2002 Mercedes-Benz C Class Problems
- Complaints
- 31filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 65,000miles, 21 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2002 Mercedes-Benz C Class (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
NHTSA recorded 31 consumer complaints for the 2002 Mercedes-Benz C Class. The part named most often is electrical system, with 10 complaints (32% of the total), followed by engine cooling (5) and fuel system (5). 21 of the complaints include a mileage, and 38% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 65,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 2 a fire, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 2 technical service bulletins for this model year.
Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Electrical system10 32%
- Engine cooling5 16%
- Fuel system5 16%
- Seats5 16%
- Suspension5 16%
- Tires4 13%
- Other or unknown3 9.7%
- Brakes1 3.2%
- Equipment1 3.2%
Also reported: Exterior lighting (1), Steering (1), Body and structure (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).
Example complaints
Electrical system: “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.”
NHTSA complaint #10003576, filed 2003-01, 6,670 milesEngine cooling: “I have a 2002 mercedes benz c240 sedan with 78,000 miles on it. Upon leaving work two weeks ago driving down the parking lot in second gear the car started to make the worst engine noise I ever heard. I shut the car off and had it towed to a dealer and they tell me the timing chain broke. If I was traveling down an interstate and this broke and the engine lost power who knows what would have happened. …”
NHTSA complaint #10219969, filed 2008-03, 78,000 milesFuel system: “I called mbusa 2 weeks ago regarding my 2002 c320 wagon which was smelling of pure gasoline which the odor was so strong it was coming into the house from the garage giving us headaches. I checked online with mbusa club members and found out this could be a dangerous situation and to call it in. I called mbusa and was told there were no recalls or bulletins pertaining to this issue and we were out of warranty to contact the dealer. I called the dealer who seemed very familiar with this issue and just for parts it was over $800 and they were not aware of any warranty, recall issues. …”
NHTSA complaint #10524137, filed 2013-07, 136,000 milesSeats: “Seat controller modules, they constantly drain the battery when the car is off. This is a very very common problem with mercedes C Class. The controller drains the car battery to the point were the car cannot start, and continues to do this if the car is not driven everyday. Obviously having a car battery get sucked below 3v is not healthy for the battery, and in the end everyone with this problem has to replace their battery many many times.”
NHTSA complaint #10252301, filed 2008-12Mileage when problems were reported
38% of the 21 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 34,000 and 90,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2002 Mercedes-Benz C Class in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 2 on record; the latest 2 are shown.
- 10028147Sep 17, 2008Fuel system. Mercedes: replacing the longitudinal member (left and right) below the main floor panel on all my 204 up to 12/31/07. (c300, c350, c300 4-matic, c63 ame).
- 10025642Mar 28, 2008Electronic stability control. Model 203 (c) series from production 8/1/01 to 2/1/03 and model 209 (clk) series up to production 2/1/03; esp visit workshop with fault code c1185.
Other model years of the Mercedes-Benz C Class
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 13 | 40,500 | 1 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2006 | 9 | 5,100 | 2 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2005 | 5 | 76,640 | 2 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2004 | 15 | 21,000 | 1 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 2003 | 9 | 32,073 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2002 | 31 | 65,000 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2001 | 14 | 72,193 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2000 | 8 | 58,800 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1999 | 7 | 123,000 | 1 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1998 | 6 | 173,000 | 1 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1996 | 6 | 100,646 | 1 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1995 | 49 | 107,000 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1994 | 15 | 122,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Stable |
All Mercedes-Benz C Class model years
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2002 Mercedes-Benz C Class have?
NHTSA recorded 31 consumer complaints for the 2002 Mercedes-Benz C Class as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2002 Mercedes-Benz C Class is reported most often?
Electrical system is named most often, in 10 complaints (32% of the total), followed by engine cooling with 5.
Has the 2002 Mercedes-Benz C Class been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
At what mileage are problems with the 2002 Mercedes-Benz C Class reported?
Among the 21 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 65,000 miles and the middle half falls between 34,000 and 90,000 miles; 38% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.