Mercedes-Benz · E-Class · 2002
0
Recalls
36
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class has no recalls and 36 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: electrical system (6 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 22, 2026
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
Engine mount bracket broke causing steering problems from cv axel on drivers side
INSTRUMENT PANEL DIED COMPLETELY .BETWEEN USES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUN ROOF WAS UNABLE TO BE OPENED AND THAT THE SUN ROOF GLASS HAD BECOME INDENTED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V918000 (VISIBILITY) FOR ANOTHER MERCEDES-BENZ VEHICLE WHICH SHE LINKED TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000. *BF*JB
ON APRIL 25, 2016, I NOTICED THAT A WHITE BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AT ABOUT 10 MPH IN TRAFFIC. DESPITE THE WHITE WARNING LIGHT, THE FOOT BRAKES STILL HELD. IT SAID "SERVICE BRAKES , VISIT WORKSHOP". I IMMEDIATELY DROVE TO THE SOLE AUTHORISED AGENT IN TRINIDAD, WHO RAN SOME DIAGNOSTIC TESTS ON THE CAR. THEY INDICATED THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE SBC UNIT AT AN APPROXIMATE COST OF USD 3,000.00 PLUS USD 365.00 FOR LABOR. THIS, I COULD NOT AFFORD AS THE TOTAL COST IS QUITE EXORBITANT AND SURPRISING. AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP AND TOWARDS DRIVING HOME, THE RED BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR NOW LIT UP AND I HEARD A LOUD WARNING SIGNAL. THE WARNING SIGN SAID TO STOP THE CAR, WHICH I IMMEDIATELY DID AND MANAGED TO PARK THE CAR AT A FRIEND'S HOME AS I COULD NOT REACH MY HOME. THE CAR NOW HAD VERY LITTLE OR NO FOOT BRAKES AND I HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL RIGHT DOWN IN ORDER TO STOP THE CAR. I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 10MPH IN CITY TRAFFIC AND THIS "NO BRAKES" SITUATION RESULTED IN EXTREME DANGER TO BOTH ME, MY WIFE, PEDESTRIANS AND OTHER TRAFFIC. I WAS LATER INFORMED THAT THESE SBC UNITS WERE FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE AND WERE PREVIOUSLY RECALLED BY MERCEDES BENZ, BUT I AS AN OWNER WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. IN ADDITION, THE SOLE AGENTS IN TRINIDAD FOR MERCEDES BENZ IS REFUSING TO HONOR THE RECALL AND CHANGE THE SBC UNIT FREE OF CHARGE. I NEED URGENT ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER EITHER FROM MERCEDES BENZ USA OR MERCEDES BENZ GERMANY AS I AM A HAPLESS VICTIM OF THIS MERCEDES BENZ SBC RECALL. PLEASE NOTE THAT EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IN SEPTEMBER 2005, IT HAS BARELY COMPLETED 58,000 MILES. SINCE THE CAR WAS BOUGHT, IT HAS ONLY BEEN MAINTAINED AND SERVICED BY THE SOLE MERCEDES BENZ AGENT IN TRINIDAD.MERCEDES BENZ RECALL NUMBER 2005070007 AND 2005110001 AND/OR 2004050014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUSE BOX AND THE COMPUTER BURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS A GASOLINE FUEL ODOR EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ E320. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND METAL SHAVINGS CAME OUT OF THE AIR BAGS. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. UPDATED 01/27/15
THE WIRING HARNESS HAS MULTIPLE EXPOSED COPPER WIRING DUE TO DISINTEGRATING INSULATION FROM NORMAL USE. THE WIRING INSULATION IS VIRTUALLY CRACKED OR COMPLETELY MISSING, EXPOSING IT TO DIRECT ENGINE HEAT AND THE ENVIRONMENT. THIS POSES SAFETY AND RISK OF HEADLIGHT FAILURE WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THIS COSTS OWNERS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO FULLY REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS AND RELATED COMPONENTS. MY CAR HAS SPECIFICALLY ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED, KEEPING A STRICT MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE AND FOLLOWING ROUTINE ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE, ALL BY ONLY TRAINED MERCEDES CERTIFIED REPAIR FACILITIES. THE LIGHTING WIRING INSULATION SHOULD BE RESILIENT AND SHOULD LAST INDEFINITELY SINCE IT IS NOT I INDIRECTLY HANDLED DURING OTHER REPAIRS. IT IS WELL PUBLISHED MERCEDES OPTED TO USE A "GREEN" ALTERNATIVE, WHICH WE'LL REPORTED OTHERS INDICATED THE SAME INSULATION FAILURES. *TR
I REITERATE ....THIS VEHICLE IS A DEATH TRAP! MERCEDES BENZ INSTALLED POWER SEAT CONTROLLERS IN THIS CAR THAT FAIL VERY FREQUENTLY. THIS DESIGN FLAW CAUSES THE UNIT TO RUN POWER SEAT COMPONENTS CONSTANTLY EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED, KEY REMOVED AND THE CAR IS LOCKED. WITHIN 2-11 HOURS, THE ACTIVITY OF THIS FAULT SEAT CONTROLLER UNIT DRAINS THE CAR BATTERY! WHEN YOU TRY TO JUMP START THE CAR AS PER MERCEDES BENZ OWNERS MANUAL INSTRUCTIONS, THE PROCESS CAUSES THE REAR LEFT SAM (SIGNAL ACQUISITION AND ACTUATOR MODULE DRIVER SIDE) TO LOSE PARTIAL OR FULL MEMORY. THIS AFFECTS A WHOLE HOST OF SYSTEMS INCLUDING FUEL DELIVERY, TAIL & HEAD LIGHTS. ITEMS THAT ARE ESSENTIAL TO OPERATING A VEHICLE ON THE PUBLIC ROADS SAFELY! THE OTHER DAY, APRIL 25TH, 2014, THE FUEL DELIVERY ON MY 2002 MB C32 AMG FAILED SUDDENLY WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY! THE LOSS OF POWER WAS SO SUDDEN THAT I HAD TO SWERVE OFF THE ROAD AND ONTO THE SHOULDER; HITTING MY HEAD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW IN THE PROCESS! HAVING RESEARCHED THIS EXTENSIVELY AND HAVE FOUND THAT THESE ARE KNOWN PROBLEMS SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE CAR IN 2002. INSTEAD OF A VOLUNTARY RECALL, MERCEDES BENZ DID A PATCH JOB OF REPLACING FAULTY SAMS FOR OWNERS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, AND ONLY IN CASES WHERE THE OWNERS COMPLAINED OR HAD THREE OR MORE VISITS TO A MERCEDES BENZ DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. UPDATED 05/05/14 UPDATED 10/27/2014 *JS
WHILE DECELERATING ONTO HIGHWAY FROM ON RAMP, THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO SLIP OUT OF GEAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. IT'S IS A SCARY SITUATION TO LOSE POWER AS YOU MERGE INTO HIGHWAY. I COASTED TO BRAKE DOWN LANE. I SHIFTED BACK INTO PARK GEAR TO RESET, THEN BACK INTO DRIVE GEAR TO RESUME TRAVEL. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWO MORE TIMES SINCE. CAN BE A DANGEROUS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ROADWAYS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE FOLLOWED BY AN ABNORMALLY LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER, THE VEHICLE CAME TO A HALT AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER TRAIN DROPPED DUE TO FOUR LOOSE SCREWS. AS A RESULT, THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 109,200.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING LOCK FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,828 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 11/29/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE RETURNED TO HER VEHICLE AND INSERTED THE KEY, IT WOULD NOT TURN. THE INDICATOR SAID TO REMOVE THE KEY. THE CONSUMER THEN MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE CAR EACH TIME REMOVING THE KEY AS DIRECTED. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE STEERING LOCK MALFUNCTIONED. UPDATED 02/28/12
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ E-320. WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEGAN TO VIBRATE UNCONTROLLABLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 83,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
THE CAR STARTED HAVING VERY STRONG VIBRATIONS AT IDLE SPEED WHEN CAR IS IN REVERSE OR DRIVE AND STOPPED AT A STANDSTILL WITH BRAKE. TOOK IT TO SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLES MOTOR MOUNTS WERE IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT, TO THE TUNE OF OVER 600.00. ONCE AGAIN I HAVE READ A SIMILAR COMPLAINT IN THE DATABASE AND REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHY MERCEDES HAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED THE FACT THAT THIS IS A TREND IN THE VEHICLES AND COME UP WITH SOME TYPE OF RECALL OR FIX FOR THE SITUATION... MAYBE MOST OWNERS JUST UNBEGRUDGINGLY PAY WHATEVER NECESSARY TO HAVE THEIR CARS FIXED OBLIVIOUS TO THE FACT THAT MERCEDES CLAIM TO FAME IS QUALITY,RELIABILITY AND LONGEVITY. I FOR ONE DO NOT THINK THAT A CAR COSTING OVER 60,000.00 SHOULD BE PLAGUED BY SO MANY DEFICIENT MANUFACTURING PROBLEMS. *TR
SRS LIGHT IS ON
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES E430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTERIOR OF THE FRONT AND REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER'S SIDE DOORS WERE CORRODED ON THE BOTTOM. THE EXTERIOR OF THE SUNROOF AREA ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WAS ALSO CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE DOOR PANELS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. *TR
THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES WHEN I AM COMING TO A STOP;THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 5-6 TIMES. ON MAY 23, 09 I WAS ALMOST STOPPED IN A PARKING PLACE AND THE CAR STARTED BUCKING AGAINST MY APPLICATION OF THE BRAKE AND IT WAS ABOUT 30 YARDS BEFORE THE VEHICLE STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE AND STOPPED. ON FEB.13 OF THIS YEAR I WAS STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN AND THE VEHICLE AGAIN STARTED ACCELERATING. PLACING THE GEAR INTO NEUTRAL SAVED ANOTHER CRASH. THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENTS HAS BEEN ONLY ABOUT 2 MPH. I KNOW THAT "OTHERS" LIKE TO CLAIM CONFUSION, DRIVER ERROR, ETC. I AM ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN THAT SUCH HAS NOT BEEN THE CASE AND I HAVE A PASSENGER WITNESS TO THESE INCIDENTS AND WHAT I DID THE VEHICLE SIMPLY OVERPOWERS MY ATTEMPTS TO BRAKE AND BUCKS LIKE A WILD HORSE. . I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE EXAMINED BY SEVERAL GARAGES AND THEY SAY THAT W/O THE ABILITY TO RECREATE THE INCIDENT A DIAGNOSIS CANNOT BE MADE. THE INCIDENT 5- 29-09 DID RESULT IN DAMAGES. NEWPORT BEACH POLICE WERE CALLED. THE FEB 13 2210 INCIDENT DID NOT RESULT IN DAMAGES (UNLESS YOU ARE INCLUDING BEING TERRIFIED OF A CRASH). *TR
THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTING IS DIMMING TO THE POINT YOU HAVE TO SQUINT TO SEE THE INFORMATION. THIS REQUIRES FOCUSING ON THE DISPLAY FOR LONGER THAN A SAFE AMOUNT OF TIME ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ 320E. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. SHE DROVE THE VEHICLE TO HER RESIDENCE AND THE NOISE RECURRED THREE DAYS LATER AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN WARMED UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,200 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000. UPDATED 03/17/09. *LJ WHEN THE CONSUMER PICKED THE VEHICLE UP AFTER HAVING IT SERVICED, IT BEGAN TO MAKE A LOUD NOISE. THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE CONVERTER HAD GONE BAD. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS NO NOISE PRIOR TO TAKING THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALER. UPDATED 03/17/09. *JB
FRONT STRUTS FAILED, AIR SUSPENSION (AIR LEAK) AND WHEELS COLLAPSED UP INTO WHEEL WELLS. THE FRONT WHEELS COULD NOT BE TURNED AT ALL; IF TURNED THE TIRES WOULD HAVE RUBBED ON THE WHEEL WELLS RESULTING IN SUDDEN DEFLATION. THIS COLLAPSE OCCURED AFTER THE CAR WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE FOLLOWING 140 MILES OF INTERSTATE DRIVING. I BELIEVE THE LEAK OCCURED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AS THE COMPUTER INDICATED MY MPG HAD DROPPED 2 MPG COMPARED TO EARLIER IN THE DAY. THERE WERE NO REPLACEMENT PARTS AVAILABLE IN THE U.S. (SENT FROM GERMANY), INDICATING EITHER THESE NEVER FAIL AND THEREFORE SPARES NOT NEEDED OR FREQUENT FAILURES RESULTED IN LACK OF REPLACEMENT PARTS. THE REALLY SCARY PART IS THE THOUGHT OF BEING UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.
Showing 1–20 of 25 complaints
The 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class has 0 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 36 owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class are electrical system (6 reports), engine and engine cooling (4 reports), air bags (3 reports).
NHTSA does not currently list any recalls on record for the 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class. To verify the status of your specific vehicle, check nhtsa.gov/recalls with your VIN.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.