Mercedes Benz C250 years to avoid (and the best years)

717 NHTSA owner complaints and 9 recalls across 4 model years, 2012 to 2015. Built from NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, generated October 26, 2026.

717complaints
9recalls
31reported crashes
11reported fires
34reported injuries

Which Mercedes Benz C250 years should you avoid?

No Mercedes Benz C250 model year stands out from the others in NHTSA owner complaints. The typical Mercedes Benz C250 year has 216 complaints on file.

What are the best Mercedes Benz C250 years?

The Mercedes Benz C250 years with the fewest complaints on file are the 2015 (12), 2014 (159) and 2012 (272). Model years after 2023 are left out: they have not been on the road long enough to compare.

NHTSA does not publish sales figures, so these are complaint counts, not a rate per car on the road. A year that sold more cars collects more complaints, and older years have had longer to collect them.

Every model year

Year	Complaints	vs typical year	Recalls	Crashes	Injuries	Our read	Most reported
2015	12	0.1×	4	2	3	Few red flags	Airbags
2014	159	0.7×	5	13	11	Few red flags	Airbags
2013	274	1.3×	7	13	17	Few red flags	Airbags
2012	272	1.3×	5	3	3	Few red flags	Airbags

Most reported problem areas

Share of the 10 complaints sorted by system, all years together.

Other systems10 (100%)

Recalls (9)

Airbags · 21V638000 · Aug 2021 · model years 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
An incorrect air bag may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Airbags · 20V298000 · May 2020 · model year 2012
An incorrect passenger air bag may not provide adequate protection, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Safety · 19V787000 · Nov 2019 · model years 2013, 2014, 2015
An inaccurate vehicle location may delay emergency responders, increasing the risk of injury.
Airbags · 19V010000 · Jan 2019 · model years 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Airbags · 18V043000 · Jan 2018 · model year 2013
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Airbags · 17V627000 · Oct 2017 · model years 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
If the driver air bag inadvertently deploys, it can increase the risk of injury and a crash.
Steering · 17V252000 · Apr 2017 · model years 2013, 2014
A loss of steering can increase the risk of a crash.
Electrical system · 17V177000 · Mar 2017 · model year 2013
If the air bags do not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, there would be an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Airbags · 17V017000 · Jan 2017 · model year 2012
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.