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2002 Mercedes Benz C230

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2002 Mercedes Benz C230 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 39.

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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

34 reports with mileage · 20 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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. 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 reports4 fire reports2 injury reports

Power Train complaints

3 reports
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56,146 miles · Nov 6, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ C230. ON OCTOBER 15, 2008, WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED TO 15 MPH ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE GARAGE. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RADIATOR FAILED AND COOLANT FLUID PENETRATED THE TRANSMISSION RESERVED FLUID. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE RADIATOR AND C…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ C230. ON OCTOBER 15, 2008, WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED TO 15 MPH ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE GARAGE. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RADIATOR FAILED AND COOLANT FLUID PENETRATED THE TRANSMISSION RESERVED FLUID. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE RADIATOR AND CLEANED THE TRANSMISSION AT THE COST OF $5,000. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WILL EVENTUALLY ALSO NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,146 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 59,000. UPDATED 02/24/09. *LJ UPDATED 02/25/09. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10247836

90,000 miles · Jun 26, 2006
Power Train

I HAVE A MERCEDES BENZ C-230 KOMPRESSOR EARLY THIS MONTH IT STARTED TO LURCH AFTER STOPPING THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WE THOUGHT A VEHICLE HAD RUN INTO US BUT COULD FIND NO MARKS, THEN IT STARTED DOING IT AFTER ALMOST EVERY STOP, THE DEALER, CHANDLER MERCEDES BENZ HAS THE CAR NOW BUT CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM, AND YES IT HAS DONE …

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I HAVE A MERCEDES BENZ C-230 KOMPRESSOR EARLY THIS MONTH IT STARTED TO LURCH AFTER STOPPING THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WE THOUGHT A VEHICLE HAD RUN INTO US BUT COULD FIND NO MARKS, THEN IT STARTED DOING IT AFTER ALMOST EVERY STOP, THE DEALER, CHANDLER MERCEDES BENZ HAS THE CAR NOW BUT CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM, AND YES IT HAS DONE IT WHILE THEY DROVE IT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10160757

1,000 miles · Sep 14, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior LightingLatches/locks/linkages

I LEASED A MERCEDES BENZ C230 COMPRESSOR FOR MY DAUGHTER IN 2001. THE SUN ROOF DIDN'T SLIDE BACK ON THE EXTERIOR OR THE INTERIOR. THE DEALER DISMANTLED THE SUN ROOF. MERCEDES REFUNDED THE FIRST MONTH'S LEASE PAYMENT SINCE SHE DID NOT HAVE USE OF THE VEHICLE FOR THE FIRST MONTH. AFTER ONE YEAR THE SUN ROOF NEEDED ADDITIONAL…

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I LEASED A MERCEDES BENZ C230 COMPRESSOR FOR MY DAUGHTER IN 2001. THE SUN ROOF DIDN'T SLIDE BACK ON THE EXTERIOR OR THE INTERIOR. THE DEALER DISMANTLED THE SUN ROOF. MERCEDES REFUNDED THE FIRST MONTH'S LEASE PAYMENT SINCE SHE DID NOT HAVE USE OF THE VEHICLE FOR THE FIRST MONTH. AFTER ONE YEAR THE SUN ROOF NEEDED ADDITIONAL REPAIR. AT 31,000 MILES - THE POWER STEERING FAILED THE BRAKES FAILED AND WERE REPLACED THE DIFFERENTIAL BROKE THE SUN ROOF ONCE AGAIN WASN'T WORKING... THE INTERIOR SLIDING MECHANISM FAILED FOR THE THIRD TIME IN 2 AND 1/2 YEARS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON BECAUSE THE COOLANT SENSOR FAILED, THE CAR OVERHEATED BUT THE SENSOR REGISTERED COOL. CURRENTLY AT 37,000 MILES - THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE TAKEN APART BECAUSE IT WASN'T SHIFTING GEARS. THE MOTOR ON THE DRIVER'S POWER WINDOW BROKE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE LEFT TURN HARNESS HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE FLASHER BROKE. WHILE THEY WERE FIXING THE TRANSMISSION THEY SOMEHOW DAMAGED THE REAR WINDOW AND THE REAR WINDSHIELD IS NOW BEING REPLACED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL COMING ON OCCASIONALLY. MERCEDES CEASED TO MANUFACTURE THIS VEHICLE IN 2005. MY DAUGHTER SPOKE TO THE REGIONAL REP., HE WAS UNRESPONSIVE, RUDE AND HUNG UP ON HER. I HAVE LOST CONFIDENCE IN THIS VEHICLE AND I HAVE EVERY REASON TO BELIEVE THAT IT WILL CONTINUE TO BREAK DOWN AND JEOPARDIZE MY DAUGHTER'S SAFETY. THE ENGINE COULD BREAK DOWN BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE SENSOR THAT THEY CANNOT SEEM TO FIX. THE INCIDENT DATE THAT FOLLOWS IS THE DATE OF THE MOST RECENT PROBLEM .. THE TRANSMISSION AND THE REAR WINDOW. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10136535

Official recalls

2

24V874000 · Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly

Nov 19, 2024

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.

22V954000 · Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly

Dec 23, 2022

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.

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.