MERCEDES-BENZ R350 · model year

2012 MERCEDES-BENZ R350

8 NHTSA complaints, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2012MERCEDES-BENZR350 carries 8 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2012 R350 is air bags with 5 filings, followed by engine (1) and electrical system (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 2 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 15 investigation files overlapping the 2012 R350. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

8
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

8 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS5
ENGINE1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC1

Recalls (2)

24V29800026/04/2024

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2006-2012 ML, GL, and R-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. Moisture may accumulate and cause corrosion in the brake booster housing unit, which can result in reduced brake performance or brak

22V31500009/05/2022

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2006-2012 ML-Class, GL-Class, and R-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. Moisture may accumulate and cause corrosion in the brake booster housing unit, which can result in reduced brake perform

Recent Complaints

20220707SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz R350. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V315000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the rear end of the vehicle was making a grinding sound while the brake pedal was depressed. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who completed the inspection mentioned in the recall and concluded that a replacement was needed. The approximate failure mileage was 185,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

Mileage: 185,000

20190331AIR BAGS

TAMARA RECALL. IT'S BEEN 10 YEARS NOW. WHEN IS MY LUCK RUNNING OUT?

20190329AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ R350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED MERCEDES-BENZ OF DENVER (LOCATED AT 940 S COLORADO BLVD, DENVER, CO 80246, (303) 953-4581) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

20180329ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

"TAKATA RECALL" - WHILE DRIVING ALONG A COUNTY STREET MY VEHICLE COMPLETELY STALLED. I PUT IN PARK AND IT STARTED AND WENT APPROXIMATELY A 1/2 OF A MILE AND STALLED AGAIN. IT DID THIS TWICE MORE BEFORE I GOT HOME WHERE I SHUT IT OFF AND CALLED A TOW COMPANY TO TAKE IT TO THE SHOP. MY SERVICE ADVISOR CALL AND TOLD ME THAT THE WIRING HONES TO THE ENGINE BURNED UP.

Mileage: 65,000

20171224AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL MANUFACTURER ADVISED ME OF THE DEFECT IN MAY 2016. THE LETTER ADVISED IT WOULD TAKE SOME TIME TO DESIGN AND ULTIMATELY REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART. NO FURTHER NOTICES HAVE BEEN RECEIVED WITH A SOLUTION AFTER MORE THAN 18-MONTHS. NO ACCIDENTS OR COLLISIONS HAVE OCCURRED TO TEST THE BAG EFFECTIVENESS.

Mileage: 58,000

20171202AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL - AIRBAG FIX HAS YET NOT BEEN MADE AVAILABLE AND THE COMPANY HAS DECLARED BANKRUPTCY, I'M CLUELESS ON WHO IS GOING TO FIX THE AIRBAGS.

20171101AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL I RECEIVED A POST CARD IN THE MAIL FROM TK HOLDINGS STATING TO CONTACT THE DEALER FOR A FREE REPAIR. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY STATE THAT THE AIRBAGS ARE ON BACK ORDER. THE ISSUE IS NOT BEING RESOLVED IN A TIMELY MANNER

20140414ENGINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ E350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC THAT DETECTED SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SPORADICALLY STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 34,000.

Mileage: 34,000

Compare 2012MERCEDES-BENZR350 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ R350 have?
The 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ R350 has 8 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ R350?
Yes, the 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ R350 has 2 recall(s). The most common affected component is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ R350?
The most-complained component for the 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ R350 is AIR BAGS with 5 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Is the 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ R350 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.