There are 3 owner-reported powertrain & transmission complaints for the 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Classin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
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.
MY 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ E320 SE HAS 29000 MILES ON IT AND OUT OF WARRANTY. ON THE DASH IN THE LOWER RIGHT HAND CORNER IS THE GEAR SELECTION POSITION INDICATOR AND CLOCK MODULE. IN DECEMBER THE UNIT MALFUNCTIONED AND IS UNREADABLE. I HAVE TRIED TO GET SOMEONE TO FIX IT BUT NO ONE WILL DO IT BECAUSE IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY. IS THERE ANY RECOURSE FOR ME AT THIS TIME? IS THIS A FIRST FOR MB? I AM FILING THIS REPORT TO ALERT OTHERS OF THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE. *JB
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026