This page covers 5 recalls, 272 owner complaints and EPA fuel economy for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C250.
25 mpg combined
9.4 L/100km
Compact Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 2 tested variants for this model year.
The dominant complaint pattern for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C250 centers on airbags, which account by far the largest share of owner reports, followed by engine and fuel system concerns. On the airbag side, owners frequently describe warning lights illuminating and concerns about whether the supplemental restraint system is functioning properly. Engine complaints cluster around check engine lights, abnormal rattling or shuddering, and rough running, sometimes accompanied by reports of the vehicle surging or behaving erratically under power. A smaller but recurring group of owners reports fuel system issues, most commonly high-pressure fuel pump warning lights appearing alongside check engine indicators, with some owners noting the warnings recur across multiple driving episodes. A handful of owners also describe brake pedal stiffness at speed, where the pedal requires significantly heavier force than expected before the vehicle responds.
272
Total Complaints
3
Crash-Related
2
Fire-Related
2
With Injuries
By System
The 2012 Mercedes-Benz C250 has 5 recalls, all involving the airbag system, with the most serious being a Takata-type passenger frontal airbag inflator that can rupture and send metal fragments into the cabin, causing serious injury or death.
On the driver's side, a separate defect can cause the frontal airbag to deploy without warning, raising the risk of a crash or injury. There is also a concern specific to vehicles that have already had the passenger airbag replaced under a prior recall: in some cases, the wrong replacement airbag was installed, meaning the bag may not protect occupants properly in a crash. Prior repair attempts did not fully resolve this issue, and a related recall covers the same scenario on coupe variants where an incorrect passenger airbag was fitted during an earlier repair.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger air bag may be incorrect, possibly installed during a prior repair, and may not function properly in a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag at no cost to you.
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Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
An incorrect replacement front passenger air bag module may have been installed during a prior recall repair, potentially causing the air bag to malfunction in a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger air bag module with the correct part at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breaking down after prolonged exposure to high humidity, heat, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger front air bag module at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver's airbag may deploy unexpectedly if the steering components lack proper grounding and the airbag clockspring is broken, allowing electrostatic discharge to trigger deployment.
What the fix does
Dealers will add grounding to the steering components to prevent electrostatic discharge from triggering the airbag.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger air bag inflator may rupture during deployment in a crash due to propellant breakdown from prolonged exposure to humidity and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag modules at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
