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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.

About this comparison →
23Owner complaints

Model-year median: 42.5

0Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
83
199944
200038
200123
2002214
2003203
2004231
2005
Compare all E320 years →

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

What owners reported most

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

Power Train complaints

3 reports
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118,000 miles · May 20, 2015
Power Train

WHILE DECELERATING ONTO HIGHWAY FROM ON RAMP, THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO SLIP OUT OF GEAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. IT'S IS A SCARY SITUATION TO LOSE POWER AS YOU MERGE INTO HIGHWAY. I COASTED TO BRAKE DOWN LANE. I SHIFTED BACK INTO PARK GEAR TO RESET, THEN BACK INTO DRIVE GEAR TO RESUME TRAVEL. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWO MORE…

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WHILE DECELERATING ONTO HIGHWAY FROM ON RAMP, THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO SLIP OUT OF GEAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. IT'S IS A SCARY SITUATION TO LOSE POWER AS YOU MERGE INTO HIGHWAY. I COASTED TO BRAKE DOWN LANE. I SHIFTED BACK INTO PARK GEAR TO RESET, THEN BACK INTO DRIVE GEAR TO RESUME TRAVEL. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWO MORE TIMES SINCE. CAN BE A DANGEROUS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ROADWAYS.

NHTSA ODI #10717564

109,000 miles · Sep 23, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE FOLLOWED BY AN ABNORMALLY LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER, THE VEHICLE CAME TO A HALT AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER TRAIN DROP…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE FOLLOWED BY AN ABNORMALLY LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER, THE VEHICLE CAME TO A HALT AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER TRAIN DROPPED DUE TO FOUR LOOSE SCREWS. AS A RESULT, THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 109,200.

NHTSA ODI #10426882

29,400 miles · Jan 22, 2007
Power Train

MY 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ E320 SE HAS 29000 MILES ON IT AND OUT OF WARRANTY. ON THE DASH IN THE LOWER RIGHT HAND CORNER IS THE GEAR SELECTION POSITION INDICATOR AND CLOCK MODULE. IN DECEMBER THE UNIT MALFUNCTIONED AND IS UNREADABLE. I HAVE TRIED TO GET SOMEONE TO FIX IT BUT NO ONE WILL DO IT BECAUSE IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY. IS THERE A…

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MY 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ E320 SE HAS 29000 MILES ON IT AND OUT OF WARRANTY. ON THE DASH IN THE LOWER RIGHT HAND CORNER IS THE GEAR SELECTION POSITION INDICATOR AND CLOCK MODULE. IN DECEMBER THE UNIT MALFUNCTIONED AND IS UNREADABLE. I HAVE TRIED TO GET SOMEONE TO FIX IT BUT NO ONE WILL DO IT BECAUSE IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY. IS THERE ANY RECOURSE FOR ME AT THIS TIME? IS THIS A FIRST FOR MB? I AM FILING THIS REPORT TO ALERT OTHERS OF THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10179334

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.