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U.S. public vehicle records

2002 Mercedes Benz C240 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

13 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

117,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 9 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 13 complaints (15.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting17.7%
Engine operation17.7%
Electrical and battery issues17.7%
Steering behavior17.7%

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.

Electrical System
2
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel
2
Interior Lighting
2
Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly
2
Air Bags
1
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
1
Power Train
1
Seat Belts
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System2
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel2
Interior Lighting2
Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly2
Air Bags1
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)1
Power Train1
Seat Belts1

Electrical System: 2; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 2; Interior Lighting: 2; Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly: 2; Air Bags: 1; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1; Power Train: 1; Seat Belts: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
2
75,000 to 99,999
2
100,000 to 149,999
3
150,000 and above
2
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0000
25,000 to 49,9990
50,000 to 74,9992
75,000 to 99,9992
100,000 to 149,9993
150,000 and above2

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 2

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.

2012
2
2013
2
2014
2
2016
2
2020
5
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20122
20132
20142
20162
20205

2012: 2; 2013: 2; 2014: 2; 2016: 2; 2020: 5

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 10817582 · 2016-01-04 (January 4, 2016)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ C240. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR AND WAS LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING FLUID IN SIX DIFFERENT PLACES AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10817582 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10614719 · 2014-07-19 (July 19, 2014)

I AM NOT SURE WHY MERCEDES IS DOING THIS. I AM SURE THE AUTO MAKER IS AWARE OF THE SITUATION AND NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS FORUMS REGARDING THE SAME ISSUE. ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. I DEMAND MERCEDES TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEY CAN NOT GET AWAY CLEAN HANDS JUST LIKE ANY OTHER AUTO MAKERS. THIS ARE PEOPLE LIVES YOU ARE PLAYING WITH AND YOU AS A AUTOMAKER HAVE NO REMORSE FOR PEOPLE LIVES. THIS IS NOT A MOVIE WHERE YOU CAN JUST CALCULATE YOUR COLLATERAL DAMAGE AND GET AWAY. WILL NEV…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10614719 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10544120 · 2013-09-17 (September 17, 2013)

WHILE DRIVING TO GET ON THE FREEWAY FROM ON RAMP, MISS JUDGE AND LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL, VEHICLE FLIP FROM FRONT TO BACK ON THE DITCH SIDE OF THE ROAD, DRIVER WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT BUT GOT THROWN OUT DUE TO SEATBELT MALFUNCTION. FRONT AIRBAG ON STEERING AND PASSENGER SIDE DID NOT DEPLOYED, DRIVER SUSTAINED BROKEN SPINAL (NECK), TRAUMA BRAIN INJURY, BROKEN COLLAR BONES, BRUISED LUNGS, TWO BROKEN ARMS TWO BROKEN LEGS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 117,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10544120 at NHTSA ↗