2012 Mercedes-Benz C300 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
265 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
83,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 74 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 113 of 265 complaints (42.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 46 | 17.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 13 | 4.9% |
| Steering behavior | 9 | 3.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 2.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 0.8% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 0.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 113 |
| Suspension | 65 |
| Structure:Body | 30 |
| Unknown Or Other | 23 |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 16 |
| Electrical System | 12 |
| Service Brakes | 12 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 8 |
Air Bags: 113; Suspension: 65; Structure:Body: 30; Unknown Or Other: 23; Structure:Frame And Members: 16; Electrical System: 12; Service Brakes: 12; Fuel/Propulsion System: 8
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 13 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 13 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 17 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 23 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 13; 75,000 to 99,999: 17; 100,000 to 149,999: 23; 150,000 and above: 3
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (23). 191 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 37 |
| 2018 | 30 |
| 2019 | 39 |
| 2020 | 15 |
| 2021 | 11 |
| 2022 | 66 |
| 2023 | 31 |
| 2024 | 16 |
| 2025 | 8 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2012: 2; 2013: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 2; 2016: 2; 2017: 37; 2018: 30; 2019: 39; 2020: 15; 2021: 11; 2022: 66; 2023: 31; 2024: 16; 2025: 8; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 46 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 13 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10487272 · 2012-12-04 (December 4, 2012)
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 DAMAGED THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF MY CAR. THE TIRES HITTING THE CONCRETE IS MADE FORCED CAR TO STOP. I CONTACTED DEALERSHIP TO REPORT THE PROBLEM AND SEE IF THEY COULD TOW VEHICLE AND PROVIDE ME WITH A CAR SINCE I WAS STRANDED. THEY WERE CLOSING AND COULD…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10487272 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10713730 · 2015-04-30 (April 30, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED EXTREMELY FAST INTO AN INTERSECTION. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. THE CONTACT SUFFERED A BROKEN CLAVICLE, A BRUISED ANKLE, CHEST, AND BACK. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS RECEIVED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE POLICE IMPOUND LOT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UP…
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10713730 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10689919 · 2015-02-23 (February 23, 2015)
WHILE MY CAR WAS RUNNING IN MY DRIVEWAY PRIOR TO DRIVING, THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE, TOTALING THE VEHICLE. THERE ARE NO OPEN RECALLS ON THIS SPECIFIC CAR, BUT WAS TOLD BY THE FIRE INVESTIGATOR THAT IT WAS EITHER ELECTRICAL OR FUEL PUMP RELATED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10689919 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11352792 · 2020-09-02 (September 2, 2020)
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 DISTORTED AROUND THE AREA OF THE BREAK. THE DETACHED TRAILING ARM AND PIECE OF SUBFRAME ARE NOW MAKING CONTACT WITH THE FUEL TANK AS WELL. THE FUEL TANK COULD HAVE EASILY RUPTURED AND IGNITED WHEN THIS CAR WAS STILL IN OPERATION, AS THIS CAR WAS DRIVEN FOR …
Owner-reported narrative. 92,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11352792 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11124614 · 2018-09-05 (September 5, 2018)
STEERING WHEEL LOCK AFTER VEHICLE IS SHUT DOWN. WHEN YOU RETURN TO THE VEHICLE INSERT THE KEY THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, SPEEDO, STEERING WHEEL IS UNRESPONSIVE WHICH WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO TURN THE ENGINE. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL IT'S A ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK THAT FAILS ON SEVERAL MERCEDES BENZ CAUSING THE OWNER TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A 2,000 DOLLAR REPAIR. IT HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT COMPLETELY FAILS.
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11124614 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11441459 · 2021-11-23 (November 23, 2021)
The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated her son was driving approximately 60 MPH and noticed that the steering wheel was crooked and vibrating. The driver was manually turning the steering wheel for the vehicle to drive straight. The driver also noticed that while depressing the brake pedal, the rear of the vehicle was shaking going from left to right while coming to a complete stop. The driver took the vehicle to an independent mechanic to be inspected and was informed that the rear driver’s side subframe had separated f…
Owner-reported narrative. 115,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11441459 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11034553 · 2017-10-19 (October 19, 2017)
MY AIRBAGS GO ON AND OFF ON THERE OWN. MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS ALWAYS MESSED UP. MY LIGHTING GOES ON AND OFF, THE ELECTRICAL HAS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SOMETIMES JSUT SHUT OFF COMPLEYTELY AND NOT TUREN ON FOR DAYS. I HAVE HAD TIMES I HAD TO GET MY VEHICLE TOWED.
Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11034553 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10954830 · 2017-02-15 (February 15, 2017)
GRADUALLY AS THE CAR IS ACCELERATING IT MAKES A TERRIBLE GRINDING NOISE AND SHAKES ALSO JERKS WHEN CHANGING GEARS, CONFIRMED IT IS A FAILED TRANSMISSION, THE CAR HAS HAD ALL THE APPROPRIATE MAINTENANCE JUST NOT AT A MB DEALER AND THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE TRANSMISSION JUST NOT OFFICIAL RECALL AND MERCEDES IS CLAIMING NO RESPONSIBILITY AS IT WAS NOT SERVICED AT MB DEALER SINCE 2014. CLEARLY THE SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT IS RECOGNITION OF A PROBLEM
Owner-reported narrative. 53,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10954830 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11464082 · 2022-05-10 (May 10, 2022)
The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that while the vehicle was receiving a routine maintenance, she was informed that the rear sub frame was rusted and had two holes. The vehicle was diagnosed that there was a transmission leak and the rear sub frame needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 88,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11464082 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11206447 · 2019-05-09 (May 9, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED PERIODICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKING TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. MERCEDES-BENZ OF ALEXANDRIA (200 S PICKETT ST, ALEXANDRIA, VA 22304 [phone removed]) AND MERCEDES-BENZ OF ANNAPOLIS (324 6TH ST, ANNAPOLIS, MD 21403 [phone removed]) WERE CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO BRING T…
Owner-reported narrative. 135,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11206447 at NHTSA ↗