IllustrationESL 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.
2012 MERCEDES-BENZ C204
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.
About this comparison →4Owner complaints
Model-year median: 4
0Recall campaignsView recall details →
0InvestigationsView investigation details →
Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Inspection summary
2012 MERCEDES-BENZ C204
NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 4 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.
Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.
Top reported categories (up to 5)
- Electrical System: 2 reports
- Air Bags: 1 reports
- Fuel/propulsion System: 1 reports
- Steering: 1 reports
Full reported-category list and vehicle report
Recall links
No recall campaigns in this snapshot.
Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.
How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all C204 years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 2 of 4 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
2 reportsTHERE'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 $…
Read full complaint
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.
Recall campaigns
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
Defect investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.