There are 13 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Classin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
Brake line corrosion
The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that the vehicle was making a loud bang sound towards the rear of the vehicle while driving over bumps in the roadway. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was informed that the rear subframe and the rear brake line were severely rusted. The subframe was replaced under an extended warranty coverage; however, the brake line was not covered under the extended warranty. The brake line was not replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000.
on 6/20/23 I was driving this vehicle on the 5 freeway north bound exit 102 in Washington. i found myself travelling at 60mph just moving over to the middle lane of traffic. i needed to slow the vehicle a little and pushing down on brakes I found there was no reaction from the braking system. Making a quick decision I moved over to the emergency lane where I came to a stop. There were no warning signs of the issue. I had the vehicle towed to my Mercedes Benz dealership where I had the car service the day before on 6/19/23 where nothing was noted on this problem. After inspection from the technician at the dealership it was found that the brake vacuum pump was no longer working. Which technician said had caused the issue and he had never experienced this issue before. i am bringing this to your attention due to it could have caused a fatal accident to with me and other people on the freeway.
The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, she heard an abnormal sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the subframe wheel assembly needed to be replaced. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was repaired; however, the contact stated that he received an unknown manufacturer’s recall for the subframe assembly which it was then taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed by the technician that the rear brake line was leaking and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer for an airbag inspection. During the inspection, the dealer informed the contact that the rear subframe was corroded. The vehicle was diagnosed and the contact was informed that the brake lines and rear subframe needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.
Brakes failed to deploy, randomly, during recent trip; VERY DANGEROUS; pressed brakes, would NOT engage and car kept moving and would not stop; pushed car into P (Park) to stop moving; just completed a 225 mi trip from Chicago to Detroit Metro area traveling at speeds between 65-70 mph with no issue, all service on vehicle is and has been conducted via Mercedes authorized dealers, had vehicle in for service on morning of trip for overview and safety check prior to leaving and no known issues; after coming off freeway engaged brakes upon pulling into neighborhood and vehicle brakes failed completely-stopped engaging; NO NOTIFICATION; NO INDICATOR LIGHTS OR READ OUT OF ISSUES related to brakes was indicated on dashboard; had we been on the freeway at the time of incident coming off an exit ramp at high speed we would have suffered a grave result, brakes failed completely. THIS IS A DANGER and UNACCEPTABLE for this manufacturer; vehicle has been towed to dealership, is not drivable, and is currently being assessed. This has been widely reported on other sites, regarding this specific vehicle, Mercedes C250, my model year is 2012; I researched this issue, yesterday, to determine what could possibly have gone wrong as vehicle was not leaking fluids and NO indication of issues during recent diagnostics and safety check two days prior. Not having sufficient braking capability with NO warning or indication is DANGEROUS, a liability to manufacturer and should be investigated immediately. Thank you.
AT ABOUT 40,000 MILES THE PARKING BRAKE BEGAN STICKING AND WAS DIFFICULT TO RELEASE. THIS WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. IT BEGAN HAPPENING AGAIN . I SPOKE TO THE MERCEDES USA AND THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE O PAY TO REPLACE IT. I BELIEVE THIS PART IS DEFECTIVE.
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 60MPH IN THE LEFT HAND LANE. I WAS ABOUT 7 CAR LENGTHS FROM THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AS I HAD JUST MOVED INTO THAT LANE TO MOVE TO THE RAMP TO MOVE OFF THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME BRAKED, AND WAS GOING AT A LOWER SPEED. I TRIED TO SLOW DOWN AND MY CAR DID NOT SLOW. I PRESSED MY BRAKE TO THE FLOOR AND MY CAR STILL WOULD NOT STOP. I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER AND THE CAR FINALLY CAME TO A STOP CLOSE TO THE RAMP, I THOUGHT IT WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT EXCEPT I SAW ON A WEBSITE, OTHERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.
2012 MERCEDS BENZ C63 AMG. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO MERCEDES BENZ DEALER NOT REPLACING OR REPAIRING ANY DEFECTIVE VEHICLES PARTS. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE CLEAR COAT PAINT WAS PEELING OFF OF THE BRAKE CALIPERS.*JS
BRAKE FAILURE. DRIVING VEHICLE ON HIGHWAY WITH A 75 MPH SPEED LIMIT. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE VEHICLE, I FOUND I DID NOT HAVE ANY POWER BRAKES. BRAKE PEDAL WAS HARD. PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AS HARD AS I COULD DID NOT DO ANYTHING TO SLOW DOWN MY VEHICLE. I DID NOT HAVE ANY ABILITY TO SLOW DOWN VEHICLE. TO AVOID A COLLISION, I PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, AND DOWN SHIFTED GEARS. NO ALARMS, OR VISUAL INDICATORS CAME ON TO INDICATE A PROBLEM EXISTED. CAR TOWED TO THE MERCEDES BENZ AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP I HAVE ALWAYS HAD MY CAR SERVICED AT. BRAKE BOX SITTING BEHIND THE MOTOR HAD BROKE. NO SENSIRS OR FAULT US ASSOCIATED WITH THE BRAKE BOX. VISUAL CHECK OF THE BRAKE BOX IS. IT ON ANY MAINTENANCE CHECKLIST.
The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz C250. The contact stated while driving 35-40 MPH and depressing the brake pedal, the brake pedal was significantly stiff, and the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The contact stated that upon standing on the brake pedal, the vehicle responded as needed. The contact stated that the failure recurred while driving 65 MPH. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the vacuum pump was replaced; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to Mercedes-Benz of Beaumont (1865 I-10 S, Beaumont, TX 77701), where it was test-driven, and the dealer became aware that the brake pedal was extremely firm. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the vacuum pump needed to be replaced. The part was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that the failure increased, causing the contact to engage the parking brake to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 96,826.
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.
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 COULDN'T HELP ME. HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED TO SEE IF A BRAKE LINE HAD BROKE OR IF BRAKE FLUID LEVEL WAS OK, EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT OK DROVE CAR HOME VERY SLOW NOTICED CAR HAVING A MESSAGE ON DASH HOLD WHEN I APPLY BRAKES AND A MESSAGE ( P SHIFT IN PARK) CAME ON DASH AS I WAS DRIVING. THIS HAD NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED. CALLED DEALER THE FOLLOWING MORNING AND HAD CAR TOWED TO THEM. 5 DAYS LATER THEY TELL ME THAT THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH MY BRAKES AND MY CAR IS SAFE. I AM NOT DRIVING THE CAR I WILL BE HAVING IT TOWED. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES AND I DO NOT FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PUT MYSELF OR ANYONE ELSE ON THE ROAD AT RISK FOR LOSING THERE LIFE. JUST BECAUSE THEY CANT FIND ANYTHING IT DOESN'T MEAN THERE ISN'T ANYTHING WRONG. I HAVE RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THE CAR I OWN AND I HAVE SEEN MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AS MINE. I HAVE NOT HAD THE CAR BUT FOR 2 MONTHS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUES AND IT SEEMS AS THE MANUFACTURES OF THE VEHICLES BEING MADE DON'T HAVE TO BACK THERE PRODUCTS UNLESS SOMEONE IS KILLED. *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026