The Used Car Index

2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS problems

No complaints are listed for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS. NHTSA's API and bulk file list none in this build.

Data build 2026-10-09.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as MERCEDES-BENZ CLS.

At a glance

Complaints
0
With crash
0
With fire
0
With injury (complaints)
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
0
Recalls
0
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
Unavailable
Investigations
1
Open investigations
1
Manufacturer communications
44

Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. No sales source is available for this record.

Model-generated complaint tags: No complaints are listed for tagging.

Recalls

See new recalls and investigations this week.

0 recalls.

Investigations

1 investigations; 1 open.

EA21002

Opened: 2021-09-17. Closed: Not listed.

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupt

Systems: AIR BAGS.

Linked campaign numbers: None listed.

Manufacturer communications

44 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM17
EQUIPMENT9
EXTERIOR LIGHTING5
POWER TRAIN5
STEERING3
STRUCTURE3
ENGINE2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING2

11019018

Date: 2025-05-21. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.

Complaint Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). The clunk is heard once when changing from forward to reverse (and vice versa). Note: Sound file in attachment Cause If the complaint is eliminated by experimentally loosening the out

11017496

Date: 2025-04-28. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EXTERIOR LIGHTING.

Complaint Headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged Cause Fogging of the headlamps is a natural phenomenon, which can occur under certain climatic conditions. It does not lead to any technical impairment of the headlamp. Remedy NOTE: If a pressure compensation diaphragm is fitted in the housing cover

11017500

Date: 2025-04-28. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EXTERIOR LIGHTING.

Complaint Headlamps leaking or fogged Cause The fogging of the headlamp is a natural phenomenon which can occur under certain climatic conditions. In contrast to a leaky headlamp, physical fogging does not result in a technical impairment of the headlamp. A leak test must be performed to determine i

11017039

Date: 2025-04-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE.

Complaint Vehicle with atypical reduced heat output. Cause Silicate granulate may have escaped from a damaged bag in the expansion reservoir (not visible), reducing the coolant flow in the heater heat exchanger (see picture). Remedy With the aforementioned complaint, make sure that the cooling circu

11015640

Date: 2025-03-05. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Complaint During a phone call, the called party has difficulty understanding/cannot understand the driver, or interference/background noises are audible to the called party during a call. It becomes increasingly difficult to understand as the speed rises. Cause A. Seating of the microphones in the h

11013332

Date: 2025-01-15. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.

Complaint Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). The noise is heard once in each instance when changing direction of travel. Note: Sound file in attachment Cause If the complaint is eliminated by experimentally loosening the outboar

11009122

Date: 2024-10-23. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STRUCTURE, VISIBILITY/WIPER.

Complaint Washer fluid system leaks Cause Various possible causes: 1. Washer fluid reservoir itself. 2. Seal on washer fluid pump/washer fluid reservoir. 3. Washer fluid pump. 3.1. Distributor housing leaks. 3.2. Pump fitting leaks. 3.3. Washer fluid hose cannot be snapped into place on pump fitting

11008091

Date: 2024-09-28. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Complaint During a phone call, the called party has difficulty understanding/cannot understand the driver, or interference/background noises are audible to the called party during a call. It becomes increasingly difficult to understand as the speed rises. Cause A. Seating of the microphones in the h

11007974

Date: 2024-09-21. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EXTERIOR LIGHTING.

Complaint Headlamps leaking or fogged Cause The fogging of the headlamp is a natural phenomenon which can occur under certain climatic conditions. In contrast to a leaky headlamp, physical fogging does not result in a technical impairment of the headlamp. A leak test must be performed to determine i

11007753

Date: 2024-09-10. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EXTERIOR LIGHTING.

Complaint Headlamp or front fog lamp leaky or fogged Cause Fogging of the headlamps is a natural phenomenon, which can occur under certain climatic conditions. It does not lead to any technical impairment of the headlamp. Headlamps comply with all applicable standards. If a pressure compensation dia

Notes on this record

  • Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
  • System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
  • Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
  • A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.
  • NHTSA's complaints API and bulk file list no complaint for this make, model and model year in this data build.

Other names NHTSA uses

None listed.

Matched NHTSA models

Matched labels and complaints
NHTSA model labelComplaints
CLS0

Same model, other years

All model years | All Mercedes-Benz models

Other Mercedes-Benz models, 2012

Sources

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