2012 Mercedes-Benz S350
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2012 Mercedes-Benz S350 has 10 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.0x the segment average of 10. 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
1.0x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems(top 5 of 5)
ENGINE
3 complaints- • 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.
“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
When Problems Appear on the 2012 Mercedes-Benz S350
Based on 10 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 55K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 30-60K miles range.
Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.
Estimated Insurance Cost for 2012 Mercedes-Benz S350
How this estimate is calculated
Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.
Maintenance & Warranty
Recommended Mercedes-Benz S350 Service Intervals
Service A / Service B alternating schedule. Requires MB-approved oil (229.5 spec typically).
"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.
Mercedes-Benz New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage
EQ EV battery warranty is 10 years/155,000 miles
These are the terms for a new Mercedes-Benz. If you're buying a used 2012 S350, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Mercedes-Benz dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.
Estimated Repair Costs
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.
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
- 10
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2012 Mercedes-Benz S350