2012 Mercedes-Benz C250 vs 2012 Volkswagen Jetta
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 Mercedes-Benz C250 | 2012 Volkswagen Jetta |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 272 | 499 |
| Recall campaigns | 5 | 5 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 108 | 1,479 |
| Investigations | 1 | 5 |
| Crash reports | 3 | 24 |
| Fire reports | 2 | 6 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | 4/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 25 | 25–32 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 60,500 mi | 58,500 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Mercedes-Benz C250 | Volkswagen Jetta |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 168 | 34 |
| Electrical System | 9 | 138 |
| Engine | 61 | 84 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 16 | 47 |
| Power Train | 6 | 46 |
| Steering | 5 | 41 |
| Service Brakes | 9 | 34 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 0 | 24 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Check engine light | 26 | 19 |
| Clunking / rattling | 21 | 7 |
| Stalling | 11 | 54 |
| Loss of power | 9 | 26 |
| Hesitation / surging | 7 | 9 |
| Airbag warning light | 0 | 15 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 9 |
| Won’t start | 0 | 6 |
2012 Mercedes-Benz C250
2012 Volkswagen Jetta
Compare all Mercedes-Benz C250 vs Volkswagen Jetta 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.