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2002 Mercedes Benz E320

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2002 Mercedes Benz E320 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 42.5.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
23Owner complaints

Model-year median: 42.5

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

2002 Mercedes Benz E320

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 23 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Electrical System: 4 reports
  • Engine And Engine Cooling: 4 reports
  • Air Bags: 3 reports
  • Power Train: 3 reports
  • Steering: 2 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

    No recall campaigns in this snapshot.

    Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

    Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

    How this year compares

    Owner complaints by model year

    Other model years Selected year
    83
    1999    44
    2000    38
    2001    23
    2002    214
    2003    203
    2004    231
    2005
    Compare all E320 years →

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

    What owners reported most

    Electrical System
    4    Engine And Engine Cooling
    4    Air Bags
    3    Power Train
    3    Steering
    2
    All reported categories
    Suspension
    2    Engine
    1    Equipment
    1    Exterior Lighting
    1    Fuel System, Gasoline
    1    Service Brakes
    1    Service Brakes, Electric
    1    Service Brakes, Hydraulic
    1    Structure
    1    Visibility
    1

    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: 18 of 23 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 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Air Bags. Review the 3 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 reports1 fire reports1 injury reports

    Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

    4 reports
    Clear category filter
    83,000 miles · Apr 9, 2012
    Engine And Engine Cooling

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ E-320. WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEGAN TO VIBRATE UNCONTROLLABLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE…

    Read full complaint

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ E-320. WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEGAN TO VIBRATE UNCONTROLLABLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 83,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

    NHTSA ODI #10454614

    103,000 miles · Feb 3, 2009
    Engine And Engine Cooling

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ 320E. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. SHE DROVE THE VEHICLE TO HER RESIDENCE AND THE NOISE RECURRED THREE DAYS LATER AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN WARMED UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER W…

    Read full complaint

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ 320E. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. SHE DROVE THE VEHICLE TO HER RESIDENCE AND THE NOISE RECURRED THREE DAYS LATER AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN WARMED UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,200 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000. UPDATED 03/17/09. *LJ WHEN THE CONSUMER PICKED THE VEHICLE UP AFTER HAVING IT SERVICED, IT BEGAN TO MAKE A LOUD NOISE. THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE CONVERTER HAD GONE BAD. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS NO NOISE PRIOR TO TAKING THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALER. UPDATED 03/17/09. *JB

    NHTSA ODI #10257324

    88,985 miles · Sep 7, 2007
    Engine And Engine Cooling

    I WAS RECENTLY TOLD THAT MY 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 HAD AN OIL LEAK INSIDE THE ENGINE AND REQUIRED A COMPLETE ENGINE OVERHAUL FOR $5,725.00. *TR UPDATED 12-12-07. *KB UPDATED *JB

    NHTSA ODI #10202135

    Mileage unknown · Jun 11, 2002
    Engine And Engine Cooling

    WHEN APPLYING GAS FROM A STOP, VEHICLE WILL HESITATE AND THEN STALL. THIS HAS HAPPENED 25 TIMES, DEALER CANNOT FIND A CAUSE. *AK DEALER REPLACED MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. MANUFACTURER ADVISED CUSTOMER THAT CUSTOMERS WHO DRIVE WITH TWO FEET MAY EXPERIENCE SOME ENGINE HESITATION. *TT

    NHTSA ODI #8011499

    Recall campaigns

    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 ↗

    Defect investigations

    0

    No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

    An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.