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2002 Mercedes Benz C320

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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
40,000 miles · Apr 28, 2012
Electrical System

ON 1/14/2012 CAR WONT START BATTERY DEAD, CALL AAA TOW TRUCK. JUMP BATTERY OK USED CARED NEXT DAY AND ON FAUL COME UP ON MY CARS TROULBE SCREEN TO INDICATED THAT I HAD ANY OTHER TROUBLE IN ANY SYSTEM IT THE CAR, WE WHEN TO FL ON THE ON THE 16 OF JANUARY CAR WAS HOME (IN NY) SON WAS GOING TO TAKE OF HOUSE AND START CAR ONCE A…

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ON 1/14/2012 CAR WONT START BATTERY DEAD, CALL AAA TOW TRUCK. JUMP BATTERY OK USED CARED NEXT DAY AND ON FAUL COME UP ON MY CARS TROULBE SCREEN TO INDICATED THAT I HAD ANY OTHER TROUBLE IN ANY SYSTEM IT THE CAR, WE WHEN TO FL ON THE ON THE 16 OF JANUARY CAR WAS HOME (IN NY) SON WAS GOING TO TAKE OF HOUSE AND START CAR ONCE A WEEK. RECEIVED PHONE CALL FROM MY SON ON 1/17/2012 CAR WONT START,BATTERY DEAD, AND KEY WONT TURN. ON 4/21/2012 COME HOME FROM FL FROUND DEAD CAR AND TRANSMISTION LEAKING.CALLED MERCEDES BENZ FOR A TOE TO THE SHOP.THIS IS THR THIRED BATTERY SINCE A HAVE THIS CAR.BATTERY WAS UNDER WARRANTY.IT WAS CHANEG LEST THEN A YEAR AGO. M/B SHOP INFORMED ME BATTERY WAS DEAD. CAUSE MY SEAT MODULES SHORTED, TO REPLACE MODULES WAS COST $1200. I FEEL THAT THE BATTERY CAUSE THIS TROUBLE AND THE THE MODULES SHOULD BE REPLACED BY B/M AT NO COST TO ME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10456749

Mileage unknown · Apr 26, 2012
Electrical SystemSeats

I HAVE A 2002 MERCEDES C320. MY BATTERY IS DEAD AFTER SEATING OVERNIGHT. TOOK THE CAR TO THE AUSTIN MB DEALERSHIP TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT THE POWER SEAT MOTOR IS DRAINING MY BATTERY. BOTH SEATS. COME TO FIND OUT THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. I CALLED MERCEDES USA AND THEY SAID…

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I HAVE A 2002 MERCEDES C320. MY BATTERY IS DEAD AFTER SEATING OVERNIGHT. TOOK THE CAR TO THE AUSTIN MB DEALERSHIP TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT THE POWER SEAT MOTOR IS DRAINING MY BATTERY. BOTH SEATS. COME TO FIND OUT THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. I CALLED MERCEDES USA AND THEY SAID THAT SINCE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, THERE IS NOT MUCH THEY CAN DO. THAT IS BULL!! OBVIOUSLY SINCE SO MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS CAR MODEL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, IT HAS TO BE A MANUFACTURER FAULT. I WAS WONDERING HOW MANY PEOPLE NEED TO EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM BEFORE MERCEDES WILL ADMIT THAT THEY HAVE A BAD COMPONENT ON THIS MODEL. I FIGURED,IF ENOUGH PEOPLE CALL AND TELL MB THAT THEY HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM, THEY WILL REALIZE THAT THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART AND THEY WILL ISSUE A RECALL AND PAY FOR NECESSARY REPAIRS. PLEASE CALL MERCEDES USA AND REPORT THIS PROBLEM. 1-800-FOR-MERCEDES (1-800-367-6372) OR 201-476-6200. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10456579

44,000 miles · May 23, 2011
Seats

BATTERY DIES. AFTER DIAGNOSTIC, FOUND THAT DRIVER SEAT CONTROL UNIT DRAINED BATTERY. REPLACED BATTERY AND EVENTUALLY ALL CONTROLS FAIL ON THE SEAT AND STEERING WHEEL. I AM ONE OF MANY MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. NO SOLUTION FOUND AND NO RECALL TO REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10402463

Mileage unknown · May 11, 2011
Seats

MERCEDES 2002 C320. POWER SEAT CONTROL MODULE FOR BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER DRAIN THE BATTERY TO A EXTENT THAT CAR CAN NOT BE STARTED UP. ONLY SOLUTION IS BUY A NEW ($500.00 PLUS LABOR) CONTROL MODULE. I'VE DONE A RESEARCH IN DIFFERENT MERCEDES FORUMS AND IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG THESE MODELS. MB DESPITE OF ALL THE …

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MERCEDES 2002 C320. POWER SEAT CONTROL MODULE FOR BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER DRAIN THE BATTERY TO A EXTENT THAT CAR CAN NOT BE STARTED UP. ONLY SOLUTION IS BUY A NEW ($500.00 PLUS LABOR) CONTROL MODULE. I'VE DONE A RESEARCH IN DIFFERENT MERCEDES FORUMS AND IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG THESE MODELS. MB DESPITE OF ALL THE PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM HAS NOT ISSUED ANY RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10400052

97,000 miles · Feb 25, 2011
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ C320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY CONTINUED TO FAIL EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE SEAT MODULE WAS DRAINING THE BATTERY THAT WAS LOCATED UNDER THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD TO PURC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ C320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY CONTINUED TO FAIL EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE SEAT MODULE WAS DRAINING THE BATTERY THAT WAS LOCATED UNDER THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD TO PURCHASE TWO BATTERIES WITHIN FOUR MONTHS DUE TO THE RECURRING FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED IN REGARDS TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

NHTSA ODI #10384446

Mileage unknown · Dec 13, 2010
Electrical System

I HAVE A 2002 MERCEDES C-320 CAR THAT THE BATTERY WILL NOT HOLD A CHARGE! I HAD THE MERCEDES DEALER COME TO MY HOME AND PUT IN A NEW BATTERY. AFTER SPENDING $300 AND 2 DAYS LATER THE NEW BATTERY WAS DEAD. I WAS TOLD IT COULD BE THE ALTERNATOR/REGULATOR BY THE MB DEALER AND THE COST WOULD BE $1,200. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL MECH…

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I HAVE A 2002 MERCEDES C-320 CAR THAT THE BATTERY WILL NOT HOLD A CHARGE! I HAD THE MERCEDES DEALER COME TO MY HOME AND PUT IN A NEW BATTERY. AFTER SPENDING $300 AND 2 DAYS LATER THE NEW BATTERY WAS DEAD. I WAS TOLD IT COULD BE THE ALTERNATOR/REGULATOR BY THE MB DEALER AND THE COST WOULD BE $1,200. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO WORKS ON FOR. CARS, AND THEY REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR/REG. FOR $512 OUT THE DOOR. 2 DAYS LATER THE BATTERY WAS DEAD AGAIN. I WAS TOLD MY NEW MERC. BATTERY WAS NOT GOOD AND THEY REPLACED IT. 7 DAYS LATER MY BATTERY DIED AGAIN. MY LOCAL MECH. TOLD ME TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE MB DEALER AS THERE SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THEIR MODULE AND THEY SHOULD REPLACE IT FOR FREE AS THROUGH HIS RESEARCH MANY INDIVIDUALS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. CLEARLY A DEFECT PART BY MERCEDES AS THROUGH MY AND MY MECH. RESEARCH, THE MB MECH ARE REPLACING THE OLD MODULES WITH A NEW AND IMPROVED ONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I NOW HAVE NOW HAD AAA TO COME AND CHARGE MY BATTERY ONCE AGAIN AND I WILL TAKE IT TO THE MB DEALER. I HOPE THEY A WILL DO THE RIGHT THING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10370422

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

NHTSA ODI #10369827

54,000 miles · May 2, 2010
Electrical SystemSeats

LEFT AND RIGHT ELECTRONIC SEAT MODULES WHICH ALSO CONTROLS THE STEERING WHEEL AND OTHERS FAILED AND MB DID NOT WANT TO ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY PART NUMBERS ARE: 2118704626 2118704726. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10328394

44,975 miles · Apr 13, 2010
Electrical SystemSeats

AT 45,000 MILES FRONT PASSENGER SEAT STARTED DRAINING THE BATTERY. DEALER TOLD BAD CONTROL UNIT. BECAUSE OF HIGH COST OF REPAIR ($900.), IT HAS BEEN DISCONNECTED. THE CONTROL UNIT WAS LEAST UTILIZED FOR THE PASSENGERS SEAT. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED UNDER 45000 MILES USE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10325370

Mileage unknown · Apr 5, 2010
Electrical SystemSeats

2002 C320 MERCEDES BENZ ELECTRICAL SEATS DRAINING BATTERY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10323794

Official recalls

3

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.

19V918000 · Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly

Dec 20, 2019

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.