There are 3 owner-reported steering complaints for the 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Classin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
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
E320 4 MATIC (ALL WHEEL DRIVE)2002. NOISE IN THE RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION WHEN GOING OVER SPEED BUMPS, OR A DIP/INCLINE IN THE PAVEMENT THEN COMING BACK TO NORMAL LEVEL.*AK STEERING WHEEL MAKES NOISE WHEN TURNING IN WARM WEATHER MERCEDES BENZ HAS DETERMINED THAT THE FIRST PROBLEM NOISE IS INHERENT IN THE DESIGN OF THEIR E320 4 MATICS AND CAN NOT BE REPAIRED. THIS NOISE ISSUE HOWEVER DOES AFFECT THE RESALE OF THE CAR, AND ALSO CAN NOT BE STARMARKED CERTIFICED BY MERCEDES TO BE RESOLD ON THEIR PRE-OWNED USED CAR LOT. ONE OF THE STARMARKED AREAS IS NO NOISE ISSUES COMING FROM THE SUSPENSION. THE STEERING WHEEL NOISE IS ANOTHER INHERENT PROBLEM WITH ALL E320'S. THEIR ATTEMPT TO FIX IT HAS NOT LASTED. IN BOTH CASES THEIR IS NO DETERMINATION AS TO WHETHER EITHER COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE END RESULT IS THAT THE OWNER WILL SUFFER WHEN THE CAR IS TO BE TRADED IN OR SOLD TO A THIRD PARTY. THE VALUE OF THE CAR IS SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCED BY THESE INHERENT DEFECTS THAT CAN NOT BE CORRECTED AS PROVEN. ALSO THEIR STARMARKED VEHICLE REQUIREMENTS WOULD ELIMINATE THIS CAR FROM BEING PUT FOR SALE ON THEIR PRE-OWNED LOT DUE TO THE SUSPENSION NOISE NOT BEING ABLE TO BE REPAIRED. THE OTHER PROBLEM WILL OCCURR IF THE WEATHER IS WARM AND SO THEREFORE IT COULD OR COULD NOT BE HAPPENING AT THE TIME OF THE SALE.
STEERING LOCKED UP WHILE TURNING ON TO ROAD, DEALER REPLICATED, REPLACED STEERING RACK, NOT SURE IF THAT WAS CAUSE. THIS IS JUST A WARNING IN CASE OTHER CARS EXHIBIT SAME PROBLEM.
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