2012 Ford Focus vs 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS550
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2012 Ford Focus | 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS550 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 3,759 | 23 |
| Recall campaigns | 7 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 127 | 108 |
| Investigations | 3 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 107 | 1 |
| Fire reports | 15 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | 4/5 | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 29–31 | 20 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 69,700 mi | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Focus | Mercedes-Benz CLS550 |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 1,441 | 3 |
| Steering | 927 | 2 |
| Engine | 473 | 4 |
| Electrical System | 352 | 3 |
| Structure | 332 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 282 | 8 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 166 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 133 | 0 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 464 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 457 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 287 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 275 | 0 |
| Steering problems | 193 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 179 | 0 |
| Shifting problems | 102 | 0 |
| Overheating | 69 | 0 |
2012 Ford Focus
2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS550
Compare all Ford Focus vs Mercedes-Benz CLS550 years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.