2012 Mercedes-Benz C250: complaints, problems and recalls

2012 MERCEDES C250 SPORT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ISSUES WITH LEVERS ON THE STEERING COLUMN *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE LEVER, WHICH WAS HIDDEN BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD TO LEAN FORWARD TO LOOK OVER TOP OF THE STEERING WHEEL TO REACH THE LEVER. HE ALSO STATED THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS IN A HIDDEN AREA AS WELL. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10457288 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ C250. WHILE DRIVING, THE TURN SIGNAL WAS ACTIVATED WHEN A WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT SLIGHTLY ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION, WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE DIMNESS OF THE TURN SIGNAL WAS COMMON FOR THE MODEL YEAR VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 320. UPDATED 07/25/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE TURN SIGNAL CONTROL LIGHT. IT WAS HARDLY …

Owner-reported narrative. 320 miles reported. Look up ODI 10457486 at NHTSA ↗

THIS WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT, IT IS, IN MY OPINION, A POSSIBLE SAFETY PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE - TURBO LAG; THROTTLE LAG; TRANSMISSION LAG. I ALMOST HAD TWO ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE LAG PROBLEMS, AND HAVE ATTACHED A MORE DETAILED ANALYSIS FOR YOUR REVIEW. TURBO LAG: THIS IS THE TIME IT TAKES FOR THE CAR TO GO FROM ITS NATURALLY ASPIRATED POWER TO THE FULL POWER OF THE CAR AT FULL BOOST/ PEAK BOOST IS REACHED RELATIVELY LOW IN THE REVERSE RANGE, BUT IT IS NOT INSTANTANEOUS POWER LIKE A NATURALLY ASPIRATED ENGINE. THROTTLE LAG: THE DRIVE BY WIRE SYST…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10481881 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ C250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, HE ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES BUT IT FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE VACUUM WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10542718 at NHTSA ↗

ON MULTIPLE OCCURRENCES THE VEHICLE HAS STARTED TO MISFIRE AT RANDOM TIMES AND SPEEDS RANGING FROM 45-70 MPH RESULTING IN "LIMP MODE" OR A STALLING CONDITION. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, BUT WILL NOT BE ON WHEN THE VEHICLE IS RESTARTED. THE DEALERSHIP ON NO OCCASION HAS BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE MY CONCERN ALTHOUGH OTHERS HAVE BEEN IN THE CAR TO WITNESS. I FEEL VERY UNSAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AS WHEN IT STALLS ON THE HIGHWAY, I LOSE STEERING AND BRAKES AS WELL. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 3,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10551784 at NHTSA ↗

THE STEERING WHEEL ,HAS ALUMINUM PLATING OR COVERING, THAT WAS PEELING OFF AND CUT MY FINGER AS I WAS DRIVING, THIS HAPPENED LAST YEAR AND WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, AND DEALER REPLACED, THIS IS HAPPENING AGAIN, AND THE DEALER HAS AGREED TO REPLACE EVEN THOUGH THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. I THOUGHT YOU GUYS SHOULD KNOW. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10671871 at NHTSA ↗

CAMSHAFT INTAKE ADJUSTER REPLACED THERMOSTAT SEALS REPLACED CHAIN TENSIONER REPLACED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10676804 at NHTSA ↗

REF: NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10676804 SUMMARY: CAMSHAFT INTAKE ADJUSTER REPLACED THERMOSTAT SEALS REPLACED CHAIN TENSIONER REPLACED MY 2012 MB C250, WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY BY YEAR AND MILEAGE, WAS DECLINED TO BE SERVICE BY MERCEDES BENZ OF CUTLER BAY, FLORIDA. THERE REASONING IS THAT I DID NOT USE A MB OIL FILTER; THEY HAVE CANCELLED MY WARRANTY. EVEN THOUGH I HAVE DONE ALL THE PROPER OIL CHANGES SOONER THAT THE MB RECOMMENDATIONS.

Owner-reported narrative. 47,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10732552 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2017-01-10 (January 10, 2017)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2012 C300 4Matic, C250, C250 Coupe, C350, C350 Coupe 4Matic, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG, C63 AMG Coupe, E350 Coupe 4Matic, E350 Cabrio, E350 Coupe, E550 Cabrio, E550 Coupe, GLK350 4Matic, GLK350, SLS AMG Cabrio, and SLS AMG Coupe vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above MBUSA is recalling certain 2009 C300 4Matic, C300, C350 and C63 AMG vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above MBUSA is recalling certain 2008 C300 4Matic, C300, and C350 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag modules, free of charge. Owners were sent an interim notification in March 2017. Second notices started going out in October 2018 and continue to be mailed as parts become available. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691

Reported: 2017-10-06 (October 6, 2017)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling these vehicles: 2014-2018 CLA250, CLA250 4Matic, CLA45 AMG 4Matic, 2015-2018 GLA250, GLA250 4Matic, GLA45 AMG 4Matic, C300 4Matic, C63S AMG, 2012-2014 C250, C350, C300 4Matic, E550 4Matic, 2013-2014 C63 AMG, 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2013-2015 C350 4Matic Coupe, GLK250 4Matic BlueTec, GLK350, GLK350 4Matic, 2016-2017 C350e, C43 AMG, 2015 C400 4Matic, 2016-2018 C63 AMG, GLC300, GLC300 4Matic, 2017-2018 C300 Coupe, C300 4Matic Coupe, C43 AMG, C63 AMG Coupe, C63S AMG Coupe, C300 Cabriolet, C300 4Matic Cabriolet, C43 AMG Cabriolet, C63 AMG Cabriolet, C63S AMG Cabriolet, GLC300 4Matic Coupe, GLC43 AMG, GLC43 AMG Coupe, 2014 E350 Coupe, E350 4Matic Coupe, E350 Cabriolet, E400 Hybrid, 2015-2017 E400 Coupe, E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabriolet, 2014-2017 E550 Coupe, E550 Cabriolet, B250e, 2014-2016 E250 BlueTec, E63 AMG 4Matic Wagon, 2012-2013 E350 BlueTec, 2012-2016 E350, E350 4Matic, 2015-2016 E400, E400 4Matic, 2012 E63 AMG, 2014-2015 E250 4Matic BlueTec, 2013-2016 E350 Wagon, 2017 GLC300d 4Matic, and 2018 GLC350e 4Matic. The driver's air bag may unexpectedly deploy due to insufficient grounding of the steering components if an electrostatic discharge occurs and the air bag clockspring is broken.

Consequence: If the driver air bag inadvertently deploys, it can increase the risk of injury and a crash.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will add sufficient grounding to the steering components, free of charge. The recall began in December 6, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691.

Reported: 2019-01-09 (January 9, 2019)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2014 C250, C300 4Matic, C350, C63 AMG, E350 4Matic Coupe, E350 Cabrio, E350 Coupe, SLS AMG Cabrio, SLS AMG Coupe, 2014-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 4Matic Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, GLK 350, GLK250 BlueTec 4Matic, GLK350 RWD, 2015-2017 E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabrio, E400 Coupe, 2014-2017 E550 Cabrio, and 2014-2016 E550 Coupe vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Zone A." Additionally, MBUSA is recalling certain 2012-2014 C250, E350 4Matic Coupe, SLS AMG Cabrio, 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 4Matic Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2011 C300, 2011-2014 C300 4Matic, C350, C63 AMG, E350 Cabrio, E350 Coupe, SLS AMG Coupe, 2015-2016 E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabrio, E400 Coupe, 2011-2016 E550 Cabrio, E550 Coupe, 2011-2015 GLK350 4Matic, GLK350 RWD, and 2013-2015 GLK250 BlueTec 4Matic vehicles ever registered in the states of AZ, AR, DE, DC, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV or "Zone B." MBUSA is also recalling certain 2012-2014 C250, E350 4Matic Coupe, SLS AMG Cabrio 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 4Matic Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2010-2011 C300, 2010-2014 C300 4Matic, C350, C63 AMG, E350 Coupe, 2011-2014 E350 Cabrio, SLS AMG Coupe, 2015-2016 E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabrio, E400 Coupe, 2016-2017 E550 Cabrio, 2010-2016 E550 Coupe, 2010-2015 GLK350 4Matic, GLK350 RWD, and 2013-2015 GLK250 BlueTec 4Matic vehicles ever registered in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MO, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI and WY or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began March 29, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

Reported: 2020-05-22 (May 22, 2020)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2012 C250, C250 Coupe, C300, C350, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG, and C63 AMG Coupe vehicles equipped with a front passenger air bag assembly replaced under a prior recall. An incorrect replacement front passenger air bag may have been installed.

Consequence: An incorrect passenger air bag may not provide adequate protection, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag module, free of charge. The recall began July 10, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2020060011.

Reported: 2021-08-13 (August 13, 2021)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2015-2016 E400 Coupe, 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2011-2014 E350 Coupe, and 2012-2014 E350 Cabrio vehicles. An incorrect front passenger air bag may have been installed during a prior repair.

Consequence: An incorrect air bag may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag on the affected vehicles, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 10, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.