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.
Engine and engine cooling, Jul 2, 2003, fire
THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IGNITED AND CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO CONTENTS NEXT TO VEHICLE IGNITING. *MR THE DEALER, WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SUGGESTED THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS DUE TO "FIX A FLAT." THE MANUFACTURER REPRESENTATIVE AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, DETERMINED THE FIRE STARTED DUE TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WHICH WAS DIRECTLY UNDER THE AREA THAT BURNED. *SCC *JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jun 20, 2003
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE ABS LIGHTS WOULD COME ON. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 15, 2003
ENGINE FAILS IN TRAFFIC AND STOPS, STARTS BACK UP IMMEDIATELY. I HADN'T REPORTED EARLIER CASES BECAUSE I ASSUMED IT WAS ME GETTING USE TO A NEW CAR. THIS IS A STANDARD TRANSMISSION VEHICLE WITH SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT GEARING THAN I AM USE TO. *NLM
Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, Gasoline, May 23, 2003
THE CAR STALLED ON ME TWICE. ONE TIME ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 65 M/H. THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AND CAME BACK ON. THE SECOND TIME ON A STREET ROAD GOING 25M/H. THE DEALERSHIP CHECKED IT BOTH TIMES AND THEY SAID THE COMPUTER SHOWS NO MALFUNCTIONS AND THEY CAN'T FIGURE OUT THE CAUSE. HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE.
Structure, May 21, 2003
WHILE MAKING LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS THE VEHICLE MADE A CRUNCHING NOISE IN THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS (MERCEDES BENZ CLK55AMG 2002). *NLM
Service brakes, Hydraulic, May 20, 2003
WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME STUCK. *JB
Air bags, Equipment, Apr 26, 2003, fire
DEPLOYED AIRBAGS INJURE 2 PA. FIREFIGHTERS DAVE SOMMERS, STAFF WRITER APRIL 24, 2003 EDGELY, PA. FIREFIGHTERS FACE A LOT OF HAZARDS EVERY TIME THEY SUIT UP. BUT THEY DON'T EXPECT TO BE STRUCK BY AUTOMOBILE AIRBAGS SUCH AS WHAT OCCURRED ON TUESDAY WHEN EDGELY FIRE COMPANY FIREFIGHTERS RESPONDED TO A CAR FIRE IN THE 3M INDUSTRIAL PARK IN BRISTOL TOWNSHIP. IN FACT, OFFICIALS SAID ANDY TAGGART, 25, WAS KNOCKED OUT WHEN THE DRIVER-SIDE AIRBAG ON A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ INEXPLICABLY DEPLOYED AS THE VETERAN FIREFIGHTER WAS CHECKING THE DASH FOR DAMAGE. A SECOND FIREFIGHTER, RYAN FLANAGAN, 18, WAS SLIGHTLY INJURED WHEN HE WAS STRUCK IN THE HEAD BY A PARTIALLY DEPLOYING AIRBAG AS HE WAS CHECKING THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FRONT DASH, OFFICIALS SAID. BOTH WERE RUSHED TO ST. MARY MEDICAL CENTER IN LANGHORNE WHERE THEY WERE KEPT FOR OBSERVATION AND THEN RELEASED EARLY YESTERDAY. FLANAGAN SAID EDGELY RESPONDED TO THE FIRE SCENE AROUND 9:38 P.M. AFTER LEARNING THAT A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ WAS ON FIRE IN FRONT OF A&Z AUTOMOTIVE ON MANNING BOULEVARD. WHEN FIREFIGHTERS ARRIVED, THEY SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH AND BEGAN TO GET THE SITUATION UNDER CONTROL. THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG BLEW WITH SUCH FORCE IT KNOCKED TAGGART UNCONSCIOUS WHILE THE PASSENGER SIDE BAG, WHICH ONLY PARTIALLY DEPLOYED, STRUCK A GLANCING BLOW OFF THE SIDE OF RYAN FLANAGAN'S HEAD. BOTH FIREFIGHTERS WERE WEARING HELMETS, WHICH LIKELY SAVED THEM FROM FURTHER INJURY. AEROSTAR, THE SECURITY COMPANY WHICH ELECTRONICALLY MONITORS LUXURY CARS SUCH AS THE MERCEDES, HAD AUTOMATICALLY CALLED 911 WHEN IT DETECTED A FIRE UNDER THE DASHBOARD. THE AEROSTAR SYSTEM ALSO AUTOMATICALLY UNLOCKED THE CARS DOORS AND CONTACTED THE OWNER, WHO WAS NOT WITH THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME. THE FIRE INSIDE THE MERCEDES WAS EXTINGUISHED BEFORE IT COULD CAUSE MUCH DAMAGE. *NLM
Electrical system, Equipment, Apr 22, 2003
THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A SAFETY FEATURE WHICH AUTOMATICALLY REDUCES THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE TO 20-30 MPH WHEN VARIOUS SENSORS DETECT SOME SORT OF MECHANICAL DIFFICULTY. WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH THE SAFETY FEATURE ACTIVATED AND THE VEHICLE SPEED WAS REDUCED. THE DRIVER WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TOT HE DEALER. I WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT A FAULTY ESP CONTROL MODULE SENT A FALSE WARNING TO THE SYSTEM THAT MADE THE VEHICLE REDUCE SPEED. THE CONSUMER FEELS THIS FEATURE WAS DESIGNED POORLY AND THAT IT SHOULD BE DESIGNED SO IT COULD BE MANUALLY OVERRIDDEN (MERCEDES BENZ S430 2002). *MR *SCC *NLM
Structure, Apr 16, 2003
MY 2002 MERCEDES BENZ CLK 430 CABRIOLET (YOUR WEB SITE DOES NOT LIST THIS MODEL OR THE CLK 55) HAS A WARPED REAR SUB-FRAME AND THERE WAS NO INCIDENT TO CAUSE THIS. THE DEALER TOLD ME THE CAR WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND CHARGED 3000 TO FIX! *NLM
Fuel system, Gasoline, Power train, Exterior lighting, Equipment, Other or unspecified, Apr 14, 2003
3/03 WITHIN 3 MONTHS OF PURCHASING MY 2002 C-240, THE AIR CONDITIONING STOPPED WORKING, FUEL GAUGE FAILED, HEADLIGHT WASHER BROKE, AND ONE OF THE VENTS ON THE DASH FELL APART. TOOK IN FOR SERVICE AND WAS GIVEN ANOTHER 2002 C-240, AND WHILE DRIVING THE LOANER CAR IN THE MOUNTAINS, IT BEGAN DOWN SHIFTING ITSELF AND THERE WAS NO POWER. CAR WOULD COME TO COMPLETE STOP AND THEN WOULD START MOVING AGAIN. HAPPENED 6 TIMES. MERCEDES DEALER THOUGHT WAS ISOLATED INCIDENT. I FELT IT WAS VERY SERIOUS AS I WAS ON INTERSTATE WHEN IT WOULD SUDDENLY STOP IN TRAFFIC. COULD HAVE CAUSED A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. 4/03 AIR CONDITIONING NOT WORKING AGAIN. *NLM
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 3, 2003
PROBLEMS BEGAN AT 10,000 MILES AUG 2002. BROUGHT CAR TO DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES SINCE OCT 2002 AND DEALERSHIP SAY THEIR DIAGNOSTIC TESTS SHOW NO PROBLEM AND THE STALLING/ROUGH IDLE IS NORMAL. THEY CAN'T FIND ANY ISSUES. *JB CAR STALLS (DEPENDING ON THE WEATHER)- WORSE ON HUMID DAYS, BUT EVERYDAY RUNS REALLY ROUGH UPON START UP. 50% OF THE TIME WILL COMPLETELY STALL. OTHER 50% IF I GAS THE CAR, IT RUNS REALLY ROUGH, BUT GETS ME OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. CAR ROUGHLY SWITCHES TO DRIVE. VERY LITTLE POWER WHEN SWITCHING TO DRIVE AND DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THE CAR REDLINES UNTIL I GET TO ABOUT 20 MPH AND DOESN'T SEEM TO SWITCH TO SECOND (I HAVE AN AUTOMATIC) UNTIL I GET TO 20-25. POWER STEERING IS NOT WORKING ON COLD DAYS- VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN WHEEL UNTIL CAR GETS WARMED UP. EVEN ON DAYS WHEN ITS 40 DEGREES F. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN IT HAS BEEN COLDER THAN 15 DEGREES, THE STEERING WHEEL IS COMPLETELY UPSIDE DOWN AND YOU WOULD THINK THE CAR WOULD NOT DRIVE STRAIGHT- IT DOES!- WHICH MEANS THE STEERING WHEEL AND POWER STEERING IS NOT WORKING OR MY CAR WOULD NOT BE GOING STRAIGHT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHICH WAY MY TIRES ARE FACING! THE WORST AND MOST DANGEROUS PART OF THIS IS: ON 4 OCCASIONS SINCE DECEMBER 2002 UNTIL FEBRUARY 2003, WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT APPROX 55 MPH, WENT OVER A SLIGHT BUMP IN THE ROAD AND COMPLETELY LOST POWER IN THE VEHICLE AND ALL WARNING LIGHTS (EVERY SINGLE ONE) CAME ON. CAR IMMIDIATELY HALTED TO ABOUT 3 MPH, THE CAR BEHIND ME ALMOST RAREENDED ME. I HAD MY FOOT ALL THE WAY DOWN ON THE GAS (I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD) AND THE POWER CAME BACK ON WITHIN 30 SECONDS, AND I ALMOST RARE-ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WHEN MY CAR SURGED FORWARDED.
Power train, Jan 29, 2003
WHILE DRIVING MY C-240 BETWEEN 30 & 60 MPH I CAN FEEL A VIBRATION ON THE SHIFT LEVER & THE STEERING WHEEL & IF PUT MY HAND ON TOP OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. YOU CAN SENSE THE VIBRATION AROUND YOU. IT SEEMS TO COME FROM THE POWER TRAIN, VIA DRIVE SHAFT, TRANS. OR DIFFERENTIAL, THE DEALER REPLACED & BALANCED ALL FOUR TIRES, AND IT I THUOGHT IT WAS CORRECTED BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSITS SOMETIMES IT IS MORE NOTICIBLE THAN OTHERS, I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT BUT ON A TEST DRIVE THE SERVICE MAN SAID HE CAN'T FEEL ANYTHING WRONG & THAT IT MIGHT BE ME....
Electrical system, Jan 28, 2003
ESP & BAS WARNING MESSAGES APPEARED ON THE MESSAGE SCREEN TWICE, ONCE ON 1-20-03 & AGAIN ON 1-27-03, THE FIRST TIME DEALER SAID IT CAN HAPPEN IF YOU DIDN'T TIGHTEN THE GAS CAP. ON BOTH OCCASIONS, THE MESSAGES WERE GONE THE NEXT DAY. ON 1-27-03 I CALLED RALLYE MOTORS TO TELL THEM & I HAVE AN APPT FOR MARCH 10, 2003.
Electrical system, Jan 14, 2003, crash
THE CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING ONTO A RAMP, THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY PROGRAM HAD FUNCTION ERRATICALLY. THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE RIGHT REAR BRAKES CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DRIVE INTO THE CURB. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THIS DEFECTIVE PART IS LIFE THREATENING. SCC
Electrical system, Jan 13, 2003
THE C230 COUPE SHUT OFF WHILE ON HIGHWAY
Power train, Dec 2, 2002
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE IN THE REAR, AND THERES A WHISTLING NOISE. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED DIFFERENTIAL TO STOP THE WHISTLING. SHAKING IS STILL OCCURING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
Suspension, Nov 25, 2002, crash
WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER MADE A RIGHT TURN ONTO A RAMP. THE VEHICLE SLID WHICH CAUSED THE ESP (ELECTRONIC STABILITY PROGRAM)TO ENGAGE WHICH RESULTED IN VEHICLE HITTING INTO THE CURVE AND DAMAGING THE FRONT AND REAR LEFT VEHICLE SUSPENSION. TS THERE IS A GLITCH IN THE ESP SYSTEM. WHEN BRAKING THE ESP KICKS IN AS IF THE VEHICLE IS SLIDING WHEN IT IS NOT. THIS IS WHAT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE CURB INSTEAD OF BRAKING AS INTENDED. *JG
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 28, 2002
ENGINE STALLED (QUIT RUNNING) WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AT APPROX. 62 MPH. THE CRUISE CONTROL HAD BEEN ENGAGED AND I BRAKED MODERATELY TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN WHEN THE ENGINE DIED. I MANAGED TO PULL THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND ATTEMPTED APPROX 4 - 6 TIMES TO RESTART. THE ENGINE FIRED BUT WOULD NOT RUN. FINALLY, AFTER APPROX. 30 SECONDS THE ENGINE FIRED AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AWAY. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALER BUT THE DEALER HAS NOT CONTACTED ME YET TO SCHEDULE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION BY MERCEDES TO CORRECT. DT
Seats, Oct 10, 2002
THE DRIVERS SEAT FAILS TO RETURN TO THE PRESET MEMORY POSITION. WHEN INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION, CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE SEAT WOULD NOT STOP AT THE PRESET SETTING. *JG
Electrical system, Aug 30, 2002
I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE IN FOR REPEATED REPAIR: 1-7-02 TO 1-14-02, 2-14-01 TO 2-19-02, 3-4-02 TO 3-7-02, 5-2-02 TO 5-3-02, 5-21-02 TO 5-28-02, AND THE DEALER HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM WITH THE CAR SHUTTING OFF ON ME. THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, BECAUSE THE CAR WUILL SHUT OFF ON THE HIGHWAY, IN TRAFFIC, GOING UP A HILL, THEN THE DASHBOARD WILL LIGHT UP, MENTIONING SYSTEM FAILURE. I HAVE USED THE SOS BUTTON IN MY CARE REPEATEDLY TO GET HELP, BUT THAT IS STILL NOT GOOD ENOUGH. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED MERCEDES BENZ USA, AND MERCEDES IN STUTTGART GERMANY. I HAVE PUT THEM ON NOTICE TO PURCHASE THE CAR BACK FROM ME, AND THEY HAVE A WEEK AND A HALF LEFT TO RESPOND. I TRY TO NOT TO DRIVR THE CAR A LOT, WHICH DEFEATS THE PURPOSE OF PURCHASING A NEW VEHICLE, BUT FRANKLY, I AM SCARED THAT SOMETHING MIGHT HAPPEN, BECAUSE IT HAS SHUT OFF ON ME ON I75 GOING 60 PLUS MILES AN HOUR. IT IS CERTAINLY A SAFETY HAZARD.*AK
Engine and engine cooling, Equipment, Aug 29, 2002
INITIALLY THE ENGINE FAILED AND THE CAR LOST POWER, IN TRAFFIC, DURING A TURN. THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART IMMEDIATELY, AND THE ELECTRONIC MESSAGE CENTER INDICATED THERE WAS "NO MALFUNCTION" OCCURRING. UPON ARRIVAL AT MY DESTINATION THE ENGINE FAILED AFTER BEING PLACED IN PARK, AS I CONSIDERED BACKING INTO THE DRIVEWAY. THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE CAR AT LEAST 4 TIMES ON 3 DIFFERENT DAYS, AND CAN OFFER NO EXPLANATION FOR THIS DEFECTIVE PERFORMANCE.*AK
Suspension, Tires, Aug 29, 2002
VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED ONE FLAT TIRE AND ONE BLOWOUT, NO TIRE INFORMATION GIVEN, CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE SHAKES WHEN DRIVING OVER 60 MPH. *SLC
Engine and engine cooling, Aug 28, 2002
WHILE DRIVING AT 85 MPH VEHICLE SHUTDOWN WITHOUT ANY WARNING, IT STARTED BACK UP AFTER 5 SECONDS, THEN SHUT OFF AGAIN. HAD VEHICLE TOWED. CONTACTED DEALER.CAUSE UNKOWN.*AK *YH
Engine and engine cooling, Visibility, Aug 8, 2002
VEHICLE STALLS AND HESITATES AT ANY SPEED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, DEALER REPLACED FUEL PUMP. BUT, IT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK WHEN THE PROBLEM FIRST REVEALED ITSELF IT WOULD ONLY STALL WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. IT PROGRESSED TO THE ENGINE STOPPING COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING SPEEDS OF 25 MPH OR MORE. THE FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. THE SUNROOF SHADE IS NOT OPENING PROPERLY. THE TRIM WAS REPAIRED. *JG
Suspension, Jun 5, 2002
WHILE STARTING VEHICLE THERE IS CONSTANT VIBRATION UNTIL VEHICLE HAS HEATED UP APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, MECHANIC HAS NOT FOUND WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. WHILE IN REPAIR DEALER PROVIDED SEVERAL RENTAL CARS TO CONSUMER, AND ALL OF THE RENTAL CARS WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK