRAFFIC.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 9 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: TAKATA RECALL. THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED FOR SOME TIME DUE TO INABILITY TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIR DONE. IS THERE A REMEDY? 1
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: THE CAM SHAFT INTAKE AND EXHAUST ADJUSTERS NEED TO BE REPLACED AT 77K MI, THIS IS A $5K REPAIR. I INITIALLY REPLACED THE CAM SHAFT POSITION SENORS AT 65K MI AND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REGULARLY SERVICED. CONSISTENT WITH REPORTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY THIS CAM SHAFT COMPONENT WILL FAIL AROUND 50K-80K MIL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ CLS 550. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF ALEXANDRIA (200 S PICKETT ST, ALEXANDRIA, VA 22304) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS I
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PASS OR PULLING OUT ONTO ROAD WAY THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY LOSE POWER, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. THIS LEAVES THE DRIVERS IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH ON-COMING TRAFFIC.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)