2002 Mercedes Benz 240 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
26 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
37,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 11 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 26 complaints (19.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 26.9% |
| Braking behavior | 5 | 19.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 11.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 7.7% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 7.7% |
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 | 5 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 1 |
| Back Over Prevention:Warnings:External/Pedestrian Alert | 1 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 1 |
Electrical System: 5; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Air Bags: 2; Air Bags:Side/Window: 1; Back Over Prevention:Warnings:External/Pedestrian Alert: 1; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 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 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 15 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 | 1 |
| 2002 | 8 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
2001: 1; 2002: 8; 2003: 4; 2004: 4; 2005: 3; 2006: 1; 2007: 3; 2008: 1; 2009: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 7 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 3 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 10048979 · 2003-12-01 (December 1, 2003)
I HAVE HAD A STRING OF PROBLEMS EVER SINCE I PURCHASED MY 2002 MERCEDES C240. I HAVE HAD THE PANIC ALARM FAIL IN A PARKING LOT (FORTUNATELY I HAD PEPPER SPRAY), I HAVE HAD MY SEAT RETRACT ALL THE WAY BACK AND GET STUCK (I HAVE TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER WITH PILLOWS AND BLANKETS BEHIND ME) AND HAVE HAD TO TURN OFF THAT CAR FEATURE SO IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN! MY KEY STOPPED UNLOCKING MY DOOR DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE KEY SO I WAS HAVING TO LEAVE MY DOORS UNLOCKED. MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS FOR DOORS, SUNROOF, ETC. COMES UNSYNCED ABOUT ONCE EVERY OTHER …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10048979 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10082494 · 2004-07-22 (July 22, 2004)
(1) CAR WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE. CAR DID NOT START. CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND WHILE WAITING FOR THE TECHNICIAN TO CALL, THE CAR STARTED (AFTER 45 MINUTES). I DROVE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE DEALER DID NOT FIND ANY FAULT CODES. I DROVE THE CAR TO WORK AND THE CAR STOPPED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY (2) THE CAR SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. ENGINE SHUT OFF. ELECTRICAL POWER STILL ON AS RADIO STILL OPERATING. I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND KEENLY DODGED TRAFFIC AND PARKED ON THE HIGHWAY SHOULDER. (3) I REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10082494 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10140619 · 2005-10-24 (October 24, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. THIS STARTED ON JANUARY 15, 2005. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE FOR BRAKE PROBLEM. THEY CLEANED THE CONTACTS ON THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND CHECKED ALL OF THE CONNECTORS. ALSO, THEY REPLACED THE COMPUTER. THE PROBLEM PERSISTED INTERMITTENTLY. MERCEDES TOLD THE CONTACT TO GO TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT AT THIS POINT MERCEDES HAS TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10140619 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10191974 · 2007-05-29 (May 29, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ 240. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AT 2 MPH, THE CONTACT'S WIFE DROVE OVER THE CURB THROUGH A NINE FOOT HIGH FENCE, SPED DOWN A THREE FOOT EMBANKMENT, DROVE ACROSS AN ABANDONED RAIL ROAD TRACK, AND INTO A CHAIN LINKED FENCE. SHE THEN CRASHED INTO A POST WHICH STOPPED THE VEHICLE. THE PARAMEDIC AND POLICE WERE CALLED. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR AND SUNNY. A SEPARATE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON APRIL 8, 2007. THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT 2 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. …
Owner-reported narrative. 34,075 miles reported. Look up ODI 10191974 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023709 · 2003-06-24 (June 24, 2003)
I HAVE HAD MY C230 COUPE IN THE SHOP AT ED POTTER MERCEDES COLUMBUS, OH SEVERAL TIMES. FOUR WEEKS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR THE WHEELS WERE SO OUT OF ALIGNMENT THAT THE CARS JUMPED LANES, REPEATEDLY I WAS ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE THE TERRIBLE 'PULL' EVEN WITH MR. POTTER IN THE CAR - NEVER COULD THEY FIX IT. THE FUEL TANK WAS REPLACED TWICE, THE STRUT WAS REPLACED, I HAD TO BUY NEW TIRES ($1,277) AFTER 20K MILES, RIGHT NOW IT'S IN THE SHOP, THE SEAL AROUND THE ROOF HAS TO BE REPLACED, THE FRONT SWAY BARS WERE REPLACED, THE RUBBER BUSHINGS ARE BEING RE…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,145 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023709 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10175658 · 2006-12-09 (December 9, 2006)
1. FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. 2. TRANSMISSIONS WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. MY FAMILY (4 MONTH BABY AND WIFE) WERE LEFT STRANDED ON THE ROADWAY. 3. MERCEDES-BENZ CANNOT CORRECTLY FIX THE PROBLEM. UNKNOWN CAUSE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN SHOP FOR 2 WEEKS WITHOUT A SOLUTION IN SIGHT. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 60,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10175658 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8003785 · 2002-02-08 (February 8, 2002)
WHEN DRIVING OVER 40 MPH TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY SHIFTED DOWN. THIS HAS HAPPENED 9 TIMES. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER.PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED, AND FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE STATED CONSUMER MUST HAVE PUSHED BY ON GEARSHIFT BY HERSELF. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8003785 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10075851 · 2004-06-03 (June 3, 2004)
PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE SURGING AND STALLING. *MR THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED VAPOR LOCK. THE FUEL IN THE FUEL LINES TO THE ENGINE VAPORIZED DUE TO HIGH TEMPERATURES. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL AND OR SURGE. MERCEDES CLAIMED THAT THE FUEL IN MINNESOTA WAS THE CAUSE OF THIS CONDITION. THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY DIE, INTERMITTENTLY RESTART AND STALL AGAIN. ACCIDENTS HAD ALMOST BEEN CAUSED BY THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED. ANOTHER SERVICE DEALER FOUND A CODE FOR MISFIRE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10075851 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10128235 · 2005-07-10 (July 10, 2005)
PURCHASED THE USED 2002 USED VEHICLE IN MARCH 2005. BY APRIL 2005, THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS/HARNESS THAT CONNECTS THE SRS, TELE-AID AND OTHER COMPUTERIZED COMPONENTS STARTED DRAINING THE BATTERY WHCIH CAUSES A SLOW STALL BEFORE AN IMMEDIATE STOPPAGE ON THE HIGHWAY. MERCEDES BENZ MECHANICS HAVE DISCONNECTED THE SRS (AIRBAGS), TELE-AID AND MOST OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER TO NO AVAIL, WHICH IS CAUSING ADDITIONAL HAZARDOUS AND SAFETY ISSUES. I HAVE VISITED 4 MERCEDES BENZ SERVICE CENTERS IN NY, NJ, PA AND VA FOR A TOTAL OF 8 TIMES AND NO ONE HAS …
Owner-reported narrative. 47,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10128235 at NHTSA ↗