2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS550 vs 2012 Volkswagen Jetta
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS550 | 2012 Volkswagen Jetta |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 23 | 499 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 5 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 108 | 1,479 |
| Investigations | 1 | 5 |
| Crash reports | 1 | 24 |
| Fire reports | 0 | 6 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | 4/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20 | 25–32 |
| Median reported incident mileage | — | 58,500 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Mercedes-Benz CLS550 | Volkswagen Jetta |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 3 | 138 |
| Engine | 4 | 84 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 8 | 47 |
| Power Train | 3 | 46 |
| Steering | 2 | 41 |
| Service Brakes | 3 | 34 |
| Air Bags | 0 | 34 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 0 | 24 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 0 | 54 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 26 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 19 |
| Airbag warning light | 0 | 15 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 9 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 9 |
| Clunking / rattling | 0 | 7 |
| Won’t start | 0 | 6 |
2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS550
2012 Volkswagen Jetta
Compare all Mercedes-Benz CLS550 vs Volkswagen Jetta 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.