6.4

fairly significant
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
11,175 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2002 Mercedes-Benz C320:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #4

Jan 012006

C320

  • miles
The transmission has repeatedly locked in 2nd gear. The electrical system shows constant light, coolant and air bag failures. The memory for seats, mirrors and the steering wheel defaults about 30% of the time. I bought this car through M-B diplomatic sales program while serving in Canada and brought it to the usa on retirement. M-B Canada won't help because the car is in the us. M-B usa won't help because I bought the car in Canada. M-B corporate in germany simply referred my case back to M-B usa. I am now out of warranty. I want M-B to extend the warranty another 4 years or 50K miles. The car is a disaster.

- Falls Church, VA, USA

problem #3

Mar 012005

C320

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Mercedes Benz C320 experiencing problems with transmission, accelerator, and a fluid leak. Answering 10118894 aae 4-27-05 the consumer complained about a valve noise, a ticking noise coming from the driveshaft, it was discovered that the leak caused some wires to become loose which caused the driveshaft to noisy. The consumer heard an unusual noise when he accelerated, but the noise decreased when he decelerated, seconds later the accelerator did not respond as if the vehicle were in neutral. The consumer took the vehicle to the dealer and the problem was corrected with the transmission.

- Palm Beach, FL, USA

problem #2

Dec 262004

C320 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 36,000 miles
I leased a 2002 Mercedes C32 in December of 2002. Its a documented fact Mercedes has been experiencing a high number of defect complaints with this model car. Recently for me was the most serious.. on December 26th 2004, while merging onto a major highway(I95) my car's automatic transmission went into neutral while in the drive position. I had to pull over on the side of the highway put the car into park then back to drive to resolve the problem. I notified Mercedes on 12/27, at an appointment I had previously scheduled for other problems. Mercedes after holding the car for a week diagnosed it as a transmission control issue. I had to wait four weeks for a replacement to arrive from germany. In January 2005, while waiting for this part to arrive the same incident occurred while merging onto the same highway the car went into neutral. I again found myself on the side of the road resolving the problem.at the end of January my car was finally fixed by Mercedes, I received the car on a Tuesday. On the following Sunday I pulled into a parking spot, put the car into park and turned off the ignition. My car jumped a 10 inch high curb and when I tried to get the ignition it did not respond. I had the car towed to Mercedes who diagnosed a broken transmission pin. I drove the car for the next few weeks which the fear of the transmission problem recurring. I eventually stopped driving the car and contacted Mercedes. I asked them to consider taking the car back, its has 8 months remaining on a 3 year lease. They in turn took the car for a week drove it for 60 miles then diagnosed the problem has been resolved. In my right mind I cannot drive this vehicle for fear of killing myself and others. Mercedes has washed their hands of this situation.

- Harrison, NY, USA

problem #1

Mar 062003

C320 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 8,700 miles
3/03 within 3 months of purchasing my 2002 C-240, the air conditioning stopped working, fuel gauge failed, headlight washer broke, and one of the vents on the dash fell apart. Took in for service and was given another 2002 C-240, and while driving the loaner car in the mountains, it began down shifting itself and there was no power. Car would come to complete stop and then would start moving again. Happened 6 times. Mercedes dealer thought was isolated incident. I felt it was very serious as I was on interstate when it would suddenly stop in traffic. Could have caused a very serious accident. 4/03 air conditioning not working again.

- Denver, CO, USA