2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class recalls & problems

Safety recalls

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

What owners report

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

• Electrical system

  I REITERATE ....THIS VEHICLE IS A DEATH TRAP! MERCEDES BENZ INSTALLED POWER SEAT CONTROLLERS IN THIS CAR THAT FAIL VERY FREQUENTLY. THIS DESIGN FLAW CAUSES THE UNIT TO RUN POWER SEAT COMPONENTS CONSTANTLY EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED, KEY REMOVED AND THE CAR IS LOCKED. WITHIN 2-11 HOURS, THE ACTIVITY OF THIS FAULT SEAT CONTROLLER UNIT DRAINS THE CAR BATTERY! WHEN YOU TRY TO JUMP START THE CAR AS PER MERCEDES BENZ OWNERS MANUAL INSTRUCTIONS, THE PROCESS CAUSES THE REAR LEFT SAM (SIGNAL ACQUISITION AND ACTUATOR MODULE DRIVER SIDE) TO LOSE PARTIAL OR FULL MEMORY. THIS AFFECTS A WHOLE HOST OF SYSTEMS INCLUDING FUEL DELIVERY, TAIL & HEAD LIGHTS. ITEMS THAT ARE ESSENTIAL TO OPERATING A VEHICLE ON…

  Apr 25, 2014 · 102,000 miles
• Electrical system › Instrument cluster/panel

  THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTING IS DIMMING TO THE POINT YOU HAVE TO SQUINT TO SEE THE INFORMATION. THIS REQUIRES FOCUSING ON THE DISPLAY FOR LONGER THAN A SAFE AMOUNT OF TIME ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING. *TR

  Mar 10, 2009
• Suspension › Front

  FRONT STRUTS FAILED, AIR SUSPENSION (AIR LEAK) AND WHEELS COLLAPSED UP INTO WHEEL WELLS. THE FRONT WHEELS COULD NOT BE TURNED AT ALL; IF TURNED THE TIRES WOULD HAVE RUBBED ON THE WHEEL WELLS RESULTING IN SUDDEN DEFLATION. THIS COLLAPSE OCCURED AFTER THE CAR WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE FOLLOWING 140 MILES OF INTERSTATE DRIVING. I BELIEVE THE LEAK OCCURED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AS THE COMPUTER INDICATED MY MPG HAD DROPPED 2 MPG COMPARED TO EARLIER IN THE DAY. THERE WERE NO REPLACEMENT PARTS AVAILABLE IN THE U.S. (SENT FROM GERMANY), INDICATING EITHER THESE NEVER FAIL AND THEREFORE SPARES NOT NEEDED OR FREQUENT FAILURES RESULTED IN LACK OF REPLACEMENT PARTS. THE REALLY SCARY PART IS THE THOUGHT OF…

  May 24, 2008 · 53,000 miles
• Electrical system › Instrument cluster/panel

  INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTING FADED TO POINT OF BARELY BEING ABLE TO SEE PIXELS IN DISPLAY.NO TEMPERATURE READING-NO CLOCK READING AND SPEEDOMETER IS BARELY READABLE.MANUFACTURER ACKNOWLEDGED FAULT ON OTHER MERCEDES MODELS BUT NOT THE E-CLASS.DON'T DRIVE CAR MUCH AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF BARELY READABLE DISPLAY. *CN

  Dec 25, 2007
• Visibility

  FAULTY COVER ON ILLUMINATED VANITY MIRROR: 1. THE DESIGN OF THE COVER FOR THE ILLUMINATED VANITY MIRROR ON THE MERCEDES BENZ 2002 E320 IS FAULTY LEADING TO THE COVER BREAKING OFF EASILY DURING NORMAL USE. THE DANGER CREATED BY THE BREAKING OFF OF THE COVER IS THAT WHEN THE SUN VISOR IS PULLED DOWN TO PROTECT AGAINST SUN GLARE, THE EXPOSED MIRROR CREATES A DANGEROUS DISTRACTION TO THE DRIVER. AFTER CONDUCTING LIMITED RESEARCH ON THE SUBJECT, IT APPEARS THAT THIS PROBLEM WITH THE ILLUMINATED VANITY MIRROR COVER BREAKING OFF IS WIDESPREAD AND AFFECTS ALL AUTOMOBILES THAT UTILIZE THIS SUN VISOR WITH THE ILLUMINATED VANITY MIRROR AND COVER DESIGN. MERCEDES BENZ HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL ON THIS…

  Oct 5, 2007 · 50,023 miles
• Child seat

  DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE CHILD WAS OBSERVED UNLATCHING THE LEVER AND LOOSENING THE ENTIRE HARNESS. THE SYSTEM USED TO SECURE THE SEAT WAS A LAP BELT COMBINATION FOR A FORWARD FACING CHILD SEAT. THE CONTACT ALERTED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT NO RESOLUTION WAS PROVIDED. MAKE: BRITAX, MODEL: MARATHON, MODEL#E9L0627, DOM: 05/12/05, *AK UPDATED 10/18/2006 - THE CONSUMER'S 21 MONTH OLD CHILD PULLED BACK ON THE STRAP WHICH CAUSED THE HARNESS RELEASE LEVER TO BE DEPRESSED. THE CHILD'S WEIGHT AGAINST THE HARNESS RELEASED THE HARNESS. *NM

  Sep 20, 2006 · 35,000 miles
• Wheels › Rim

  1. HIT POTHOLE ON SIDE OF ROAD WHILE TRAVELING APPROX 10 MPH. 2. FLAT TIRE 3. REPLACE TIRE. THIS IS THE FOURTH INCIDENT IN 5 YEARS. TWO DIFFERENT TIRE MANUFACTURES INVOLVED. FAILURE IS ALWAYS SIDEWALL INTEGRITY. FAILURE IS DUE TO LOW PROFILE (235/45Z17) TIRES SUPPLIED WITH CAR. NO OTHER WHEEL/TIRE COMBINATION AVAILABLE DUE TO LARGE BRAKES. *NM

  Feb 17, 2006 · 10,000 miles
• Visibility › Power window devices and controls

  RIGHT REAR WINDOW MOTOR REPLACED. WINDOW HAD BEEN LOWERED AND RAISED APPROX. FOUR TIMES SINCE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 2002. *JB

  Dec 23, 2005 · 39,410 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.