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.
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes
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 R…
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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 AND GET INSTRUCTION TO OVERRIDE PARK, DRIVE HOME WITH FLASHERS ON - VERY ROUGH RIDE QUALITY. TOW TO DEALER NEXT DAY, THEY ARE NOT SURE IF NEW PART WILL FIX IT, EVEN IF $1850 PART IS REPLACED. LOTS OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS OVER THE YEARS. TURN LIGHTS GO OUT ROUTINELY. CHANGED CD CHANGER. SEAT DRAINS BATTERY,HAD TO DISCONNECT IT. POOR ELECTRICAL SENSORS ALL AROUND. NOW IT ALSO HAS RUST DAMAGE, ALL OF A SUDDEN, AT THE BOTTOM OF DOORS.
NHTSA ODI #10747123
127,000 miles · Feb 3, 2015
Electronic Stability Control (esc)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.
NHTSA ODI #10680808
135,000 miles · Aug 30, 2013
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
DRIVING FROM SAN FRANCISCO (SEA LEVEL) AND EVENTUALLY DESCENDING FROM ECHO PASS AT 7200 FEET ELEV TO LAKE TAHOE (6200 FEET ELEV) ON HIWAY 50, ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE VEHICLE DISPLAY SHOWED AN ESP WARNING LIGHT WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY THE ENGINE WENT INTO 'IDLE' MODE (ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING) AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL COULD SUMMON NO …
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DRIVING FROM SAN FRANCISCO (SEA LEVEL) AND EVENTUALLY DESCENDING FROM ECHO PASS AT 7200 FEET ELEV TO LAKE TAHOE (6200 FEET ELEV) ON HIWAY 50, ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE VEHICLE DISPLAY SHOWED AN ESP WARNING LIGHT WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY THE ENGINE WENT INTO 'IDLE' MODE (ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING) AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL COULD SUMMON NO POWER. PULLED OVER AND TURNED CAR OFF COMPLETELY TO PONDER. TURNED CAR BACK ON AND THE ESP WARNING LIGHT WAS GONE. THERE WAS FULL ACCELERATOR POWER AGAIN. CONTINUING THE DRIVE INTO SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, WE EXPERIENCED THE SAME EXACT THING AGAIN TWO MORE TIMES IN ONLY ABOUT 15 MILES HAVING TO DO THE SAME RESTARTING & CLEARING THE ESP WARNING TO GET TO OUR DESTINATION. IT CONTINUED TO OCCUR SEVERAL MORE TIMES IN THE 2 DAYS WE WERE AT TAHOE. WE WERE WORRIED ABOUT MAKING IT BACK TO SF. WE DECIDED TO TRY IT AND WE LEFT ECHO LAKE (7200 FEET) AND DESCENDED TO SF (SEA LEVEL) BUT THE ESP WARNING DID NOT COME ON AGAIN AT ALL FOR THE NEXT THREE WEEKS. ONLY LAST WEEKEND, WE HEADED BACK UP TO THE EXACT SAME LOCATION AT ECHO LAKE AND BEHOLD, THE ESP WARNING CAME BACK ON. BY RESTARTING THE CAR AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL SEVERAL TIMES ALL THE WAY LEFT TO RIGHT OVER AND OVER, DID THE ESP FINALLY GO OUT AND WE THEN DROVE ALL TYHE WAY HOME AGAIN TO SF. THE ESP WARNING HAS SINCE NOT COME BACK ON, NOR HAS THE CAR STOPPED OR SWITCHED INTO AN 'IDLE' MODE. IT IS A NUISANCE AND CLEARLY ELECTRONIC......FAULTY SWITCHES/SENSORS ?
NHTSA ODI #10538119
68,000 miles · Jul 18, 2013
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior Lighting
THERE HAVE BEEN TWO WARNING LIGHTS FOR REAR LIGHTS AND AFTER DRIVING FOR 4 HOURS, A WARNING CAME ON FOR ELECTRICAL STABILITY AND MY CAR QUIT WORKING COMPLETELY. THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL AND I HAD TO RESTART IT. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10525598
12,000 miles · Dec 9, 2010
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
UNPREDICTABLE APPLICATION OF ESP IN 2002 MERCEDES C-320 RESULTING IN SUDDEN AND UNPREDICTABLE BRAKING AND ENGINE THROTTLE DOWN. *TR
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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