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.
Tires, Nov 4, 2007
I HAVE MERCEDES C230 2002, WITH OEM MICHELIN MXV4 PLUS 205/55 R16. ONE TIRE WAS BLOWN AND REPLACED 3 YEARS AGO. NOW ALL TIRES DEVELOP HUGE CRACKS ON THE EDGE OF TREAD AND SIDEWALL AS WELL AS INSIDE OF TREAD. TIRES ARE IN BETWEEN 5/32ND AND 7/32ND TREAD WITH 40K MILES, AND WOULD BE GOOD TO GO FOR ANOTHER 2 YEARS EASILY. BUT, ACCORDING TO MERCEDES AND MICHELIN DEALERS (LES SCHWAB) TIRES UNSAFE TO DRIVE! I CALLED MICHELIN 866-866-6605 NOVEMBER 03-07, AFTER 30 MIN CONVERSATION WITH LES SCHWAB MANAGER INVOLVED, MICHELIN ADMIT MANUFACTURING DEFECT, AND OFFERED 45% OFF NEW TIRES PURCHASE. HERE IS WHAT MICHELIN OFFER ACTUALLY MEANS: 1) 45% DISCOUNT APPLY ONLY TO MICHELIN AND SAME MXV4 PLUS IS $205/EA AND IT MEANS $820 X0.55 = $451 TO PAY. 2) I MUST PAY DISMOUNT + MOUNT + BALANCE + DISPOSAL FEES, WHICH IS $20 PER TIRE X4 = $80, SO TOTAL OUT OF MY POCKET BECOMES $531 +TAX! *JB
Electrical system, Oct 31, 2007
THE LIGHTS ON MY DASH BOARD FLICKER AND DIM , MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE THE SPEEDOMETER AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS. *TR
Electrical system, Oct 30, 2007, fire
MY WIFE DROVE THE CAR IN THE MORNING, NO PROBLEM. EARLY AFTERNOON, SHE LEFT TO PICK UP OUR CHILD, WHILE LEAVING THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE VEHICLE STARTING SENDING WARNING SIGNS CAME ON THE DASH THAT HAD NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE. THEN THICK SMOKE CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL. MY WIFE HAD TO OPEN HER WINDOW. SHE THEN TURNED AROUND TO GO BACK HOME PRIOR TO LEAVING THE COMMUNITY. ON THE WAY BACK THE CAR SLAMMED ON BRAKES BY ITSELF AND CUT ITSELF OFF AND SAID THE VEHICLE HAD 7 FAULTS. RAN UP TO A NEIGHBORS HOME, UPON RETURNING THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND BECAME A TOTAL LOSS. POLICE AND FIRE MARSHAL CAME TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. SINCE THEN, WE HAVE HAD TO TRACK DOWN MERECEDES BENZ AND BASICALLY HAVE HAD NO CUSTOMER SUPPORT WHATSOEVER. WE LOCATED THE VEHICLE FOR MERCEDES AS THEY TOOK THEIR SWEET TIME. THEY DID GET AN INSPECTOR THERE TO VIEW THE VEHICLE BUT HAVE YET TO HEAR ANYTHING FROM THEM REGARDING THIS MATTER. WE HAVE CONTACTED AN ATTORNEY TO PROTECT US AND WANT MERCEDES TO BE HELD LIABLE FOR THIS INCIDENT. SOMETHING WAS VERY WRONG AND WE ARE GRATEFUL THAT NO ONE WAS HURT. *TR
Structure, Sep 29, 2007
THE INSIDE FRONT DOOR HANDLE OF C-CLASS (YEAR2002 OR SIMILAR) IS NO GOOD, IF YOU PARK THE CAR ON THE DOWN SLOPE STREET, AND CLOSE THE FRONT DOOR FROM WIDE OPEN POSITION, THE DOOR HANDLE WILL GIVE AWAY AND BROKEN APART AT THE TOP END WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THE INSIDE DOOR PANEL ONLY WITH A SMALL PLASTIC STUD. I SENT THE COMPLAINT LETTERS TO MERCEDES BENZ USA AS WELL AS MERCEDES BENZ OF SAN FRANCISCO, THEY NEVER RESPONSE. I BELIEVE THE FAILURE OF THE DOOR HANDLE TO PERFORM PROPERLY BECAUSE OF FAULTY DESIGN AND THE MANUFACTURE HAS TO BEAR RESPONSIBLE BY RECALLING THIS TYPE OF DOOR HANDLE. *TR
Electrical system, Seats, Aug 29, 2007
I HAVE A 2002 MERCEDES C320 AND THE CAR'S BATTERY KEEP DYING AND I HAVE TO JUMP START MY CAR EVERY DAY. BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND SAME PROBLEM HAPPENS AGAIN AND AGAIN. I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO HAS THE PROBLEM. IT HAPPENS TO MANY MANY MANY PEOPLE - SEE ATTACHED LINK HTTP://WWW.BENZWORLD.ORG/FORUMS/W203-C-CLASS/1196568-MERCEDES-C320-BATTERY-DRAIN-4.HTML I HAVE PAID THE DEALER $375 JUST FOR THE DIAGNOSES WITH NOTHING FIXED AND ACCORDING TO THESE COMPLAINTS, EVEN AFTER THEY HAVE THE RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT, THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. IT SEEMS LIKE THEY SHOULD HAVE ALL THESE CARS RECALLED AND HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED WHEN IT'S THEIR PRODUCTION/COMPONENT PROBLEM.
Electrical system, Jul 27, 2007
MY 2002 MERCEDES C230 KOMPRESSOR KEEPS DRAINING THE BATTERY. I HAVE HAD THE BATTERY AND THE ALTERNATOR REPLACED. NO ONE, INCLUDING THE DEALER CAN DETERMINE WHAT IS CAUSING THE DRAIN. ONLINE FORUMS FROM MERCEDES OUTLINE THAT THIS IS A REGULAR ISSUE THAT MERCEDES IS AWARE OF, BUT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. *JB
Suspension, Jul 16, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ S55. WHILE DRIVING 95 MPH, THE FRONT SUSPENSION SUDDENLY DROPPED AND RETURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO FOUND THAT THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE IS NOW REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 38,800 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,575.
Seats, Jul 12, 2007
MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, SO I RECEIVED A JUMP, TWO DAYS LATER WHEN I DID NOT DRIVE THE CAR IT WOULD NOT START RECEIVED ANOTHER JUMP AND REPLACED THE BATTERY. DID NOT DRIVE THE CAR FROM 7-4 TO 7-8-07 AND CAR WOULD START. WENT TO MERCEDES DEALERSHIP ON 7-9-07 AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM ON MY CAR THAT THE SEAT MODULES DO NOT POWER DOWN WHEN THE CAR IS OFF AND THAT IT IS DRAINING THE BATTERY. WENT TO SEVERAL MERCEDES-BENZ FORUM WEBSITES AND FOUND THAT THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. ONCE THE SEAT MODULE ARE REPLACED FOR $1200.00 THAT THE SEAT MODULES WOULD CONTINUE TO DRAIN THE BATTERY AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AND THIS BECAME A CYCLE. PLEASE VISIT WEBSITES WWW.BENZWORLD.ORG/FORUMS OR M-BENZFORUM.COM OR TYPE IN GOOGLE OR YAHOO MERCERDES BENZ FORUM AND CONNECT. HERE YOU WILL SEE A LIST OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK
Electrical system, May 27, 2007
THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IN MY 2002 CLK55 AMG STARTED NOT DISPLAYING RANDOM LEDS IN THE TEMPERATURE, TIME AND DRIVE/REVERSE/1/2/3 GEAR. THE RANDOM LOSS OF LEDS IS CONSTANT. I CAN NO LONGER SEE THE TIME, TEMPERATURE OR WHICH GEAR THE CAR IS IN BASED ON THE LED. *TR
Air bags, Apr 12, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ C230. ON 4/10/07 WITH THE FAILURE MILEAGE OF 38,525 THE SRS AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SRS CONTROL UNIT #206-820-64-85 NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE WARRANTY. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYING PREMATURELY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,525. *AK UPDATE 05/04/07*TR
Visibility, Apr 9, 2007
THE SUN ROOF WILL NOT OPERATE. CAR HAS 55,000 MILES ON IT, AND I ONLY USED IT OCCASIONALLY. BEING TOLD THAT IT WASS OVER $2000 TO REPAIR. I GOOGLED THIS PROBLEM ,AND FOUND OVER 1000 ENTRIES OF MERCEDES OWNERS COMPLAINING OF THE SAME ISSUE. OBVIOUSLY, IT WAS AN INHERRENT PROBLEM WITH THIS C230. COULD YOU DO ANYTHING TO HELP?*AK
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 21, 2007
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER 1,000 MILES AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR USED. THE CAR HAD 47,000 MILES. THE ENGINE WAS NOT PERFORMING AS WELL AS IT HAD BEEN. THE DEALER RAN A DIAGNOSTIC WHICH REVEALED SIX SENSORS HAD FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACING. UPON SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION THE DEALER FOUND THAT OIL HAD LEAKED INTO THE SENSORS WIRING HARNESS AND CONTAMINATED THE SENSORS.*AK
Electrical system, Feb 8, 2007
ON FEBRUARY 6, 2007, I TOOK MY MB TO SOVEREIGN MOTOR CARS LTD IN BROOKLYN, BECAUSE OF THE SRS LIGHT. THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED IN 2005 AND THE ABOVE COMPANY TOLD ME THAT IT HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. IN THE MIST OF REPLACING THE ALTERNATOR VIA DRILLING, THE CAP (BOTTOM PART THAT HOLDS THE BOLT) BROKE. I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS IS COMMON BECAUSE OF THE MIXTURE OF ALUMINUM ENGINE AND STEEL CASING. I WAS TOLD MORE THAN 2% OF MERCEDES BENZ VEHICLE THAT ENTER THIS SHOP THE CAP BREAKS AS A RESULT OF OXIDATION AS TOLD BY MR. YELTKIN, SHOP STEWART. SOVEREIGN WANTED ME TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR OF THIS INCIDENT MORE THAN $2000 FOR A FAULTY CAPPING. OR $800 TO HAVE IT WELDED TOGETHER BUT THEN WAS TOLD IT MAY BREAK AGAIN. BOTH BOLTS WERE DAMAGED BUT SOVEREIGN REPLACED THEM WITH TEMPORARY BOLTS TO SHOO ME ON MY WAY. *NM
Electrical system, Seats, Equipment, Feb 2, 2007
BOTH INTERNAL SEAT CONTROL MODULES HAVE ELECTRICAL FAULT. TEST CODE 8E3L-K8NNQ. FOUND 1.66 AMP OF DRAW (OUT OF SPEC. RANGE) AMP DROP WHEN DISCONNECTED: PASSENGER SIDE TO: .1114 AND DRIVER SIDE: 0.59 MILLIAMPS. 1/13 ALARM SOUNDS AND BATTERY DIES. TECHNICIAN REPLACES BATTERY, BUT WARNS LIKELY TO HAPPEN AGAIN-MANY CASES. 1/16 SAME PROBLEM. CAR TAKEN TO OTHER M-B DEALERSHIP. DIAGNOSED AS ABOVE. REPLACED BOTH MODULES 1/25. DEALERSHIP HAD TROUBLE GETTING PART DUE TO UNUSUALLY HIGH VOLUME FOR THIS REPAIR. 18 MODULES GONE OR ON RESERVE IN ONE WEEK IN SANTA MONICA ALONE. MERCEDES CORPORATE OFFICE UNRESPONSIVE. CARMAX DENIES KNOWN FAULT, BUT REPORTS CUSTOMER WITH SAME COMPLAINT PREVIOUS WEEK. *NM
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Dec 13, 2006
2002 C320 MERCEDES BENZ WAGON CAR STALLED IN TRAFFIC WITHOUT WARNING IN CENTER LANE ON BUSY STREET -- AND WOULD NOT RESTART LEAVING CAR AND OCCUPANT VULNERABLE TO CRASH-- DUE TO FAILURE OF CRANK POSITION SENSOR. *JB
Structure, Aug 14, 2006
2002 MERCEDES-BENZ C230K ENGINE STOPPED, CAUSING EVERYTHING TO STOP FUNCTIONING. *KB THE MECHANIC FOUND WATER IN THE CONNECTOR. THE BLOCKAGE WAS CAUSING THE DRAIN TO BACK UP, WHICH WAS CAUSING WATER TO ENTER THROUGH THE ROOF. THE DRIVER SIDE DRAIN LINE WAS CLOGGED WITH LEAVES AND DEBRIS, WHICH DAMAGED SOME ELECTRICAL COMPONETS. *JB
Exterior lighting, Jul 27, 2006
OUR CAR, A 2002 C230K MANUFACTURED BY MERCEDES BENZ, HAS A KNOWN DEFECT WHERE THE TURN SIGNALS FAIL. BOTH OF THE LEFT AND RIGHT TURN SIGNALS FAILED ON OUR CAR RECENTLY, REQUIRING REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER OBVIOUSLY KNOWS THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AND A SAFETY ISSUE, BY VIRTUE OF THE FACT THAT IT HAS ISSUED AT LEAST ONE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TO ITS DEALERS (P-82-10-19SC-JULY 03). RATHER THAN ISSUE INSTRUCTIONS TO HAVE ITS DEALERS REPAIR THE AFFECTED VEHICLES, THE MANUFACTURER HAS CHOSEN TO PLAY "ROULETTE" AND SEE IF THIS SAFETY ISSUE OCCURS WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD. THESE CARS SHOULD ALL BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED. *JB
Other or unspecified, Jul 21, 2006
MERCEDES-BENZ C240 OF 2002 YEAR. WATER LEAKAGE WAS DETECTED NEAR THE ENGINE AND THE FUSE BOX. THE FUSE BOX AND THE EXTERNAL LIGHT SWITCH WERE DAMAGED AND REQUIRED TO REPLACE. THE WATER WAS COMING FROM THE EXTERNAL SUCH AS RAIN.
Suspension, Jul 20, 2006
WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT SUSPENSION COLLAPSED ONTO THE FRONT TIRE. UPON INSPECTION OF THE SUSPENSION THE BOLT CONNECTING THE WHEEL HUB TO THE UPPER PART OF THE MCPHERSON STRUT WAS MISSING. THIS ALLOWED THE STRUT TO FLEX SIDEWAYS WHICH CAUSED THE BOTTOM BRACKET OF THE STRUT CRACK AND FAIL. THIS ALLOWED THE ENTIRE CAR TO FALL ONTO THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE. THE PASSENGERS SIDE FRONT SUSPENSION WAS ALSO INSPECTED AND THE SAME BOLT WAS FOUND TO BE APPROXIMATELY 2/3 LOOSENED. BOTH FRONT STRUTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. FORTUNATELY WHEN THIS HAPPENED TO MY DAUGHTER SHE WAS ONLY DOING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AS SHE HAD JUST MADE A TURN. *NM
Electrical system, Jul 8, 2006
THE LIGHT BULBS IN MY 2002 MERCEDES C320 ARE REPEATEDLY GOING OUT. IN THE LAST YEAR I HAVE REPLACED (OR HAD THE DEALER REPLACE) THE TRUNK LIGHT TWICE, THE LICENSE PLATE LIGHT TWICE, BOTH BRAKE LIGHTS IN THE BACK AT LEAST ONCE. IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS, WE'VE REPLACED THE FRONT LEFT TURN SIGNAL LIGHT 3 TIMES. THE DEALER CLEANED THE CONNECTORS LAST WEEK - SAYS THAT MERCEDES KNOWS OF A FAULTY ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR PROBLEM AND AN EXEC AT MERCEDES WAS FIRED OVER THE BAD CONTRACTOR THEY USED. CURRENTLY THE FRONT LEFT TURN SIGNAL WORKS SPORADICALLY. WE'LL BRING IT IN TO GET REPLACED AND IT WILL WORK, SO I DRIVE IT HOME AND IT STOPS WORKING AGAIN. NOW THE DEALER SAYS I MAY NEED TO REPLACE THE WARNING SOFTWARE (BIG $). HE SUGGESTED I WRITE TO YOU. *JB
Power train, Jun 26, 2006
I HAVE A MERCEDES BENZ C-230 KOMPRESSOR EARLY THIS MONTH IT STARTED TO LURCH AFTER STOPPING THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WE THOUGHT A VEHICLE HAD RUN INTO US BUT COULD FIND NO MARKS, THEN IT STARTED DOING IT AFTER ALMOST EVERY STOP, THE DEALER, CHANDLER MERCEDES BENZ HAS THE CAR NOW BUT CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM, AND YES IT HAS DONE IT WHILE THEY DROVE IT. *JB
Power train, Electrical system, May 18, 2006
THE TRANSMISSION HAS REPEATEDLY LOCKED IN 2ND GEAR. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHOWS CONSTANT LIGHT, COOLANT AND AIR BAG FAILURES. THE MEMORY FOR SEATS, MIRRORS AND THE STEERING WHEEL DEFAULTS ABOUT 30% OF THE TIME. I BOUGHT THIS CAR THROUGH M-B DIPLOMATIC SALES PROGRAM WHILE SERVING IN CANADA AND BROUGHT IT TO THE USA ON RETIREMENT. M-B CANADA WON'T HELP BECAUSE THE CAR IS IN THE US. M-B USA WON'T HELP BECAUSE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN CANADA. M-B CORPORATE IN GERMANY SIMPLY REFERRED MY CASE BACK TO M-B USA. I AM NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. I WANT M-B TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY ANOTHER 4 YEARS OR 50K MILES. THE CAR IS A DISASTER. *JB
Electrical system, May 15, 2006
ERROR MESSAGE APPEARING ON MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAY STATING THAT "UNDER VOLTAGE CONSUMER DEFECTIVE!" ALONG WITH A "BATTERY/ALTERNATOR VISIT WORKSHOP" ERROR. TAKING THE CAR TO A SERVICE STATION INDICATES THAT THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR IS FAULTY. CURRENTLY THERE IS A RECALL FOR ALL MERCEDES MODELS EXCEPT MINE IN THE USA. EVENTUALLY THE BATTERY BECAME DISCHARGED. *JB
Other or unspecified, Apr 22, 2006
I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE IN THE SHOP FOR WELL OVER 40+ DAYS REGARDING A VIBRATION THAT CAUSES ME TO BELIEVE IT COULD BE SAFETY RELATED. I'M ALMOST AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE SINCE THE DEALER CAN NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND HAS NO IDEA OF WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. MY VEHICLE IS A 2002 MERCEDES C240. AT THE PRESENT TIME I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT MY VEHICLE GOING ON 6 WEEKS, THIS IS THE 6TH OR 7TH TIME IT HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER. *JB
Latches/locks/linkages, Mar 22, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE DOOR LATCHES ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE MALFUNCTIONED TRAPPING THE OCCUPANTS INSIDE. THE CONTACT ESCAPED THE VEHICLE BY USING A CROWBAR TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THEY ADJUSTED THE LOCKS AND REPLACED THE REGULATOR HOWEVER THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.*AK