Tuesday, September 22, 2026
RecallGazette

Vehicle problems, recalls & safety intelligence

2012 Ford Focus vs 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS550

Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 22, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.

Metric2012 Ford Focus2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS550
NHTSA complaints3,76823
Recall campaigns73
Service bulletins (TSBs)127109
Investigations31
Crash reports1071
Fire reports150
NCAP overall rating4/5
EPA MPG (combined)29–3120
Median reported incident mileage69,993 mi

Reported problems side by side

ComponentFord FocusMercedes-Benz CLS550
Power Train1,4453
Steering9272
Engine4754
Electrical System3523
Structure3320
Fuel/propulsion System2848
Vehicle Speed Control1660
Latches/locks/linkages1340

Symptoms owners describe

Stalling4690
Vibration / shaking4570
Hesitation / surging2880
Check engine light2770
Steering problems1930
Loss of power1810
Shifting problems1020
Overheating690
2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS550

Compare all Ford Focus vs Mercedes-Benz CLS550 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.