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U.S. public vehicle records

2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS550: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

23 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

49,280 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 12 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Fuel/Propulsion System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 23 complaints (34.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior417.4%
Fuel system concerns417.4%
Steering behavior28.7%
Electrical and battery issues14.3%

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.

Fuel/Propulsion System
8
Engine
4
Electrical System
3
Power Train
3
Service Brakes
3
Unknown Or Other
3
Steering
2
Suspension
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Fuel/Propulsion System8
Engine4
Electrical System3
Power Train3
Service Brakes3
Unknown Or Other3
Steering2
Suspension2

Fuel/Propulsion System: 8; Engine: 4; Electrical System: 3; Power Train: 3; Service Brakes: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Steering: 2; Suspension: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
4
25,000 to 49,999
2
50,000 to 74,999
4
75,000 to 99,999
2
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0004
25,000 to 49,9992
50,000 to 74,9994
75,000 to 99,9992
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 11 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.

2012
2
2014
1
2016
1
2018
3
2019
1
2020
4
2022
3
2023
2
2024
1
2025
5
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20122
20141
20161
20183
20191
20204
20223
20232
20241
20255

2012: 2; 2014: 1; 2016: 1; 2018: 3; 2019: 1; 2020: 4; 2022: 3; 2023: 2; 2024: 1; 2025: 5

Pattern summary

Fuel/Propulsion System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 4 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10472927 · 2012-08-29 (August 29, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ CLS550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DECELERATE. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED SIMULTANEOUSLY AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD LOOK INTO THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,878.

Owner-reported narrative. 16,878 miles reported. Look up ODI 10472927 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10478737 · 2012-10-05 (October 5, 2012)

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DECELERATE. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED SIMULTANEOUSLY AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. T THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD LOOK INTO THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 980. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 980 miles reported. Look up ODI 10478737 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10578619 · 2014-04-09 (April 9, 2014)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 MERCEDES BENZ CLS-550 (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT OVER A ONE-MONTH PERIOD, ALL FOUR FACTORY TIRES FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE TWO OF THE FOUR TIRES BLEW OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED THREE TIMES TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE LOW PROFILE SO THAT IT WOULD PROPERLY FIT IN THE WHEEL WELL BECAUSE OF POOR DESIGN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000 TO 14,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10578619 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10846323 · 2016-03-13 (March 13, 2016)

DRIVE SHIFT CAME APART WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND BROKE THE FRONT AXLE DIFFERENTIAL ON THE HIGHWAY

Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10846323 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11075324 · 2018-02-27 (February 27, 2018)

THE VERY DAY I BROUGHT MY CAR HOME FROM A USED CAR PURCHASE, THE MOMENT I PULLED IN MY DRIVEWAY TO PARK, THE MESSAGE CENTER SAID, " SOS SERVICE NOT ACTIVATED" IN A WARNING IN THE CENTER CLUSTER. IT WOULDN'T GO AWAY AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, SO I PUSHED THE SOS BUTTON AND MB ASKED ME, " WHAT IS YOUR EMERGENCY ?" I APPOLOGIZED AND EXPLAINED THAT I HAD RECEIVED A WARNING MESSAGE ON MY DASH. THEY ENDED THE CALL AND I TURNED OFF THE CAR. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND THE WARNING WENT AWAY. THIS WAS ON FEB 1, 2018 AT 4:38 P.M.

Owner-reported narrative. 44,560 miles reported. Look up ODI 11075324 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11122317 · 2018-08-25 (August 25, 2018)

DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY 6MONTH OLD BABY AND SUDDENLY MY CAR SURGES AND LOSES POWER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHES AND I MOVE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH ALMOST NO ACCELERATION. TURN OFF THE ENGINE, WAIT A WHILE THEN TURN IT BACK ON AND HEAD BACK HOME. THE CEL STAYED ON BUT I STILL HAD ENGINE POWER SO I THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE. THIS CAR JUST HAS 60K MILES ON IT AND I TAKE IT TO MERCEDES FOR ALL THE ROUTINE CHECKS. SO THIS BEHAVIOUR WAS OUT OF NOWHERE. I DROVE IT TO MERCEDES AND GOT A DIAGNOSTIC DONE AND I WAS TOLD THE CAMSHAFT POSITION S…

Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11122317 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11130069 · 2018-09-18 (September 18, 2018)

"FUEL LEAKING FROM GAS TANK" AFTER SMELLING A STRONG FUEL SMELL BOTH INSIDE AND OUT SIDE MY VEHICLE I TOOK TO MERCEDES 9/17/18 TO SEE IF THEY KNEW OF THE ISSUE OF IF THERE WAS SOME TYPE OR RECALL ON MY VEHICLE REGARDING A FUEL ISSUE. THE SMELL ALWAYS SEEMED STRONGER AFTER I PUT IN A FULL TANK OF GAS. THEY DID A VISUAL INSPECTION AND TOLD ME THEY SEE FUEL LEAKING FROM MY VEHICLE AND THAT THERE WAS NO FUEL RELATED RECALL. THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME $185 JUST TO SEE WHAT THE ACTUAL PROBLEM WAS AND DIDN'T REALLY HAVE A CONCERN IF THE VEHICLE WAS SAF…

Owner-reported narrative. 81,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11130069 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11229713 · 2019-07-06 (July 6, 2019)

FUEL LEAK FROM UNKNOWN PART OF THE TANK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11229713 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

12V533000 · Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch

Reported: 2012-11-06 (November 6, 2012)

Mercedes-Benz is recalling certain model year 2012 CLS550 and CLS550 4Matic vehicles, manufactured December 01, 2011, through December 13, 2011. The bolts that hold the hood's secondary latch striker may have been insufficiently tightened.

Consequence: The reduced torque of the striker bolts might lead to a loosening of the bolts. If two of the four bolts securing the striker became loose, the secondary hood latch function would become ineffective. If this problem combines with a failure of the primary hood lock or if the hood is not properly closed, the hood could open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Remedy: Mercedes-Benz will notify owners, and dealers will check and retighten the bolts as necessary. Mercedes-Benz notified the owners by phone for this campaign starting on 11/21/2012. Owners may contact Mercedes-Benz at 1-800-367-6372.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
15V137000 · Exterior Lighting

Reported: 2015-03-10 (March 10, 2015)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2015 CLS 400 and CLS 400 4matic, 2012-2015 CLS 550 and CLS 550 4matic, 2012-2013 CLS 63, 2014 CLS 63, and 2014-2015 CLS 63P. The affected vehicles have LED tail lights that may not light on the sides, reducing the rear side visibility of the vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Consequence: Reduced rear side marker illumination may prevent other drivers from seeing the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update the lighting controller software, free of charge. The recall began April 6, 2015. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2015030005.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
17V177000 · Electrical System:Software | Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module-Inactive

Reported: 2017-03-14 (March 14, 2017)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 AMG GT-S, GLC300, CLA250 and GLE300d 4Matic vehicles, 2013 C250, E350 BlueTec and G63 AMG vehicles, 2008-2014 C300 vehicles, 2013-2014 C300 4Matic and ML350 4Matic vehicles, 2009 C350 vehicles, 2014 CLS550, E350 4Matic, E350 Coupe 4Matic, E350 Wagon 4Matic, GLK350 and SL550 vehicles, 2012 CLS550 4Matic vehicles, 2012-2016 E350 vehicles, 2016-2017 GL450 4Matic vehicles, 2012-2014 ML350 4Matic BlueTec vehicles, 2015 S550, S550 4Matic and C300 4Matic Sedan vehicles, 2015-2016 C300 Sedan vehicles, and 2017 SL63 AMG vehicles. Various control units on these vehicles may have been updated with incorrect software, potentially affecting the correct deployment of the air bags in the event of a crash.

Consequence: If the air bags do not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, there would be an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update software in the affected control units, free of charge. The recall began April 21, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

NHTSA campaign record ↗