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Mercedes-Benz

2012 Mercedes-Benz S350

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Excellent Reliability

Quick Summary

The 2012 Mercedes-Benz S350 has 10 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.1x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (30% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2012 mercedes benz s350. while driving approximately 65 mph, the vehicle decelerated without warning. the contact then coasted over to the emergency lane and there were no warning lights illuminated. the vehicle restarted; however, the failure recurred multiple times. the veh.

10

Total Complaints

0

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.1x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

3 complaints
30%
  • • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ S350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT THEN COASTED OVER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEH
  • • I DID SOME RESEARCH ON MERCEDES 3.0L DIESEL MOTORS AND THERE SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE SEAL FAILING ABOUT 50,000 MILES CAUSING THE MOTOR TO LEAK OIL AND THE SEAL AS WELL AS THE OIL COOLER NEED TO BE REPLACED. IT IS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE 3.0L DIESEL ENGINES THAT WHEN YOU CALL ANY REPAIR SH
  • • ENGINE HAS OIL LEAK SIMILAR TO MANY 2011-2012 DIESEL MODEL.
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ S350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT THEN COASTED OVER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

2 complaints
20%
  • • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ S350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT THEN COASTED OVER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEH
  • • "TAKATA RECALL" THE VEHICLE SLIPS INTO A LIMP MODE WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAVE HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. I'M TAKING IT TO THE MB DEALER THIS WEEKEND. 11/16/2016. 57KMILES
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ S350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT THEN COASTED OVER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

2 complaints
20%
  • • WHILE DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE. ENGINE RMP WERE LIMITED TO 1500RPM AND SPEED DROPPED TO 25MPH.THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES DURING WEEK OF 3/14/16 AND AGAIN ON 3/22/16. HAD TO MAKE DEFENSIVE EMERGENCY MANEUVER TO STEER THE CAR AWAY FROM THE TRAFFIC LANES AND STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE
  • • I DID SOME RESEARCH ON MERCEDES 3.0L DIESEL MOTORS AND THERE SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE SEAL FAILING ABOUT 50,000 MILES CAUSING THE MOTOR TO LEAK OIL AND THE SEAL AS WELL AS THE OIL COOLER NEED TO BE REPLACED. IT IS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE 3.0L DIESEL ENGINES THAT WHEN YOU CALL ANY REPAIR SH
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“WHILE DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE. ENGINE RMP WERE LIMITED TO 1500RPM AND SPEED DROPPED TO 25MPH.THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES DURING WEEK OF 3/14/16 AND AGAIN ON 3/22/16. HAD TO MAKE DEFENSIVE EMERGENCY MANEUVER TO STEER THE CAR AWAY FROM THE TRAFFIC LANES AND STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

2 complaints
20%
  • • VEHICLE ENTERED LIMP HOME MODE WHILE ENTERING INTERSECTION. DEALERSHIP SAID CODES DID NOT INDICATE AN ISSUE AND COULD NOT REPRODUCE PROBLEM. ONLY ACTIONS TAKEN WAS A COMPUTER TEST AND ROAD TEST. AFTER LEAVING THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE ENTERED THE LIMP HOME MODE AGAIN THIS TIME ON THE HIGHWAY. DEALER T
  • • "TAKATA RECALL" THE VEHICLE SLIPS INTO A LIMP MODE WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAVE HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. I'M TAKING IT TO THE MB DEALER THIS WEEKEND. 11/16/2016. 57KMILES
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“VEHICLE ENTERED LIMP HOME MODE WHILE ENTERING INTERSECTION. DEALERSHIP SAID CODES DID NOT INDICATE AN ISSUE AND COULD NOT REPRODUCE PROBLEM. ONLY ACTIONS TAKEN WAS A COMPUTER TEST AND ROAD TEST. AFTER LEAVING THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE ENTERED THE LIMP HOME MODE AGAIN THIS TIME ON THE HIGHWAY. DEALER T”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

1 complaints
10%
  • • WHEN I CLOSED THE HOOD, A SECTION OF THE RADIATOR GRILL BROKE. *TR
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“WHEN I CLOSED THE HOOD, A SECTION OF THE RADIATOR GRILL BROKE. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)
$500
SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)
$500
TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)
$500
FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)
$500
OTHER(~50K mi)
$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 10 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

  • ☐
    ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ S350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT THEN COASTED OVER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEH

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ☐
    SPEED CONTROL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ S350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT THEN COASTED OVER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEH

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ☐
    TRANSMISSION: WHILE DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE. ENGINE RMP WERE LIMITED TO 1500RPM AND SPEED DROPPED TO 25MPH.THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES DURING WEEK OF 3/14/16 AND AGAIN ON 3/22/16. HAD TO MAKE DEFENSIVE EMERGENCY MANEUVER TO STEER THE CAR AWAY FROM THE TRAFFIC LANES AND STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ☐
    FUEL SYSTEM: VEHICLE ENTERED LIMP HOME MODE WHILE ENTERING INTERSECTION. DEALERSHIP SAID CODES DID NOT INDICATE AN ISSUE AND COULD NOT REPRODUCE PROBLEM. ONLY ACTIONS TAKEN WAS A COMPUTER TEST AND ROAD TEST. AFTER LEAVING THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE ENTERED THE LIMP HOME MODE AGAIN THIS TIME ON THE HIGHWAY. DEALER T

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ☐
    General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)

Mercedes-Benz S350 — Year Comparison

How does 2012 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.

2012
10Excellent Reliability
Full years-to-avoid analysis →

NHTSA Safety Rating

No NHTSA safety rating available

At a Glance

Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Fire reports
0
Crash reports
0
Injury reports
0
Segment avg
80

Check a Specific VIN

See recalls for YOUR 2012 Mercedes-Benz S350

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