Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
40–25K
925–50K
1050–75K
1375–100K
6100–150K
0150K+
42 reports with mileage · 26 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Electrical System. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Seats. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electronic Stability Control (esc). Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports3 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
68 reports
32,000 miles · Aug 5, 2004
Exterior Lighting
INTERMITTENTLY THE LEFT HEADLIGHT FAILED TO FUNCTION. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATION WAS REDUCED. SOMETIMES THERE WAS A WARNING ON THE DASHBOARD THAT INDICATED THE LIGHT WAS OUT, EVEN IF THE LIGHT WAS ON. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY THE DEALERSHIP 5 TIMES HEY REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER, CHANGED THE HEADLIGHT CONNECTION,…
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INTERMITTENTLY THE LEFT HEADLIGHT FAILED TO FUNCTION. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATION WAS REDUCED. SOMETIMES THERE WAS A WARNING ON THE DASHBOARD THAT INDICATED THE LIGHT WAS OUT, EVEN IF THE LIGHT WAS ON. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY THE DEALERSHIP 5 TIMES HEY REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER, CHANGED THE HEADLIGHT CONNECTION, AND ALTERED THE LIGHT BULB. TBUT FAILURE RECURRED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10087246
3 miles · May 10, 2004
Vehicle Speed Control
THE PROBLEM: WHEN APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE GAS PEDAL, NO RESPONSE IS EXPERIENCED IN THE CAR INITIALLY. THIS CAUSES THE DRIVER TO DEPRESS THE GAS PEDAL MORE AGGRESSIVELY TO GET THE CAR TO RESPOND. WHEN IT DOES RESPOND, IT ACCELERATES EXTREMELY FAST. I HAVE HAD TWO NEAR ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS CONDITION. AS A DRIVER, …
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THE PROBLEM: WHEN APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE GAS PEDAL, NO RESPONSE IS EXPERIENCED IN THE CAR INITIALLY. THIS CAUSES THE DRIVER TO DEPRESS THE GAS PEDAL MORE AGGRESSIVELY TO GET THE CAR TO RESPOND. WHEN IT DOES RESPOND, IT ACCELERATES EXTREMELY FAST. I HAVE HAD TWO NEAR ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS CONDITION. AS A DRIVER, YOU MUST THROTTLE THE CAR AGGRESSIVELY TO FEEL CONFIDENT THE CAR WILL ACCELERATE TO GET MOVING. THE STATED PROBLEM HAS EXISTED SINCE PURCHASING THIS CAR NEW IN JULY 2002. I HAVE REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO THE DEALER (PARK PLACE MOTOR CARS) AND ASKED THAT IT BE CORRECTED ON 2 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. I'VE HAD NO POSITIVE RESPONSE AND CONSEQUENTLY THE CONDITION EXISTS TODAY. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10072356
12,000 miles · Sep 11, 2003
Electrical SystemFire
WHILE DRIVING AT UNDETERMINED SPEED BRAKE LINE LOW LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DIGITAL DASHBOARD. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE 5 MINUTES LATER. AFTER INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE BY THE MANUFACTURER/DEALERSHIP, THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE WHERE THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10039802
Mileage unknown · Dec 2, 2002
Power Train
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE IN THE REAR, AND THERES A WHISTLING NOISE. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED DIFFERENTIAL TO STOP THE WHISTLING. SHAKING IS STILL OCCURING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
NHTSA ODI #8023520
Mileage unknown · Oct 10, 2002
SeatsVisibility
THE DRIVERS SEAT FAILS TO RETURN TO THE PRESET MEMORY POSITION. WHEN INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION, CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE SEAT WOULD NOT STOP AT THE PRESET SETTING. *JG
NHTSA ODI #567858
Mileage unknown · Apr 25, 2002
Steering
THE CAR HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES AND ALIGN 3 TIMES ALSO TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND ROTATED. OTHER 3 CARS OF THE SAME KIND HAVE BEEN TESTED AND ALL THREE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK(TIRESIZE: 205/55/16)
NHTSA ODI #761208
Mileage unknown · Apr 4, 2002
Electrical SystemEquipment
CONSUMER STATES THERE ARE PROBLEMS CONCERING THE ESP AND BAS SYSTEMS WARNING MESSAGES THAT ARE APPEARING ON THE MONITOR, WHEN TRAVELING AT A MODERATE RATE OF SPEED IN A STRAIGHT LINE, THE VEHICLE LOSES ALL POWER ALONG WITH BRAKING SENSATION.*JB
NHTSA ODI #564905
Mileage unknown · Feb 7, 2002
Air BagsElectrical SystemCrashInjury
DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DELPOY DURING A FOURTY-FIVE PER HOUR FRONT COLLISION, DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED.*AK CONSUMER STATED THE TEL-AID ALSO FAILED TO OPERATE, IN WHICH IT WAS UNABLE TO BRAKE THE VEHICLE.*SLC
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A detached sunroof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A detached sunroof panel may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
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
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A detached glass panel can separate from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2002 Mercedes Benz C320 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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