Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C204, most frequently naming the electrical, airbags and fuel system categories. 59 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 2017 | 1 | 1 |
| Nov 2019 | 1 | 2 |
| Dec 2019 | 1 | 3 |
| Feb 2020 | 1 | 4 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
ESL SUDDEN FAILURE, APPARENTLY THIS IS A VERY COMMON FAILURE FOR THIS VEHICLE FOR YEARS NOW WITH NO ACTION TO RECALL OR ADDRESS THE DESIGN OF THIS PART. CAR IS IMMOBILIZED AND MUST BE TOWED, BUT ONLY TO DEALER WHO MUST PROGRAM THE PART BUT NOT SELL IT TO CUSTOMER OR OTHER SERVICE CENTER TO REPAIR OR REPLACE.
THERE'S BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK (ESL) GOING BAD. I EXPERIENCED THIS DANGER EXACT FAILURE. THE CAR JUST HIT 80,000 MILES AND THIS FAILURE HAPPENED. WHEN THERE ESL LOCKS, YOU CANNOT TURN ON THE CAR TO DO ANYTHING. I HAPPENED TO BE OUT OF TOWN AND I HAD TO GET MY CAR TOWED HOME WHICH COSTED ME OVER $400 AND DIVER THE STEERING WAS LOCKED THEY HAD TO USE SPECIAL DOLLIES TO TOW MY CAR. THE DEALERSHIP WAS GOING TO CHARGE ME $2200 TO DO THE REPAIR WHICH IS UNHEARD OF AND IT'S RIDICULOUS. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND STATIONARITY. PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND NOTHING HAPPENS. I THOUGHT THE ISSUE WAS WITH THE IGNITION BUT IT'S THE STEERING LOCK SINCE IT WILL NOT UNLOCK. THE ISSUE APPEARS TO BE WITH THE MOTOR INSIDE OF THE UNIT FAILING.
THERE ARE SMALL CRACKS THAT HAVE DEVELOPED IN THE TOP OF THE FUEL SENDING UNIT. THIS ALLOWS FUEL TO LEAK OUT OF THE TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP AND POOL IN THE CENTER OF THE PUMP WHERE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ELECTRICAL WIRES THAT ARE SUBMERGED IN FUEL. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DEADLY PROBLEM AS THERE IS A REAL POTENTIAL FOR IGNITION OF THE LEAKED FUEL WHICH IS RIGHT UNDERNEATH THE DRIVERS SIDE PASSENGER SEAT WHERE MY 5 YEAR OLD'S CHILD SEAT IS LOCATED. THERE IS ALSO AN EXTREMELY STRONG ODOR OF GAS INSIDE THE CAR WHICH IS STRONG ENOUGH TO CAUSE LIGHT HEADEDNESS AND POSSIBLE SYNCOPE. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE NTSB OPENED UP AN INVESTIGATION OF THIS ISSUE THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION OPENED A PROBE IN JANUARY 2012 AFTER RECEIVING 20 REPORTS IN 2003-2006 E55 AMG VEHICLES AND EXPANDED THE PROBE LAST YEAR INTO ALL 2003-2008 E-CLASS VEHICLES. OWNERS SAID THEY REPORTED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE FUEL BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THEIR VEHICLE, PARTICULARLY AFTER REFILLING THE FUEL TANK. MANY COMPLAINTS SAID THE ODOR SUBSIDED AFTER DRIVING SOME DISTANCE THEREBY LOWERING THE FUEL LEVEL IN THE TANK. OTHER OWNERS REPORTED THEY WOULD ONLY FILL THE GAS TANK TO ABOUT THREE-QUARTERS FULL TO AVOID THE ODOR. SOME OWNERS SAID FUEL LEAKED FROM THE FUEL FILTER/SENDER, LOCATED ON THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, AND COLLECTED ON TOP OF THE TANK. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BUT THERE ARE OTHER MODELS AND YEAR MODELS THAT ARE AFFECTED AND DID NOT FALL UNDER THE MERCEDES RECALL CAMPAIGN.
I HAVE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM TAKATA RECALL FOR MY MERCEDES-BENZ'S AIRBAG REPLACEMENT.
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
Various fault codes present in TPM Control Unit, vehicles with code 475 and code B03
EQUIPMENT; SEATS
Seat cushion fore/aft adjuster seat cushion cover becomes detached
SEAT BELTS
Seat belt extender toothed rack sluggish or makes noises
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE; TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
"Tire pressure loss detection system inoperative" message in instrument cluster in yellow.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE; ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL:AUTOMATIC (ASC); EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
Road test cannot be started after exchanging the ESP control unit or after successfully updating the software.
STEERING; STEERING:COLUMN
Noise in area of steering column after conducting service measure 1709P46C60 "Check mechanical steering column, rework if necessary"
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.