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2002 Mercedes Benz 230

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 3 of 4 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electronic Stability Control (esc). Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

4 reports
Mileage unknown · Feb 7, 2013
Electrical SystemSeats

DRIVER AND PASSENGER POWER SEAT MODULES DRAIN BATTERY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10496711

71,004 miles · Sep 5, 2009
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Latches/locks/linkagesCrash

PRIOR TO FOLLOWING INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE, A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ C230 KOMPRESSOR HAS EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL FAILURES RESULTING IN THE COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE, POWER STEERING, SRS SYSTEM, CAR LOCKS, AND BRAKING SYSTEMS. THE AFOREMENTIONED FAILURES IN BRAKING, POWER STEERING WHICH RESULTED IN TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL OF…

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PRIOR TO FOLLOWING INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE, A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ C230 KOMPRESSOR HAS EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL FAILURES RESULTING IN THE COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE, POWER STEERING, SRS SYSTEM, CAR LOCKS, AND BRAKING SYSTEMS. THE AFOREMENTIONED FAILURES IN BRAKING, POWER STEERING WHICH RESULTED IN TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING HAVE OCCURRED 6 TIMES WITHIN A 2 MONTH PERIOD (AUGUST 15TH 2009- SEPTEMBER 5TH 2009). THE MOST RECENT EVENT IS LISTED BELOW. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT A GAS STATION ON SEPTEMBER 5TH 2009 AT 10:30 AM IN FIRST GEAR WITH THE FOOT BRAKE ON. AFTER THE OWNER LEFT THE PARKED VEHICLE, IT BEGAN ROLLING FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A NEARBY CONCRETE WALL OF THE UNION 76 GAS STATION ON RINALDI AND BALBOA IN GRANADA HILLS, CA. NO SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE WAS CAUSED TO THE WALL, AND NO INJURIES WERE CAUSED, HOWEVER ON IMPACT THE CAR CONTRACTED A MAJOR DENT ON THE RIGHT FRONT BUMPER ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE CAR. THERE WAS NO KEY IN THE CAR, IT HAD BEEN ENTIRELY TURNED OFF AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ON. THE OWNER HAS NEVER EXPERIENCED THE CAR STARTING ON ITS OWN WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE TRANSMISSION OR WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ACTIVATED. THE CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY AND THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP FOUND NO PROBLEMS WITH THE C230'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS AT THE LAST CHECK UP. PRIOR TO SERVICING THERE WERE MULTIPLE WARNINGS THE CAR DISPLAYED IN MARCH 2009, SPECIFICALLY SRS MALFUNCTIONS AND LIGHT SENSOR MALFUNCTION. THESE WERE ABSOLVED AFTER MAINTENANCE BUT REAPPEARED AGAIN AT 1500 BEFORE SERVICE IN LATE AUGUST. THERE HAVE BEEN NO PRIOR REPAIRS MADE ON THE CAR. THE MOST RECENT REPAIR WAS ON AUGUST 27TH WHEN THE DOOR LOCK REGULATOR FAILED AND ALL DOORS OF THE CAR WOULDN'T CLOSE. THE ACCENTUATOR IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS REPLACED ON AUGUST 27TH WHICH RESOLVED THE DOOR LOCK PROBLEM. HOWEVER NONE OF THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR HAVE BEEN RESOLVED AND WILL REQUIRE DEALERSHIP EVALUATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10282967

51,000 miles · Aug 21, 2007
Electrical System

MY 2002 MERCEDES 230 SLK FAILED TO START, STRANDED MY WIFE, BECAUSE OF A FAILURE IN THE IGNITION LOCK AND STEERING INTERLOCK. THIS IS THE SECOND FAILURE IN 50,000 MILES. *TR UPDATED 09/11/07 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10200371

66,000 miles · Jul 11, 2007
Power Train

THE C230 MERCEDES BENZ 2002 STARTED LURCHING WHEN COMING TO A STOP. UPON BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THEY DID A GLYCOL TEST ON THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID TO FIND GLYCOL IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE CAUSE WAS DUE TO A LEAK IN THE RADIATOR TO THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER. REPAIRS CURRENTLY INCLUDED A NEW RADIATOR, TRAN…

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THE C230 MERCEDES BENZ 2002 STARTED LURCHING WHEN COMING TO A STOP. UPON BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THEY DID A GLYCOL TEST ON THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID TO FIND GLYCOL IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE CAUSE WAS DUE TO A LEAK IN THE RADIATOR TO THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER. REPAIRS CURRENTLY INCLUDED A NEW RADIATOR, TRANSMISSION FLUSH, AND A NEW TRANSMISSION MODULE FOR ABOUT $2100, IF THAT DIDN'T WORK THEN A TORQUE CONVERTER FOR ANOTHER $2700. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10196144

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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.