2002 Mercedes Benz C230 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other C230 years
- More complaints than other years 4th of 11 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 54 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Mercedes Benz C230. That ranks 4th out of 11 C230 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (16 complaints, 30%), typically at around 25,500 miles. Complaints mention 3 crashes, 4 fires, 2 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 54owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 3complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2002 Mercedes Benz C230 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 16 | 30% | 25,500 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 12 | 22% | 48,660 | — | — |
| Visibility | 5 | 9% | 29,608 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 4 | 7% | 6,500 | — | — |
| Steering | 4 | 7% | 67,508 | — | — |
| Suspension | 4 | 7% | 54,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 3 | 6% | 45,616 | — | — |
| Power Train | 3 | 6% | 56,146 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 2 | 4% | 32,763 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 4% | 15,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 4% | 39,607 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 4% | 69,616 | — | — |
| Seats | 2 | 4% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 2 | 4% | 31,700 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 2% | 5,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 2% | 79,231 | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 2% | 108,177 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2002 Mercedes Benz C230 recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Visibility:sun/moon roof assembly
Problem: 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.
Risk: A detached sunroof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Visibility:sun/moon roof assembly
Problem: 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.
Risk: A detached sunroof panel may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The rear subframe rusted out and failed at the driver side trailing arm mount. It is available for inspection. My pregnant wife was driving it when it failed, luckily it failed an 1/8th mile from our house on a 25mph back road. The problem with these subframes has been well documented in later…
Recall ID: 24V874 on Sliding Roof Bonding was issued. Mercedes-Benz of Nashville was not able to open the Roof and asked for $219.88 to determine cause of sunroof being inoperative. Recall letter stated that: "vehicle repair will be provided at no cost to you" "If dealer for any reason is unable to…
There is an old recall campaign for the Camshaft Seal, # [redacted]. This car is among those affected by this problem and should be covered for issues and repairs.
Takata recall esl (electric steering lock) components the motor fails to unlock the steering the first time, but work in following attempts. Some times it takes 1 to 4 hours for esl to unlock. This happens only when the vehicle is parked weather overnight or just coming out of the store shopping.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 mercedes-benz c230. While reversing at 5 mph, the steering column lock failed to engage. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or mechanic. The manufacturer and dealer were not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 163,000. ..updated 09/25/17 *bf .. .updated…
Other Mercedes Benz C230 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 C230 | 212 | 5 |
| 2006 C230 | 116 | 5 |
| 2005 C230 | 85 | 4 |
| 2004 C230 | 31 | 3 |
| 2003 C230 | 51 | 3 |
| 2002 | 54 | 2 |
| 2001 C230 | 4 | 0 |
| 2000 C230 | 29 | 0 |
| 1999 C230 | 29 | 0 |
| 1998 C230 | 39 | 0 |
| 1997 C230 | 7 | 0 |
See all Mercedes Benz C230 problems by year, every Mercedes Benz model, or the Mercedes Benz VIN decoder.
Similar Mercedes Benz models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Mercedes Benz C230?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, electrical system, visibility problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 16 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2002 Mercedes Benz C230?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2002 Mercedes Benz C230 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other C230 model years, the 2002 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.