Total Complaints
10 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ S350 · model year
2012 MERCEDES-BENZ S350
10 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2012MERCEDES-BENZS350 carries 10 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 S350 is engine with 3 filings, followed by vehicle speed control (2) and power train (2). 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.
NHTSA currently has 15 investigation files overlapping the 2012 S350. 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.
10
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
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
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE | 3 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN | 2 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 2 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20191121ENGINE
ENGINE HAS OIL LEAK SIMILAR TO MANY 2011-2012 DIESEL MODEL.
Mileage: 70,000
20161128ENGINE
I DID SOME RESEARCH ON MERCEDES 3.0L DIESEL MOTORS AND THERE SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE SEAL FAILING ABOUT 50,000 MILES CAUSING THE MOTOR TO LEAK OIL AND THE SEAL AS WELL AS THE OIL COOLER NEED TO BE REPLACED. IT IS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE 3.0L DIESEL ENGINES THAT WHEN YOU CALL ANY REPAIR SHOP THE FIRST THING THEY ASK IS IF THE CAR IS A DIESEL. ALSO THE SEAL REPLACEMENT IS ALL OVER THE MERCEDES BLOGS SAYING THE SAME ISSUE ON THE 3.0L DIESELS. THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING TO LOOK INTO AS IT IS AN ENGINE SEAL PROBLEM AND IS OCCURRING CONSISTENTLY IN ALL THE 3.0L DIESELS IN THE S CLASS, E CLASS, ML CLASS, G CLASS. ALL MODELS THAT MERCEDES SOLD THE 3.0L ENGINE IN THE US.
Mileage: 54,500
20161128POWER TRAIN
I DID SOME RESEARCH ON MERCEDES 3.0L DIESEL MOTORS AND THERE SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE SEAL FAILING ABOUT 50,000 MILES CAUSING THE MOTOR TO LEAK OIL AND THE SEAL AS WELL AS THE OIL COOLER NEED TO BE REPLACED. IT IS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE 3.0L DIESEL ENGINES THAT WHEN YOU CALL ANY REPAIR SHOP THE FIRST THING THEY ASK IS IF THE CAR IS A DIESEL. ALSO THE SEAL REPLACEMENT IS ALL OVER THE MERCEDES BLOGS SAYING THE SAME ISSUE ON THE 3.0L DIESELS. THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING TO LOOK INTO AS IT IS AN ENGINE SEAL PROBLEM AND IS OCCURRING CONSISTENTLY IN ALL THE 3.0L DIESELS IN THE S CLASS, E CLASS, ML CLASS, G CLASS. ALL MODELS THAT MERCEDES SOLD THE 3.0L ENGINE IN THE US.
Mileage: 54,500
20161116FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
"TAKATA RECALL" THE VEHICLE SLIPS INTO A LIMP MODE WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAVE HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. I'M TAKING IT TO THE MB DEALER THIS WEEKEND. 11/16/2016. 57KMILES
Mileage: 57,000
20161116VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
"TAKATA RECALL" THE VEHICLE SLIPS INTO A LIMP MODE WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAVE HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. I'M TAKING IT TO THE MB DEALER THIS WEEKEND. 11/16/2016. 57KMILES
Mileage: 57,000
20160830FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
VEHICLE ENTERED LIMP HOME MODE WHILE ENTERING INTERSECTION. DEALERSHIP SAID CODES DID NOT INDICATE AN ISSUE AND COULD NOT REPRODUCE PROBLEM. ONLY ACTIONS TAKEN WAS A COMPUTER TEST AND ROAD TEST. AFTER LEAVING THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE ENTERED THE LIMP HOME MODE AGAIN THIS TIME ON THE HIGHWAY. DEALER THEN REPLACED TWO SENSORS AT THE TURBO. AFTER RETURNING THE VEHICLE TO ME, IT ENTERED THE LIMP HOME MODE AGAIN, ALSO WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS TIME, DEALER REPLACED THE TURBO WHEN IT WAS BROUGHT BACK IN FOR REPAIR. THE VEHICLE STILL ENTERED THE LIMP HOME MODE AFTER THIS REPAIR. SO THE DEALER HAS ALSO REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. PROBLEM STILL PERSISTED AND CAUSED A HOSE TO RUPTURE. THIS WAS REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS AFTER A MONTH OF TROUBLESHOOTING AND PARTS REPLACING.
Mileage: 61,750
20160330POWER TRAIN
WHILE DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE. ENGINE RMP WERE LIMITED TO 1500RPM AND SPEED DROPPED TO 25MPH.THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES DURING WEEK OF 3/14/16 AND AGAIN ON 3/22/16. HAD TO MAKE DEFENSIVE EMERGENCY MANEUVER TO STEER THE CAR AWAY FROM THE TRAFFIC LANES AND STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BY A SEMI. CAR HAD TO BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED TO COME BACK TO NORMAL DRIVING MODE. CAR WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES DEALER AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED TO BE A BAD TORQUE CONVERTER CAUSING THIS LIMP MODE. DEALER REPAIRED THE CAR BY REPLACING THE TORQUE CONVERTER. THERE WAS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. WHEN THE DEALER HOOKED UP THEIR COMPUTER THERE WERE CODES FOR BAD TORQUE CONVERTER.
Mileage: 52,000
20150421VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ S350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT THEN COASTED OVER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SIDE CHARGE AIR HOSE INTO THE THROTTLE ACTUATOR WAS TORN AND CAUSED THE LOSS OF HOSE PRESSURE. BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Mileage: 50,000
20150421ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ S350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT THEN COASTED OVER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SIDE CHARGE AIR HOSE INTO THE THROTTLE ACTUATOR WAS TORN AND CAUSED THE LOSS OF HOSE PRESSURE. BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Mileage: 50,000
20150403UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHEN I CLOSED THE HOOD, A SECTION OF THE RADIATOR GRILL BROKE. *TR
Mileage: 25,000
Compare 2012MERCEDES-BENZS350 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ S350 have?▼
The 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ S350 has 10 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ S350?▼
The most-complained component for the 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ S350 is ENGINE with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL and POWER TRAIN.
Is the 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ S350 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.