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2012 Mercedes-benz E-class Wagon
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
233 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 19, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Airbags problems dominate (39% of complaints).
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#147 of 367Among the 2012 models with a matured record, the 2012 Mercedes-benz E-class Wagon ranks #147, scoring higher than 57% of them. See the 2012 ranking →
Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
NHTSA crash-tested this model year but didn’t publish an overall star rating for it.
2 open NHTSA defect investigations on file for this model year, separate from the recalls above.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2012 Mercedes-benz E-class Wagon, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Airbags (92) · Electrical system (22) · Brakes (21) · Suspension (15)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Airbags
39%92 complaints · 2 in the last 2 years
“Air bag notice on monitor, Passenger front seat locked in forward position up to the dashboard..”
Fuel system
16%37 complaints · typically near 68k mi · 10 in the last 2 years
“The failed component is a fuel pump, and it is available for inspection upon request. My safety and the safety of others was put at risk due to the following: 1) Sudde…”
Electrical system
9%22 complaints · 3 in the last 2 years
“Steering wheel lock module steering wheel was locked in place and vehicle wouldn’t do anything.”
Brakes
9%21 complaints · 10 in the last 2 years
“The brake lines on my car rusted out from the brake booster all of way to the rear calipers. This is the third time it’s happened to me as I’ve owned multiple E classe…”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
We can place 2 of this model's commonly reported problem areas against a mileage. Nothing is stored.
Read all 233 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 9 crash/fire/injury reports →
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this Mercedes-benz before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- Owners of this model report airbags problems more than anything else. Has this car shown any airbags symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Owners of this model report fuel system problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 68k miles). Has this car shown any fuel system symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2012 Mercedes-benz E-CLASS WAGON beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2012? See how every E-class Wagon model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2012 Mercedes-benz E-class Wagon against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.