What 584 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Mercedes-benz C-class Coupe

The taillights in my 2012 c300 was starting to go out intermittently. At first the notification came on for the brake light but the brake light kept working. Afterwards the rest of the taillights and the sidemarker light went out as well. I went to go take a look and the grounding wire was oxidated and corroded. A known issue in which there was a recall made for the 2008-2011 version of the w204 but this did not apply to the 2012 w204. As of last week my entire rear drivers side light is out which is a safety hazard especially at night. The hazard lights dont work in case of an emergency on one side, the brake lights are out to notify the driver behind me take I need to stop which can lead to a rear end collision, as well as the left turn signal not working leading to drivers not knowing that I will be turning left or needing to merge left as needed. All of this is a known safety hazard to Mercedes but no recall has been submitted yet.

NHTSA ODI 11697258

I was replacing rear tail light bulb. Now I'm getting an error message on instrument cluster. I tried to fix the issue but couldn't do to the fact the wiring harness has melted. Mercedes Benz had a recall back in 2013 saying this is a safety issue. No recall for our car.

NHTSA ODI 11661547

1. The car radio, blue-tooth, speakers, sound, car remote sound. Happened after a battery change by AAA - unsure if it's related. CUstomer service tried to resolve it - radio turns on, but nothing else works. 2. Doors won't unlock outside or inside - except passenegers side is open. 3. Accelerator acting strange - won't pick speed after 30, then 60 4. there was an air bag recal of this car a while ago.

NHTSA ODI 11638695

The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz C250. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the anti-lock theft prevention feature failed to function as intended. The contact stated that the steering wheel was seized, and the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact was informed by the tow truck driver that the failure was due to the electronic lockout system. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 143,000.

NHTSA ODI 11633107

The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that after opening the sunroof and then attempting to close the sunroof, the sunroof failed to fully close. The contact had to open and close the sunroof several times before the sunroof closed. Additionally, the contact stated that there was water entering the vehicle from the sunroof which caused electrical failures. The contact stated that the vehicle was drivable, but the "Anti-Theft" warning light illuminated. The contact stated that several other warning lights were later illuminated, and the vehicle would not start. The contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that water had damaged the driver’s side electrical wiring harness. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 169,000.

NHTSA ODI 11594372

Vehicle will not start, possible ESL/EIS failure.

NHTSA ODI 11586117

1) cranshaft and camshaft position sensors, timing problems and it has to be replaced this is a common damage in Mercedes Benz 2012 c250. 2) this put in risk my life because it can brake the engine in a highway and the car could be off.

NHTSA ODI 11550669

Popping sounds and smoke from center dash and right rear speaker. Center speaker magnet extremely hot to the touch.

NHTSA ODI 11513427

The contact owns a 2014 Mercedes-Benz C250. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, there was an abnormal frequency sound coming from the speakers followed by a popping sound. The contact then began to smell a burning electrical wiring odor with white smoke coming from the middle dashboard speaker. The contact immediately pulled over and turned off the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. Due to the failure, the contact called her father who towed the vehicle to her home where it remained in her possession. The contact reached out to the manufacturer by email and was informed that there were no recalls on the VIN. The contact was then referred to the NHTSA for further assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 305,000.

NHTSA ODI 11508516

While driving, engine stopped, could not steer.. Looks like a defective Electronic Ignition Switch or steering lock! It seems to be a common problem on these cars!!! The car would not start. After 8 attempts, I was able to start car but was afraid to drive it. Could have been a disaster.

NHTSA ODI 11448715

3 signal Signal light comes one saying abs, another SRS MALFUNCTION, also crushed control inoperable. Car will come one as normal next day car comes on no lights not 1 button work turn signals didn’t work then my car fan came on in the engines the also the when they the electric isn’t working i have to manually shift the gear

NHTSA ODI 11443966

Electronic Steering Lock (ESL) fails and your key fob nor your keyless go button will function, rendering your car unable to start...! Usually it's the cheap toy motor that engages the moving tab that locks and unlocks the column and communicates to the ignition to start the car... You get only a message to "remove your key" and the dash lights will not come on nor can you start the vehicle... Mercedes is aware of this, as there are thousands of complaints on this ESL issue... Mercedes needs to issue a recall and do away with this faulty ESL module...!!!! Oh by the way, they charge $1500+++ to fix it...

NHTSA ODI 11443661

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, A BURNING TYPE ODOR WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. WHILING INSPECTING THE VEHICLE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT PLUGS HAD MELTED. ALSO, AFTER TURNING THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT HEATER ON A BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT AND THE SEAT FELT EXTREMELY HOTTER THE NORMAL. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WERE NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT YET NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. ## VIN PASSED ## MERCEDES-BENZ 2012 C300 ##

NHTSA ODI 11413896

PARKED CAR IN STRIP MALL TO BUY LUNCH & TURNED OFF IGNITION.LOCKED CAR. RETURNED, OPEN D DOOR WITH KEYLESS ENTRY BUT CAR WOULD NOT START. TRIED WITH KEY. STILL WOULD NOT START. CALL AAA FOR JUMP. CAR WOULD NO START-DIDN'T NEED JUMP-BATTERY OK. KEY IN IGNITION BUT CAR WOULD NOT START. ALL BATTERIES WORKING IN KEY. HAD TO GET TOW TO TAKE CAR TO DEALERSHIP. MERCEDES SENT A TECHNICIAN TO GIVE ME A JUST, TOLD I DIDN'T NEED IT. TECH FOULS THAT OUT WHEN HE TRIES TO JUMP CAR. NOTHING HAPPENED BECAUSE CAN'T TURN ON IGNITION OR PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL. HAD TO WAIT 4 HRS FOR A TOW WITH A BACK LIFT ( I PARKED FRONT END FIRST. REAR FACING PARKING LOT. (4 TOW TRUCKS DISPATCHED BUT WHEN THEY SPOKE TO ME I TOLD THEM, LIKE I TOLD THE PERSON WHO DISPATCHED THEM THAT MY CAR WAS PARKED WITH REAR FACING PARKING LOT.) STILL WAITING TO FIND OUT WHY CAR WOULD NOT START WITH KEY. EVERYTHING ELSE WORKING.

NHTSA ODI 11363941

MY VEHICLE AND MANY OTHER MERCEDES BENZ MODELS SUFFER A FAILED ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH AND ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT AMONGST MANY MODELS/YEARS OF MERCEDES BENZ VEHICLES AND ONLY A DEALER CAN REPAIR. THE COST OF REPAIR IS $1,900. THE CAUSES THE VEHICLES TO BE UNABLE TO START, AND VERY CLEARLY, A MANUFACTURER DEFECT.

NHTSA ODI 11351943

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.

NHTSA ODI 11307113

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.

NHTSA ODI 11289022

UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE I RECEIVE AIRBAG WARNINGS. ONE FOR THE DRIVER SIDE AND ANOTHER ONE FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE. I CAN CLICK ON "OK" TO CLEAR THEM OUT BUT WITH THE AIRBAG RECALL AND NO RESOLUTION I AM FEARFUL OF A MALFUNCTION. I HAD MY CAR TO THE MERCEDES DEALER TWO TIMES AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD NEED TO INVESTIGATE IT, AT MY EXPENSE, WHICH COULD BE ANYWHERE BETWEEN $500-$4500 DEPENDING ON WHAT THEY FIND. WITH A SAFETY ISSUE AT RISK I THINK THE RESPONSIBILITY IS ON MERCEDES TO INVESTIGATE AND CORRECT THIS AT NO EXPENSE TO ME. I WILL HAVE TO SELL THE CAR AND LOSE MONEY OVER IT. I KEEP WAITING FOR THE AIRBAGS IN RECALL TO COME IN AND HAVE BEEN LIVING WITH IT LIKE THIS FOR OVER A YEAR BUT I AM SEEING NO END IN SIGHT TO THE RECALL BEING RESOLVED ANYTIME SOON.

NHTSA ODI 11281502

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ C250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE, INCLUDING THE TURN SIGNALS AND BRAKE LIGHTS. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO REPLACE THE TAIL LIGHT BULBS HIMSELF AND FOUND THAT THE TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY HAD PARTIALLY MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ EURO MOTOR CARS (7020 ARLINGTON ROAD, BETHESDA, MD 20814, 301-986-8800) WHERE THE TAIL LAMP HOLDERS AND REAR WIRING AND BULBS WERE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V177000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED PARTIAL REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. *BF CONSUMER STATED IT SHOULD BE COVERED AS THE C250 IS THE SAME CAR AS THE C300 INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. THE DIFFERENCE IS THE ENGINE SIZE AND YEAR (2012 VS 2011).*JB

NHTSA ODI 11240347

THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED COULD NOT START THE CAR. CAR WAS DRIVEN THEN TURNED OFF, WHEN YOU RETURN TO THE VEHICLE, IT WILL NOT TURN ON.EVERYTHING WAS UNRESPONSIVE,WHICH WONT TURN ON ENGINE. HAD TO TOW TO DEALERSHIP IT COST ME 1800.00. SO THEY SAID THE ELECTRICAL FOR CAR WAS BAD. THEN MY FUEL TANK LEAKED, THE COMPONETS TO THE FUEL TANK ALL WERE BAD, AND L COULD SMELL THE GAS IN MY CAR AND GARAGE. COST ME 805.00 TO REPAIR. LUCKY IT DID NOT BLOW UP

NHTSA ODI 11221084

2012 MERCEDES BENZ C300 - REAR TAIL LIGHT TAIL LIGHT FAILURE, FOUND BURN MARKS IN THE VEHICLE BULB ASSEMBLY (BULB PANEL) AND BURNED WIRES IT HAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF TAIL LIGHT LAMPS FUNCTION.

NHTSA ODI 11154248

STEERING WHEEL LOCK AFTER VEHICLE IS SHUT DOWN. WHEN YOU RETURN TO THE VEHICLE INSERT THE KEY THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, SPEEDO, STEERING WHEEL IS UNRESPONSIVE WHICH WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO TURN THE ENGINE. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL IT'S A ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK THAT FAILS ON SEVERAL MERCEDES BENZ CAUSING THE OWNER TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A 2,000 DOLLAR REPAIR. IT HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT COMPLETELY FAILS.

NHTSA ODI 11124614

MY VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED BY K AND H AUTO. THE ELECTRICAL UNIT IS MALFUNCTIONING, THE LIGHT IS BROKEN ON THE RIGHT SIDE, AND THE ROTORS AND BRAKES HAVE BEEN RUSTED, PLEASE HAVE SOMEONE ATTEND TO THIS MATTER. THANKS, AND HAVE A VERY BLESSED DAY. ANOTHER COMPANY BY THE NAME OF ANS TOWING, TOWED MY VEHICLE WITHOUT CARE AND I AM NOW HAVING ACCELERATION ISSUES WITH MY VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRAGGED THROUGH WATER ON OCTOBER 17-18, 2018.

NHTSA ODI 11066436

OUTSIDE TEMP 9 DEGREES CAR STARTS FINE AND I DRIVE TWO MILES TO PICK UP A CARRY OUT ORDER. AFTER SITTING 15 MINUTES IN FRONT OF THE RESTAURANT CAR WILL NOT START, NOT EVEN ATTEMPT TO CRANK. LIGHTS COME ON AND A MESSAGE POPS UP STATING "INOPERATIVE - CHECK MANUAL." I CALLED MB ASSISTANCE WHO DETERMINED IT WAS THE ESP SYSTEM THAT WAS INOPERATIVE AND OFFERED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER. I TRIED TO START ONE MORE TIME AND THIS TIME THE VEHICLE STARTED RIGHT AWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11057903

MY AIRBAGS GO ON AND OFF ON THERE OWN. MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS ALWAYS MESSED UP. MY LIGHTING GOES ON AND OFF, THE ELECTRICAL HAS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SOMETIMES JSUT SHUT OFF COMPLEYTELY AND NOT TUREN ON FOR DAYS. I HAVE HAD TIMES I HAD TO GET MY VEHICLE TOWED.

NHTSA ODI 11034553