2002 Mercedes Benz C320 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Seats (20) · Electrical System (13) · Power Train:automatic Transmission (3)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Mercedes Benz C320 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
42 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (3)
Visibility:sun/Moon Roof Assembly 2024-11-19 · campaign 24V874000 · 33,456 vehicles
Defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models and model years. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and can detach.
Risk: A detached sunroof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall number 22V-954. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2024120001/2/3.
Visibility:sun/Moon Roof Assembly 2022-12-23 · campaign 22V954000 · 131,653 vehicles
Defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and may detach.
Risk: A detached sunroof panel may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 3, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall expands NHTSA recall number 19V-918. MBUSA's numbers for this recall are 2023010004, 2023010005, and 2023010006.
Visibility:sun/Moon Roof Assembly 2019-12-20 · campaign 19V918000 · 747,928 vehicles
Defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 vehicles. The bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame may deteriorate, possibly resulting in the glass panel detaching from the vehicle. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V918-4126.pdf
Risk: A detached glass panel can separate from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the glass panel bonding and replace the sliding roof, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 10, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2020040011.
Service bulletins (48)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Service Brakes 2026-09-22 · LI42.10-P-078779 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint repeat workshop visit for vehicle vibration while braking from 60mph. note: although the symptom is similar to a tire or wheel vibration, it is usually readily noticeable that it is distinctly different if it happens at all times or only while braking. cause although the cause of the vibra
Structure:body 2026-09-14 · LI82.62-P-078631 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors. cause under analysis. remedy to narrow down the cause, first of all remove the door trim. • if the noise continues to occur even with the door trim removed, then continue the diagnosis working towards the speaker and if necessary,
Structure:body 2026-08-06 · LI82.62-P-078631 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors. cause under analysis. remedy to narrow down the cause, first of all remove the door trim. • if the noise continues to occur even with the door trim removed, then continue the diagnosis working towards the speaker and if necessary,
Power Train 2026-07-14 · LI35.30-P-058566 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). the noise is heard once in each instance when changing direction of travel. note: sound file in attachment cause if the complaint is eliminated by experimentally loosening the outboard collar n
Visibility/Wiper 2026-05-19 · LI82.30-P-059239 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint there are several types of complaint about noises or poor windshield wiper wiping performance: a: wiper blades squeaking, chattering, shuddering b: the windshield is not wiped completely (streaking) c: during the downward movement water is pulled back onto the windshield from the a-pillar
Exterior Lighting 2026-04-16 · LI82.10-P-078301 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged. cause fogging of the headlamps is a natural phenomenon, which can occur under certain climatic conditions. it does not lead to any technical impairment of the headlamp. if a pressure compensation diaphragm is fitted in the housing cover, then the l
Showing the 6 most recent of 48 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2024-09-05 · Suspension“suddenly started driving badly on the highway. it would swerve side to side after hitting a bump. the rear sits about two inches lower than the front. my trusty independent mechanic said i should check the rear subframe and refrain from driving the car. kbb lists a safety recall for this issue, stating that the rear subframe wasn't sufficiently…”
2024-09-05 · Electrical System“battery drains after being parked overnight, 58,000 miles, dealer maintained since new. driven by a little old lady until i bought it. took it to the dealer and they replaced one of the seat modules. soon afterward, the problem recurred. took it back to the dealer and they said it was a defective fuse box and replaced it for $650. went to pick…”
2023-10-14 · Exterior Lighting“while changing one of the lights in the headlight housing, i found the wiring's insulation rotting off all the wires, exposing the bare copper presenting a fire hazard.…”
2021-08-08 · Unknown Or Other“vehicle constantly smells like gas inside the cabin, it makes me dizzy and affects my head overall health inhaling vapors. at first i thought i could handle it, but it just gives me nonstop headaches and i'm afraid one spark will ignite/ explode my entire vehicle. this happens everytime i fill the gas tank. i heard their was a warranty extension b…”
2020-04-03 · Seats · 114,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2002 mercedes benz c320. the contact stated that the battery was drained after the vehicle was parked and turned off. the vehicle failed to restart. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. the contact was informed that the driver's side seat module was defective which caused the battery to drain. the…”
2018-11-09 · Air Bags · 💥 crash · 🔥 fire“tl* the contact owned a 2002 mercedes-benz c320. the contact called on behalf of the driver. while driving at an unknown speed, the driver lost control of the vehicle. the vehicle spun around several times and crashed into a tree. the air bags failed to deploy and the vehicle caught on fire. the driver was killed on impact. a police report was file…”
2015-08-07 · Service Brakes · 125,000 mi“was driving on highway when esp, bas and abs lights show up, and speedometer display stops working - speed reading goes to zero, though there is no reduction in speed. get to destination. on return it happens again. this time i go to rest area, stop the car, remove the key and restart. the car refuses to move out of park. call roadside assistance a…”
2015-04-08 · Electrical System · 123,384 mi“tl*the contact owns a 2002 mercedes c320. the contact stated that the vehicle would not start. the contact mentioned that after an hour, the vehicle was able to start. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the failure mileage was 123,384. …”
2015-02-06 · Exterior Lighting · 102,000 mi“tl*the contact owns a 2002 mercedes benz c320. the contact stated that while driving at 45 mph, the instrument panel failed to function. as a result, the contact was unable to read the gauges and the indicators. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. the mechanic was unable to diagnose or repair the vehicle. the failure recurred on numer…”
2015-02-03 · Electronic Stability Control (Esc) · 127,000 mi · 🔥 fire“tl*the contact owns a 2002 mercedes benz c320. the contact stated that the electronic stability control light illuminated on the instrument panel and smoke started to emit from under the hood. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer. the manufacturer was not informed of the issue. the failure mileage was 127,000. …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.