The 2012 Mercedes-Benz Cls550 has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 30,215 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 31 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the fuel/propulsion system. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM17V1770002017-03-1451 affected
Defect
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,…
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.
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. …
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.
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…
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.
Complaints by component
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
8
ENGINE
4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
3
POWER TRAIN
3
1crashes2injuries
SERVICE BRAKES
3
1crashes2injuries
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
3
STEERING
2
1crashes2injuries
SUSPENSION
2
VISIBILITY
1
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
1
Total complaints31
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Mercedes-benz offers an extended warranty, effectively a 20-year/unlimited mileage coverage, for the rear subframe due to corrosion with perforation, covering specific model years my vehicles make and model are included. I’m having the issues they claim free repair for.”
“For several months I been smelling different odors from my 2012 cls550, getting stronger as the weeks go by now smelling like gas, would noticed puddles whenever I parked from rear driver side area towards middle, just got the news from the mechanic that the driver side fuel gas pump is cracked…”
“There is a strong odor of gasoline coming from the drivers side rear. I conducted a google search on the issue and there are a lot of instances of the same thing. It appears to be the gas tank sending unit, they have a tendency to crack and leak.”
“I have mercedes benz cls 550. Whenever I fill up a tank full, I smell gas in the car and in my garage. After researching the cause of this issue , I found its a common issue with mercedes benz older vehicles where the fuel sender unit cracks and start leaking gas which is located under the rear…”
“Premature rusting on brake and fuel lines which lead to further issues with driveability and saftey. This us caused by the same defects leading to the premature rust on the subframe that can cause a serious wreck on the interstate.”
“Premature rusting on brake and fuel lines which lead to further issues with driveability and saftey. This us caused by the same defects leading to the premature rust on the subframe that can cause a serious wreck on the interstate.”
“Premature rusting on brake and fuel lines which lead to further issues with driveability and saftey. This us caused by the same defects leading to the premature rust on the subframe that can cause a serious wreck on the interstate.”
“The vehicle sunroof exploded while traveling on the interstate. Stopped and inspected the vehicle to find no impact objects inside the vehicle. Later reviewed online that this was a common problem with this modern mercedes and the item is already under recall but not my year. I have a 2012 and the…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA21002 Opened 2021-09-17 · open
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…
InvestigationEA21002 Opened 2021-09-17 · open
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…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz Cls550 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.