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2012 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class has been recalled for and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 0safety recalls
- 7owner complaints
- 1crash report
- 0fire reports
- 1injury reported
7 complaints, against an average of 46 for the other 13 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class model years.
Every Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class?
The components named most often in the 7 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
Has the 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class been recalled?
NHTSA lists no safety recalls for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class as of October 25, 2026. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check your VIN before you rely on this.
Is the 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class recalled in the UK or Europe?
Recalls issued by the UK's DVSA and through the EU's Safety Gate system that cover this model and build period. European models can differ from U.S. ones, and "years estimated" means the recall gave no build dates, so confirm your own car with your registration or VIN.
UK DVSAOn affected vehicles the panel located between the windshield and the panoramic sunroof might not have been bonded correctly during a…On affected vehicles the panel located between the windshield and the panoramic sunroof might not have been bonded correctly during a prior service repair.
Risk: On affected vehicles the panel located between the windshield and the panoramic sunroof might not have been bonded correctly during a prior service repair.
Fix: Check the front fixed element of the panoramic sliding sunroof and replace if necessary.
UK DVSAThe refrigerant used in the air condition system does not meet legal requirements
Risk: The refrigerant used in the air conditioning system does not meet legal requirements.
Fix: Adapt the air conditioning system for usage of the new refrigerant.
UK DVSAThe refrigerant used in the air conditioning system may not meet legal requirements
Risk: The refrigerant used in the air conditioning system does not meet legal requirements
Fix: The air conditioning system will be adapted for the usage of the new refrigerant.
UK DVSAThe refrigerant used in the air condition system does not meet legal requirements
Risk: The refrigerant used in the air conditioning system does not meet legal requirements.
Fix: The air conditioning system will be adapted for the usage of the new refrigerant.
UK DVSAElectrical wiring in steering assembly may be insufficiently grounded
Risk: The steering column clock spring may break. This will cause warning messages to illuminate in the instrument cluster but in extreme instances it may cause the driver's airbag to deploy.
Fix: Affected vehicles will be recalled to establish sufficient grounding of the steering components
UK DVSASteering components may be insufficiently grounded
Risk: It has been determined that the steering airbag electrical components are insufficiently grounded. Failure of the steering column module clock spring could result in an inadvertent deployment of the driver airbag which may cause risk of injury to the driver and an increased risk of a potential collision.
Fix: On affected vehicles the manufacturer will fit a contact bridge to the outer race of the steering column top bearing which will provide correct grounding.
UK DVSAElectrical wiring in steering assembly may be insufficiently grounded
Risk: The steering column clock spring may break. This will cause warning messages to illuminate in the instrument cluster but in extreme instances it may cause the driver's airbag to deploy.
Fix: Affected vehicles will be recalled to establish sufficient grounding of the steering components.
UK DVSAElectrical wiring in steering assembly may be insufficiently grounded
Risk: The steering column clock spring may break. This will cause warning messages to illuminate in the instrument cluster but in extreme instances it may cause the driver's airbag to deploy.
Fix: Affected vehicles will be recalled to establish sufficient grounding of the steering components.
UK DVSAVacuum line brake booster may break
Risk: The connection fitting of the vacuum line to the brake booster is not to specification and my not be durable. If the connection fails the brake booster will no longer be supplied with vacuum. After a few brake applications the driver will have to apply additional pressure to the brake pedal to gain the appropriate braking effect.
Fix: Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected and replace the vacuum line on the brake booster with a quality assured component.
UK DVSAFaulty control unit may cause vehicle to perform outside specification
Risk: Where a control unit coding was updated in a workshop between 3 December 2016 and 5 December 2016 the coding may not correspond to the specification and may trigger unplanned action in the vehicle. The safety and emissions systems may not react as design intent.
Fix: Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected and update the software in the corresponding control units.
UK DVSAPossibility of loss of drive
Risk: The drive shaft and the hub of the outer joint may separate. In very rare cases it cannot be excluded that the vehicle stops. The steering and braking system remain fully available to the driver.
Fix: Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected to replace the snap ring both sides together with the respective outboard boots on the affected vehicles.
EU Safety GateThe polycarbonate roof panel located between the windscreen and the panoramic roof may not have been bonded correctly to the vehicle…The polycarbonate roof panel located between the windscreen and the panoramic roof may not have been bonded correctly to the vehicle during a prior repair. In such cases, the adhesive bonding could gradually deteriorate and the panel could become detached from the vehicle, posing a risk to other road users.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateThe steering column is not sufficiently earthed.As a result, in the event of an electrostatic discharge, the driver's airbag may be triggered when not required. This could cause an accident.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateFollowing the update of the control unit coding, the coding parameters of the control unit could be defective.This could give rise to various unplanned reactions in the vehicle: the wrong airbag could be triggered in the event of an accident, the airbag control unit may not recognise the belt buckle status, the engine control unit could be coded with a false maximum speed or various assistance systems may not function.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateIncorrect software was installed in the Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) control device of the vehicles affected.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
What do 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class owners report?
7 of the 7 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
ELECTRICAL IGNITION LOCK, REPARKED CAR ONE DAY, NEXT DAY ENGINE WOULD NOT CRANK. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN DRIVEWAY. *TR
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PASS OR PULLING OUT ONTO ROAD WAY THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY LOSE POWER, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. THIS LEAVES THE DRIVERS IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH ON-COMING TRAFFIC.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ CLS 550. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF ALEXANDRIA (200 S PICKETT ST, ALEXANDRIA, VA 22304) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT AN OIL LEAK HAD CAUSED DAMAGE TO A WIRING HARNESS, THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE AND SEVERAL OTHER UNSTATED ELECTRICAL FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THERE WAS NO ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 610,708.
THE CAM SHAFT INTAKE AND EXHAUST ADJUSTERS NEED TO BE REPLACED AT 77K MI, THIS IS A $5K REPAIR. I INITIALLY REPLACED THE CAM SHAFT POSITION SENORS AT 65K MI AND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REGULARLY SERVICED. CONSISTENT WITH REPORTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY THIS CAM SHAFT COMPONENT WILL FAIL AROUND 50K-80K MILES AND AT THAT POINT THE REPAIR IS 2/3 THE VALUE OF THE CAR IF IT WAS IN GOOD WORKING ORDER. NO ENGINE SHOULD GIVE OUT AFTER 75K MILES, THIS COMPONENT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED.
WAS NOTIFIED BY MERCEDES BENZ THAT MY VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL AND THAT REPLACEMENT PARTS WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL DEC 2018. SINCE IT WAS THE ONLY VEHICLE I OWNED AND I HAD TO CONTINUE WORK I DROVE THE VEHICLE WITH DEFECTIVE PARTS UNTIL I WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT IN JULY 2018. I AM NOW DISABLED AFTER A LENGTHY HOSPITAL & REHAB STAY AND HAD TO SEVERAL SURGERIES IN ORDER TO WALK/LIMP AGAIN IN 2019. I WAS HIT ALMOST HEAD ON AND WAS OKAY UNTIL THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND I FELT A SHARP BURNING SENSATION IN MY LOWER EXTREMITIES AND COULD NOT MOVE AFTERWARDS…
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ CLA250. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
TAKATA RECALL. THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED FOR SOME TIME DUE TO INABILITY TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIR DONE. IS THERE A REMEDY? 1
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2012 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class: questions owners ask
Is the 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 7 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class; the most common categories were air bags (3, 42.9%), engine (3, 42.9%), electrical system (2, 28.6%). There are no safety recalls listed for this model year. 1 complaint mentions a crash, 1 injury was reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class?
Across 7 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are air bags (42.9% of complaints), engine (42.9% of complaints), electrical system (28.6% of complaints), fuel/propulsion system (14.3% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class have any recalls?
As of October 2026, NHTSA lists no safety recalls for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Check your own CLA-Class
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), DVSA vehicle recalls (Open Government Licence v3.0), EU Safety Gate alerts (© European Union), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2012 only.