Mercedes-Benz C250 Engine Problems
Owners have filed 129 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the Mercedes-Benz C250 across 3 model years. The 2012 model year has the most (61). The words owners use most often: “timing chain” (19% of reports).
- 129engine complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $5,950typical repair cost reported by owners
- 45%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Timing chain: mentioned in 24 of 129 complaints (19%)
- Cam shaft: mentioned in 16 of 129 complaints (12%)
- Camshaft adjusters: mentioned in 13 of 129 complaints (10%)
- Rattling noise: mentioned in 9 of 129 complaints (7%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the Mercedes-Benz C250 at $5,950, and half of them between $5,350 and $7,000.
Based on 27 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2016–2022), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 89 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 129 complaints, 2 mention a crash, 7 a fire, 2 an injury.
Mercedes-Benz C250 engine complaints by model year
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists engine for the Mercedes-Benz C250. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
my car overheats badly and shakes and it is starting to smoke from the hood in snowy conditions
The vehicle was represented to me as safe to drive, with no major mechanical issues, and that it would pass emissions after only a simple minor fix. After I took possession, the check engine light came on. The car began running rough and showing hesitation. A scan immediately showed a camshaft…
I was coming off the freeway on 9/25/25, and when I pressed on the breaks they completely locked up and would not break at all. The car turned off, no warning lights nothing, and I continued to hit the break and the car would not stop, then all of a sudden it came to a stop almost colliding within…
The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz C250. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal rattling sound coming from the vehicle with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle to the shoulder of the road. The contact stated that…
My Mercedes Benz 2014 W204 C250 initially had a noise during startup. The startup noise became louder and now my car does not start. Also, the check engine light indicate a cam shaft position sensor error. Looking online it appears that my problem is exactly like the problem described in a NHTSA…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Mercedes-Benz C250s have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 129 owner complaints about engine for the Mercedes-Benz C250. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Mercedes-Benz C250 engine?
No recall currently lists engine for this vehicle.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the Mercedes-Benz C250?
Owners report a typical cost of $5,950 (half paid between $5,350 and $7,000), from 27 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the Mercedes-Benz C250?
The most frequent phrase is “timing chain”, in 24 of 129 complaints, followed by “cam shaft” (16).
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