There are 5 owner-reported powertrain & transmission complaints for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Classin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The model/year Mercedes-Benz are well known for experiencing this/these particular issues. My research has shown that these year/make/model vehicles are experiencing the same type of mechanical failures nationwide. The issues all relatively begin around 75,000 miles. I've only had my car 3 years putting 30000 on it hardly driven/cared for **Issue Found:** Oil was leaking onto the ignition coil and spark plug of cylinder 3. **Source of Leak:** Valve cover gasket failure. **Recommended Repairs:** - Replace the valve cover gasket (to halt the oil leak). - Replace spark plugs and ignition coil (which were contaminated/damaged by oil). **Relevance to Warranty:** The valve cover gasket is only covered if it fails as a result of an internally lubricated engine part causing damage. Ignition coils and spark plugs are maintenance items and are not covered by warranty plans. **Required Repairs (Identified Mechanical Issues)** - **Coolant Pipe Leak – $850** **Issue:** Coolant leaking from a pipe on the side of the cylinder head. **Relevance to Warranty:** Typically not covered unless it pertains to a failure in a covered system such as the water pump or cylinder head due to an internal breakdown. This is likely classified as an external plumbing component, which is not included. - **Oil Feed Line Leak – $600** **Issue:** Oil leaking from the side of the engine, traced back to the oil feed line. **Relevance to Warranty:** This is not typically covered unless the oil feed line is part of the oil pump system and has failed due to an internal issue (usually regarded as an external line). **Other Items Found (Worsening Issues)** - **Timing Chain Rattle / Cam Adjuster Noise – $6,000** -**Issue:** Rattling sound during startup. **Diagnosis:** Noise emanating from the timing chain and camshaft adjusters. **Relevance to Warranty:** This is covered under Secure Plus, as both the timing chain and camshaft adjusters are recognized as internally lubricated par
I HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH MY VEHICLE SINCE I PURCHASED IT. STARTING WITH ME NOT HAVING ENOUGH POWER FROM A START, IN AN ATTEMPT TO GAIN ENOUGH POWER TO DRIVE AT A SAFE SPEED FROM THE START, AS IF THE VEHICLE LAGS & NO MATTER THE GASOLINE OR SERVICE, THE PROBLEM NEVER CORRECTS. WHEN I'M TRYING TO GAIN SPEED TO MAINTAIN WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC SAFELY THE VEHICLE LAGS NOTABLY BEFORE GAINING SPEED. I'M NOW HAVING TO REPLACE THE ENGINE BC THE OIL COOLANT HOSE BURST WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY CHILD IN THE CAR. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ACTIVATED BUT THE ONLY NOTICE DISPLAYED ON THE DASH WAS THE ENGINE COOLANT WHEN IT WAS LOW. WHEN THE HOSE BURST WHILE I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60MPH I HEARD A POP SOUND UNDER THE HOOD, SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE EXHAUST, THEN A CLANKING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD THAT GOT LOUDER & LOUDER UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF OF THE HIGHWAY, & THEN I NOTICED A VERY LARGE AMOUNT OF OIL ON THE GROUND THAT LEFT A TRAIL ALONG THE GROUND FROM MY VEHICLE. THAT WAS VERY DANGEROUS AS MY VEHICLE LOST POWER DURING THAT INCIDENT. I'M TOLD BY THE MECHANIC, THE ENGINE HAS TO BE REPLACED. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT A WARNING. THE MERCEDES BENZ IS SUPPOSED TO BE A SAFE & RELIABLE LUXURY VEHICLE & NOT A NIGHTMARE TO HAVE FOR THE OWNER.
I BOUGHT THE CERTIFIED CAR AT 50K AND AT 70K MILES, RIGHT AFTER THE WARRANTY ENDED - CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WILL COST $8K DUE TO CAMSHAFTS TO REPAIR!! THEY EVEN SUGGESTED THAT I SHOULD CONSIDER TRADING THE CAR IN! KEEP IN MIND I STILL OWE $28K SO THAT OPTION IS OUT! SINCE THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STILL ON EVEN AFTER I GOT IT REPAIRED AT A LOCAL/AFFORDABLE MECHANIC AND IT'S ABOUT 110K MILEAGE AND THE ENGINE IS RATTLING AS IT RUNS. THIS IS MY 3RD BENZ AND THE FIRST 2 FAILED DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE THESE GERMAN CARS CAUSE SO MANY PROBLEMS AND SO COSTLY TO REPAIR. WHAT HAPPEN TO YOU PAY FOR WHAT YOU GET!!! TODAY, WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR JUST SLOWLY STOP AND THE ENGINE CUT OFF! AAA CAME TO CHECK AND IT'S NOT THE BATTERY SO WILL NEED TO GET TOWED. STILL OWE $10K LEFT- I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO! NO OTHER CAR TO DRIVE .
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED PERIODICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKING TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. MERCEDES-BENZ OF ALEXANDRIA (200 S PICKETT ST, ALEXANDRIA, VA 22304 (703) 341-2100) AND MERCEDES-BENZ OF ANNAPOLIS (324 6TH ST, ANNAPOLIS, MD 21403 (888) 261-7620) WERE CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.
GRADUALLY AS THE CAR IS ACCELERATING IT MAKES A TERRIBLE GRINDING NOISE AND SHAKES ALSO JERKS WHEN CHANGING GEARS, CONFIRMED IT IS A FAILED TRANSMISSION, THE CAR HAS HAD ALL THE APPROPRIATE MAINTENANCE JUST NOT AT A MB DEALER AND THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE TRANSMISSION JUST NOT OFFICIAL RECALL AND MERCEDES IS CLAIMING NO RESPONSIBILITY AS IT WAS NOT SERVICED AT MB DEALER SINCE 2014. CLEARLY THE SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT IS RECOGNITION OF A PROBLEM
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