2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 184 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 12th highest complaint count among 23 C-Class model years with reports.
Of the 2002 reports, 8 involved a crash and 10 involved a fire. 10 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints
184 reports, newest first.
Visibility, Jul 3, 2009
DRIVERS OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR HAS BECOME DISCOLORED AND IS NOW VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE IMAGES PARTICULARLY AT NIGHT. DEALER QUOTED $800 FOR MIRROR GLASS ONLY! *TR
Power train, Visibility, Structure, Latches/locks/linkages, Equipment, May 20, 2009
I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME EXACT PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY AS WELL THE POWER SEAT MODULE DRAINING THE BATTERY WITH NUMEROUS JUMP STARTS. THIS OCCURRED JUST TWO WEEKS AFTER GLADLY PURCHASING MY "FIVE POINT CERTIFIED" 2002 C320 WAGON. MERCEDES BENZ OF GREENSBORO ALSO WOULD NOT FIX CHIPPING ON THE FRONT BUMPER. STATES BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS LOW PROFILE THE BUMPER SUSTAINED THIS EXTENSIVE PEELING AS A RESULT. PEELING IS LOCATED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT TOP TO BOTTOM. SERVICE DEPT MANAGER ACKNOWLEDGED THE FACT THAT DEALERSHIP DID A POOR JOB AT REPAIRING THE PRE-EXISTING DAMAGE PRIOR TO SELLING. AFTER ONE CARWASH THE CHIPPING WAS VERY NOTICEABLE AND INCREASED WITH EACH WASH. THE SALEMANS WOULD NOT AGREE. PAINT STILL PEELING AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. I HAVE REFUSED TO PAY FOR A PRE-EXISTING PROBLEM, BUT WILL PROBABLY INCUR THIS EXPENSE JUST TO TRADE THE CAR. THE TRUNK MAKES A HORRIBLE RATTLING NOISE WHILE TRAVELING AT LOW OR HIGH SPEED. NUMEROUS LIGHTS REPLACED OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS. REAR VIEW MIRROR WILL NOT LOCK INTO POSITION WHEN INTERIOR OF CAR EXCEED 60-70 DEGREES BECAUSE RUBBER SEAL BECOMES TOO HOT. ALSO AT STATED TEMPERATURE THE DIGITAL MESSAGE BOARD BECOMES OBSCURE AND UNREADABLE. TIRES NEEDING TO BE REPLACED OFTEN. EMISSIONS PROBLEMS, TRULY THE LIST GOES ON. IN FACT, THE REASON I'M POSTING THIS COMPLAINT IS BECAUSE I HAVE THE TIME TO. MY CAR IS SITTING OUTSIDE AND WILL NOT START. POSSIBLY FUEL PUMP/SENSOR- A $700 REPAIR. I'M TIRED AND HAVE REACHED MY LIMIT WITH THE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS, TRULY. PERSONALLY FEEL INJURED AFTER SUSTAINING SUCH UNFAIR TREATMENT AND INCONVENIENCE AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO NEGOTIATE REPAIRS. PRAYERFULLY EXPECTING RECALLS AND FULL RESTITUTION FOR THE MONEY TIED UP IN THIS VEHICLE, BE IT FROM THE MANUFACTURER OR DEALERSHIP. ALL DOCUMENTATION OF SERVICE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. THE INTEGRITY OF MB ALONG WITH ITS REPUTATION HAS PROVEN NOT TO BE ONE OF IT LONG STATED HISTORY. SADLY, I AM DISAPPOINTED. *TR
Electrical system, May 18, 2009
BATTERY DRAINING, OFFICIAL DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY WHAT IS CAUSING DRAIN. *TR
Seats, May 4, 2009
POWER SEAT CONTROLLER BECOMES DEFECTIVE AND FAILS TO SHUT DOWN WHEN CAR IS OFF AND LOCKED, AND THUS DRAINS THE BATTERY. *TR
Electrical system, Apr 29, 2009
BATTERY GOES DEAD AFTER A FEW DAYS: MAJOR CAUSE IS ELECTRICAL POWER DRAIN DUE TO FAULTY UNITS, MAJOR CAUSE BUT NOT ONLY CAUSE IS THE SEAT CONTROL MODULE UNIT. QUICK FIX IS TO DISCONNECT TO ELIMINATE POWER DRAIN BUT THIS CAUSES OTHER SAFETY FEATURES TO GO DORMANT. I HAVE READ MORE THAN 100 REPORTS ON BENZWORLD.ORG ON THE VERY SAME ISSUE WITH LITTLE OR NO SOLUTION FROM DEALERSHIPS. ITS A MAJOR AND COMMON PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE RECALLED BEFORE PEOPLE GET HURT. *TR
Seats, Mar 1, 2009
DEFECTIVE SEAT CONTROLLER MODULES ( DRIVER AND PASSENGER ) CAUSE THE BATTERY TO DRAIN COMPLETELY WITHIN 24 HOURS. THIS LEAVES ME STRANDED AND UNABLE TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE. A SEARCH ONLINE REVEALS MULTIPLE OTHER WITH THE SAME ISSUES...INDICATING AN OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT IS WELL KNOWN TO THE MANUFACTURER WITH NO RESOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM FROM THE MANUFACTURER OTHER THAN PAYING $1000 FOR A KNOWN DEFECTIVE ISSUE/PART. *TR
Electrical system, Jan 11, 2009
2002 MERCEDES BENZ C320 STATION WAGON: FAILURE TO KEEP A CHARGE IN THE BATTERY, AND APPARENTLY THE SOLUTION IS TO DISCONNECT THE POWER SEATS AND THEN RECHARGE THE BATTERY. BUT THEN THE POWER SEATS ARE INOPERABLE, UNLESS YOU GET THESE REPLACED. APPARENTLY, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR
Seats, Jan 10, 2009
FAULTY SEAT CONTROLLER OF A MERCEDES C32 AMG, DRAINS CAR BATTERY OVERNIGHT, CAUSES NEW BATTERY REPLACEMENT AND CONTROLLER REPLACEMENT (NOT CHEAP - APPR $400). NO NEW CONTROLLER PURCHASED FROM MB USA, JUST DISCONNECTED PLUG (MOVING SEAT IS INOPERABLE). I NOTICED ALMOST ALL US MERCEDES BENZ VEHICLES WITH THAT BODY STYLE (W203) HAVE THAT ISSUE. SOURCES: BAY AREA DEALERSHIPS, A REPAIR SHOP AND ONLINE FORUMS. *TR
Seats, Jan 6, 2009
SEAT CONTROL MODULE ON PASSENGER SIDE DRAINS THE BATTERY. *TR
Seats, Jan 5, 2009
CAR BATTERY DRAINS DUE TO A SHORT IN THE POWER SEAT CONTROL UNITS IN MY 2002 MERCEDES BENZ C320. REPLACED BATTERY, RECHARGED BATTERY NUMEROUS TIMES. EVERY OTHER OWNER OF THIS MAKE / MODEL COMPLAINS OF SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Electrical system, Seats, Dec 19, 2008
SEAT CONTROLLER MODULES, THEY CONSTANTLY DRAIN THE BATTERY WHEN THE CAR IS OFF. THIS IS A VERY VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH MERCEDES C CLASS. THE CONTROLLER DRAINS THE CAR BATTERY TO THE POINT WERE THE CAR CANNOT START, AND CONTINUES TO DO THIS IF THE CAR IS NOT DRIVEN EVERYDAY. OBVIOUSLY HAVING A CAR BATTERY GET SUCKED BELOW 3V IS NOT HEALTHY FOR THE BATTERY, AND IN THE END EVERYONE WITH THIS PROBLEM HAS TO REPLACE THEIR BATTERY MANY MANY TIMES. *TR
Latches/locks/linkages, Nov 13, 2008
DOOR LOCK MALFUNCTION - WHILE DRIVING, I HEARD SOMETHING COME FROM THE LEFT/DRIVER SIDE...IT SOUNDED LIKE A BOX OR SOMETHING FELL FROM MY REAR SEAT, ONTO THE FLOOR AND UNDER MY SEAT. *TR I SAT IN THE CAR, UNLOCKING/LOCKING, AND IT CONTINUED TO GO NUTS...EVEN THE CENTRAL LOCKING BUTTON ON THE DASH FAILED TO WORK A FEW TIMES... LOOKS LIKE A DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR PROBLEM THAT COSTS ABOUT $400 TO FIX. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Nov 6, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ C230. ON OCTOBER 15, 2008, WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED TO 15 MPH ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE GARAGE. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RADIATOR FAILED AND COOLANT FLUID PENETRATED THE TRANSMISSION RESERVED FLUID. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE RADIATOR AND CLEANED THE TRANSMISSION AT THE COST OF $5,000. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WILL EVENTUALLY ALSO NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,146 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 59,000. UPDATED 02/24/09. *LJ UPDATED 02/25/09. *JB
Seats, Oct 9, 2008
THE CAR PARKED IN THE GARAGE OVERNIGHT AND THE MORNING I HAD AN EMERGENCY AT THE BUSINESS AND COULD NOT START THE CAR. THE BATTERY WAS TOTALLY DRAINED. HAD IT TOWED TO THE SHOP TO BE DIAGNOSED THAT IT WAS THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE POWER SEAT THAT HAS DRAINED ALL THE ENERGY FROM THE BATTERY EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS NOT RUNNING. THE POWER SEAT IS NOW CONTINUOUSLY EXCESSIVELY DRAIN THE BATTERY EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS NOT RUNNING. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE THAT THE CAR IS NOT TRUSTED TO BE ABLE TO START IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION WHEN THE CAR IS NEEDED FOR TRANSPORTATION. THE CAR HAS VERY LOW MILEAGE ON IT. THE POWER SEAT HAS BEEN RARELY USED AND IT SHOULD NOT FAIL FOR HAVING BEEN IDLE/NOT USED FOR THE LENGTH OF TIME THAT I HAVE OWN THE CAR. I AM THE ORIGINAL FIRST TIME OWNER OF THE CAR AND I HARDLY HAVE TO ADJUST THE POWER SEAT. I BELIEVE THAT THE POWER SEAT IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT AND COULD BE A DANGEROUS IMPEDIMENT IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. THE ARE LOTS OF MERCEDES OWNER WHO HAVE EXPERIENCING THE SAME MALFUNCTION IN THEIR POWER SEATS. I FEEL THAT WITH THESE MANY PEOPLE, IT WARRANTS A RECALL BY MERCEDES FOR ALL THE POWER SEATS. *TR
Suspension, Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Aug 26, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ C CLASS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH OR HIGHER, THE ESP INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED ONCE BEFORE FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WILL NOT ORDER THE PARTS AND MAKE THE REPAIR AGAIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATED 09/23/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED IN BRAKING MODE.
Engine and engine cooling, Seats, Jun 13, 2008
I OWN A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ C230, WHICH HAS NOW HAD 2 SEVERE ISSUES WITH IT. THE FIRST ISSUE IS THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - THE SEAT CONTROL MODULES GO FAULTY AND START DRAINING THE BATTERY EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. IF YOU HAVE A BATTERY DRAIN, THIS IS THE LIKELY CULPRIT. I HAVE REPLACED THE SEAT CONTROL MODULES A TOTAL OF 3 TIMES. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ACCORDING TO INTERNET BOARDS. THE 2ND PROBLEM IS THAT OIL STARTED TO LEAK ALL OVER THE WIRES. AGAIN ANOTHER COMMON PROBLEM ACCORDING TO THE INTERNET BOARDS. *TR
Seat belts, May 28, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ C-230. THE CONTACT'S CHILD WRAPPED THE NEAREST REAR SEAT BELT AROUND HER NECK, WHILE SEATED IN HER CHILD SEAT. WHILE THE SEAT BELT WAS AROUND THE CHILD'S NECK, IT WOULD NOT LOOSEN AND WAS EXTENDED TO THE POINT THAT THE SEAT BELT COULD ONLY RETRACT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE POLICE AND THEY CUT THE SEAT BELT FROM AROUND THE CHILD'S NECK. SHE WAS UNINJURED FROM THE SEAT BELT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 60,000.
Electrical system, May 8, 2008
THE BATTERY IN MY 2002 MERCEDES BENZ C320 DIED IN LATE FEBRUARY 2008. DIAGNOSTICS WERE DONE AND THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED BY BY CHANDLER MERCEDES BENZ VIA ROADSIDE SERVICE. IN LATE MARCH I GOT INTO THE CAR TO GO TO WORK AND THE BATTERY WAS DEAD; CALLED ROADSIDE SERVICE. CHANDLER MB ARRIVED AND JUMP-STARTED THE CAR. MAY 5TH I GOT IN MY CAR TO GO TO WORK AND AGAIN, THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. CHANDLER MB ROADSIDE SERVICE AGAIN JUMP-STARTED THE CAR WHICH WAS THEN DELIVERED TO THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THE BATTERY WAS CHECKED AND THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. FURTHER DIAGNOSTICS REVEALED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE POWER SEAT MODULE WAS DRAINING THE BATTERY. I REQUESTED A BATTERY THAT COULD POWER THE CAR. WAS TOLD THERE IS NO BATTERY THAT WILL POWER THE CAR, THE POWER SEAT MODULE MUST BE REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF $398.00 PLUS LABOR. I DID FURTHER RESEARCH AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A VERY WIDESPREAD PROBLEM IN THE MERCEDES C320, IN FACT MERCEDES BENZ IS NOW INSTALLING A DIFFERENT MODULE IN THE 2002 C320'S DUE TO THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT WHEN I BUY A MERCEDES BENZ WITH A MERCEDES BENZ BATTERY AND A MERCEDES BENZ INSTALLED POWER SEAT MODULE, THERE SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT POWER TO DRIVE MY CAR. ASKING ME TO PAY OVER $400 TO REPLACE THEIR OWN PART BECAUSE IT DRAWS TOO MUCH POWER FROM THEIR OWN BATTERY AND THEN NOT MANUFACTURING A BATTERY THAT WILL PROVIDE THE REQUIRED POWER, IS VERY CONVENIENT FOR MERCEDES BENZ AND A GREAT WAY TO MAKE SOME VERY EASY MONEY, BUT WHEN I PAY $35,000 IN CONSIDERATION FOR A CAR AND THEY PROVIDE ME A CAR THAT DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH POWER TO RUN, I BELIEVE THERE IS SOME FRAUD GOING ON AND FROM MY RESEARCH IT APPEARS THAT IT IS ON A VERY WIDESPREAD BASIS. JUST THE FACT THAT MERCEDES HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM BY SWITCHING TO A DIFFERENT MODULE, INDICATES THEY ARE AWARE THAT THEIR ORIGINAL PART IS DEFECTIVE AND I BELIEVE IT'S THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO BEAR THE COST TO REPLACE IT WITH THEIR REPLACEMENT MODULE. *TR
Tires, Apr 8, 2008
WE PURCHASED A NEW SET OF MICHELIN PILOT SPORT 2 TIRES AT COSTCO IN POWAY, CA ON 10/8/07 FOR MY WIFE'S MERCEDES. AFTER JUST LESS THAN SIX MONTHS AND UNDER 6,800 MILES, WE NOTICED HER LEFT TIRE WAS LOW. SUSPECTING SHE HAD PICKED UP A NAIL OR SUCH, WE FULLY INFLATED THE TIRE AND DROVE THE THREE MILES TO COSTCO. THE REPRESENTATIVE THERE, PATRICK, CALLED ME TO SAY IT WAS A NAIL BUT IT HAD DAMAGED THE SIDEWALL AND THE TIRE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. WHEN I WENT BACK TO THE TIRE CENTER, PATRICK'S SUPERVISOR, WILLIAM KENNISON, INSISTED THAT SIX MONTHS AND 6800 MILES WERE PERFECTLY NORMAL LIFE EXPECTANCY NUMBERS FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE TIRES. HE INFORMED ME THERE WAS OVER 75% OF THE TREAD ON THE FRONT TIRES (DIFFERENT SIZE THAN THE REARS 225/45R17 VS. 245/40R17) BUT ONLY 38% ON THE LEFT REAR AND 0% ON THE RIGHT REAR. I NEVER SAW THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. HIS MANAGER, HERB, WAS OFF DUTY BUT WAS SUPPOSED TO CALL ME ON MONDAY TO DISCUSS MY DISSATISFACTION. HE NEVER CALLED. I PAID $379 AND CHANGE AND LEFT WITH A NEW PAIR OF REAR TIRES. MY WIFE WILL BE 56 NEXT WEEK. SHE IS A NURSE PRACTITIONER AND PRIMARILY DRIVES THIS CAR TO WORK AND OUR DAUGHTER'S SCHOOL. IT HAS BEEN ON THREE ROAD TRIPS TO UCLA FROM SAN DIEGO SINCE WE BOUGHT NEW TIRES IN OCTOBER. THERE IS NOTHING UNUSUAL OR AGGRESSIVE IN MY WIFE'S DRIVING STYLE AND THE FACTORY TIRES LASTED 40,075 MILES. CLEARLY, THESE TIRES CAME FROM A BAD BATCH AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. HAD WE NOT HAD A LOW TIRE THE CONSEQUENCES MIGHT HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. I HAVE NOTIFIED COSTCO AND MICHELIN. COSTCO INVOICE #007750053220 DATED 10/08/2007. MEMBERSHIP #111760783421. BARRY LOVELL. *TR
Electrical system, Mar 25, 2008
2002 MERCEDES C320 BATTERY DIES EVERY 2-3 DAYS. NEEDS JUMP START EVERY 2-3 DAYS. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 3, 2008
I HAVE A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ C240 SEDAN WITH 78,000 MILES ON IT. UPON LEAVING WORK TWO WEEKS AGO DRIVING DOWN THE PARKING LOT IN SECOND GEAR THE CAR STARTED TO MAKE THE WORST ENGINE NOISE I EVER HEARD. I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALER AND THEY TELL ME THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE. IF I WAS TRAVELING DOWN AN INTERSTATE AND THIS BROKE AND THE ENGINE LOST POWER WHO KNOWS WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. THIS IN NOT THE FIRST PROBLEM I HAD WITH THE CAR I HAVE A SERVICE FILE FULL OF PROBLEMS AND SPENT A LOT OF TIME AND MONEY ON THINGS LIKE FRONT COIL SPRINGS WHICH ALSO COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS WHEN THEY BREAK AND I LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR. *TR
Electrical system, Seats, Feb 9, 2008
I OWN A MERCEDES BENZ C320 AND LATELY I'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING SOME PROBLEMS, FEW WEEKS AGO, MY CAR WOULDN'T START ALL OF A SUDDEN. I JUMP STARTED AND I NOTICED 2 FAULTS .. ESP WARNING LIGHT AND LIGHT SENSOR ,FOR SOME REASONS SOMETHING WAS DRAINING MY BATTERY, I WENT AND PURCHASED A BRAND NEW BATTERY AND 2 DAYS LATER IT DID THE SAME THING AGAIN, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A SEAT SENSOR THAT CAUSED IT,S O WE UNPLUGGED THE SEATS, EVERYTING SEAMED FINE FOR LIKE 4 TO 5 DAYS,WHILE I WAS DRIVING,THE CAR JUST CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP WOULD NOT MOVE,THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, I'VE COME TO REALIZE THAT I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM, I HOPE THE GOVERNMENT WOULD DO THE RIGHT THING BY RECALLING THOSE VEHICLES. *TR
Electrical system, Jan 13, 2008
ON MY MERCEDES BENZ C320, IF THE CAR IS NOT STARTED AT LEAST EVERY 12 HOURS, THE CAR WILL NOT START AND IT NEEDS A JUMP. THE CAR IS A 2002 AND HAS 51K MILES. *TR
Electrical system, Jan 9, 2008
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY OUT OF STATE AT APPROX. 60MPH CAR SUDDENLY BUCKED AND ALL POWER CUT OUT, ALL LIGHTS ON CONTROL PANEL LIT UP- HIT CLUTCH AND GAS, VEHICLE RESTARTED. NEAREST DEALER WOULD NOT SEE ME FOR 2 WEEKS, DEALER IN ANOTHER STATE DID DIAGNOSTIC ESTIMATED REPAIR AT CLOSE TO $4,000; ALREADY GAVE OVER $1800 AS DOWNPAYMENT TOWARD PARTS. REPAIR ? SCHEDULED FOR NEXT WEEK. READ OTHER COMPLAINTS, BELIEVE MANUFACTURER SHOULD TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY HERE, AND WANT REASSURANCE IF REPAIR DOES NOT WORK I WILL NOT BE CONTINUOUSLY CHARGED WHILE THEY REPLACE EVERYTHING UNTIL THE GET IT RIGHT. SAID COMPUTER DID NOT READ A DEFECT. CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED BY DEALERS ONLY AT EVERY RECOMMENDED SERVICE MILESTONE. *TR
Electrical system, Nov 7, 2007
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