Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS550. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Wrong Control Unit Software Installed
- Summary
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 AMG GT-S, GLC300, CLA250 and GLE300d 4Matic vehicles, 2013 C250, E350 BlueTec and G63 AMG vehicles, 2008-2014 C300 vehicles, 2013-2014 C300 4Matic and ML350 4Matic vehicles, 2009 C350 vehicles, 2014 CLS550, E350 4Matic, E350 Coupe 4Matic, E350 Wagon 4Matic, GLK350 and SL550 vehicles, 2012 CLS550 4Matic vehicles, 2012-2016 E350 vehicles, 2016-2017 GL450 4Matic vehicles, 2012-2014 ML350 4Matic BlueTec vehicles, 2015 S550, S550 4Matic and C300 4Matic Sedan vehicles, 2015-2016 C300 Sedan vehicles, and 2017 SL63 AMG vehicles. Various control units on these vehicles may have been updated with incorrect software, potentially affecting the correct deployment of the air bags in the event of a crash.
- Consequence
- If the air bags do not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, there would be an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
- Remedy
- MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update software in the affected control units, free of charge. The recall began April 21, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Rear Side Marker Illumination/FMVSS 108
- Summary
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2015 CLS 400 and CLS 400 4matic, 2012-2015 CLS 550 and CLS 550 4matic, 2012-2013 CLS 63, 2014 CLS 63, and 2014-2015 CLS 63P. The affected vehicles have LED tail lights that may not light on the sides, reducing the rear side visibility of the vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
- Consequence
- Reduced rear side marker illumination may prevent other drivers from seeing the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update the lighting controller software, free of charge. The recall began April 6, 2015. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2015030005.
Striker Bolts For Secondary Hood Latch may Loosen
- Summary
- Mercedes-Benz is recalling certain model year 2012 CLS550 and CLS550 4Matic vehicles, manufactured December 01, 2011, through December 13, 2011. The bolts that hold the hood's secondary latch striker may have been insufficiently tightened.
- Consequence
- The reduced torque of the striker bolts might lead to a loosening of the bolts. If two of the four bolts securing the striker became loose, the secondary hood latch function would become ineffective. If this problem combines with a failure of the primary hood lock or if the hood is not properly closed, the hood could open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
- Remedy
- Mercedes-Benz will notify owners, and dealers will check and retighten the bolts as necessary. Mercedes-Benz notified the owners by phone for this campaign starting on 11/21/2012. Owners may contact Mercedes-Benz at 1-800-367-6372.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (23)
23 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The fuel/propulsion system is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 23 |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel/propulsion system | 8 | 34.8% |
| Engine | 4 | 17.4% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 13% |
| Power train | 3 | 13% |
| Service brakes | 3 | 13% |
| Unknown or other | 3 | 13% |
| Steering | 2 | 8.7% |
| Suspension | 2 | 8.7% |
| Visibility | 2 | 8.7% |
| Wheels | 1 | 4.3% |
How 2012 compares with other CLS550 years
Best and worst CLS550 years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 35 | 4 |
| 2008 | 17 | 3 |
| 2009 | 4 | 3 |
| 2010 | 1 | 3 |
| 2011 | 4 | 3 |
| 2012 | 23 | 3 |
| 2013 | 4 | 3 |
| 2014 | 10 | 4 |
| 2015 | 1 | 4 |
| 2017 | 1 | 1 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 20 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $4,100
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 444 g/mi
- EPA class
- Compact Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 20 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.7 L 8-cyl · 7-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 17 / 25 / 20 | $4,100 | 444 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2012 CLS550 for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS550 FAQ
How many recalls does the 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS550 have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 17V177000 (air bag), 15V137000 (lighting), 12V533000 (latch). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS550 problems?
Owners filed 23 complaints with NHTSA. Fuel/propulsion system (8), Engine (4), Electrical system (3) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS550 get?
EPA rates the 4.7 L 8-cyl · 7-speed automatic version at 17 city, 25 highway and 20 combined mpg.
How does the 2012 CLS550 compare with other years?
Among the 2007–2017 Mercedes-Benz CLS550 model years at least five years old, the 2010 drew the fewest complaints (1) and the 2007 the most (35). The 2012 drew 23. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.