Mercedes Benz 202 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
9 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
121,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1994 to 2001 model years. Data snapshot: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 9 complaints (44.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 55.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 22.2% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 11.1% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 11.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 1 |
| Structure:Body:Bumpers | 1 |
Electrical System: 4; Engine: 1; Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1; Power Train: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 1; Structure:Body:Bumpers: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 4 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 2 |
2001: 3; 2006: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10277124 · 2009-07-17 (July 17, 2009)
THE ENGINE HAD SEVERAL ERRATIC FAILURES SUCH AS MISFIRING, LACK OF POWER AND EVENTUALLY STOPPED TO WORK AT ALL DURING A HEAVY RAIN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MOTORWAY. I CHECKED IF THERE WERE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE WIRINGS BETWEEN ENGINE MANAGEMENT COMPONENTS SUCH AS IGNITION COILS, INJECTORS, HFM, CAMSHAFT SENSOR, WATER TEMP SENSOR ETC. AND THE ECU. I WAS SHOCKED WHEN I REALIZED THAT THE INSULATION OF THESE WIRES WIRE LITERALLY FALLING INTO PIECES BY CRACKS SINCE THE MATERIAL HAD BECOME TOTALLY STIFF AND BRITTLE, MAKING ELECTRICAL CONTACT TO SUR…
Owner-reported narrative. 147,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10277124 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10446260 · 2012-02-02 (February 2, 2012)
THE INSULATION OF THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS GETS BRITTLE AND CRUMBLES CAUSING THE ENGINE TO EITHER NOT RUN PROPERLY OR JUST QUIT RUNNING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE ON THE ROAD. MERCEDES BENZ IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THE W202 BODY (AND I BELIEVE OTHER BODY STYLES) BETWEEN 1994 THRU 1996 +- MODEL YEARS. AT ONE POINT THEY WERE DOING A GOOD-FAITH REPLACEMENT OF THESE HARNESSES BUT STOPPED. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THERE ARE ABOUT 1.5 M CARS IN THE US AFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM. *TT *KB
Owner-reported narrative. 147,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10446260 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10458232 · 2012-05-13 (May 13, 2012)
THE ENGINE BEGAN TO MISFIRE THEN STALLED LEAVING ME ON THE HIGHWAY. I FINALLY RESTARTED ENOUGH TO MOVE TO SIDE RAMP WHERE THE TOW TRUCK WAS ABLE TO PICK ME UP. MECHANIC FOUND MULTIPLE CODES ALL RELATING TO SHORTING OUT OF DETERIORATING WIRING HARNESS. WIRE LOOMS ALL OVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WERE CHECKED AND ALL SHOWED DEGRADATION. ONLY RESOURCE IS TO REPLACE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WIRING HARNESS AND PROBABLY TRANSMISSION HARNESS AS WELL. = OVER 2000.00 OUT OF POCKET. MERCEDES BENZ DEALER WAYS THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE. I COULD HAVE BEEN KI…
Owner-reported narrative. 121,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10458232 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 740351 · 2001-02-02 (February 2, 2001)
WINDSHIELD WIPER MOVES TO CENTER OF WINDSHIELD THEN HESITATES FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN SLOWLY DRAGS ACROSS THE REST OF THE WINDSHIELD, THEN DOES THE SAME THING WHEN IT RETURNS TO ITS ORIGINAL POSITION. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR WARANTY SERVICE AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT COVERED. IF I WANTED IT FIXED IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $700.00 FOR A PART THEY CALLED THE WIPER TRANSMISSION PLUS LABOR. I CHECKED WITH OTHER DEALERS/REPAIR FACILITIES AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. WHEN I CHECKED WITH AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP THE MECHANIC FIXED…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 740351 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 738829 · 2001-01-05 (January 5, 2001)
ANOMOLOUS BRAKE DEFECT REPAIRED BY DEALER. THE DEALER PAID MOST OF THE COST. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 738829 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1994 | 0 |
| 1995 | 0 |
| 1996 | 1 |
| 1997 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2001 | 0 |
1994: 0; 1995: 0; 1996: 1; 1997: 0; 1999: 0; 2000: 0; 2001: 0