2012 Mercedes-Benz C250 Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

61Engine complaints

22.4%Of all 272 complaints

#2Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

AIR BAGS168 · 61.8%

ENGINE61 · 22.4%

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM16 · 5.9%

Unspecified / other10 · 3.7%

SERVICE BRAKES9 · 3.3%

Share of the 272 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C250 overview page.

What owners report

“ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON , THE CAR HESITATED TO TURN ON AT TIMES, SOMETIMES HAD TO PRESS THE GAS PEDAL TO HAVE VEHICLE TURN ON…”NHTSA complaint 11115860 — filed 08/05/2018

“AFTER ONLY 75K MILES MY MB HAS A FAILING PART THAT IS WELL KNOWN AMONGST ALL MB DEALERSHIPS. THE CAM SHAFT ADJUSTMENT UNITS BOTH INTAKE…”NHTSA complaint 11100276 — filed 06/06/2018

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ C250. THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE FAILURE…”NHTSA complaint 11091409 — filed 05/02/2018

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C250 have engine problems?

Engine is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C250: 61 of 272 complaints on file (22.4%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C250 have in total?

272 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 3 involved a crash, 2 involved a fire, 3 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.