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U.S. public vehicle records

2002 Mercedes Benz E320 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

23 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

85,993 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 18 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 23 complaints (13.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior626.1%
Transmission and shifting28.7%
Steering behavior28.7%
Engine operation14.3%

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.

Air Bags
3
Electrical System
2
Power Train
2
Suspension
2
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel
1
Electrical System:Ignition
1
Engine
1
Engine And Engine Cooling
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags3
Electrical System2
Power Train2
Suspension2
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel1
Electrical System:Ignition1
Engine1
Engine And Engine Cooling1

Air Bags: 3; Electrical System: 2; Power Train: 2; Suspension: 2; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 1; Electrical System:Ignition: 1; Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
1
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
4
75,000 to 99,999
6
100,000 to 149,999
5
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0001
25,000 to 49,9991
50,000 to 74,9994
75,000 to 99,9996
100,000 to 149,9995
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 1

75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 5 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.

2002
2
2003
2
2004
1
2007
3
2009
1
2010
1
2011
2
2012
1
2014
5
2015
2
2016
1
2018
1
2020
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20022
20032
20041
20073
20091
20101
20112
20121
20145
20152
20161
20181
20201

2002: 2; 2003: 2; 2004: 1; 2007: 3; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 2; 2012: 1; 2014: 5; 2015: 2; 2016: 1; 2018: 1; 2020: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 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 10034318 · 2003-08-22 (August 22, 2003)

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL EXCEEDS TO THE FLOOR,CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10034318 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10314646 · 2010-02-26 (February 26, 2010)

THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES WHEN I AM COMING TO A STOP;THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 5-6 TIMES. ON MAY 23, 09 I WAS ALMOST STOPPED IN A PARKING PLACE AND THE CAR STARTED BUCKING AGAINST MY APPLICATION OF THE BRAKE AND IT WAS ABOUT 30 YARDS BEFORE THE VEHICLE STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE AND STOPPED. ON FEB.13 OF THIS YEAR I WAS STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN AND THE VEHICLE AGAIN STARTED ACCELERATING. PLACING THE GEAR INTO NEUTRAL SAVED ANOTHER CRASH. THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENTS HAS BEEN ONLY ABOUT 2 MPH. I KNOW THAT "OTHERS" LIKE TO CLAIM …

Owner-reported narrative. 79,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10314646 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10426882 · 2011-09-23 (September 23, 2011)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE FOLLOWED BY AN ABNORMALLY LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER, THE VEHICLE CAME TO A HALT AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER TRAIN DROPPED DUE TO FOUR LOOSE SCREWS. AS A RESULT, THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 109…

Owner-reported narrative. 109,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10426882 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10717564 · 2015-05-20 (May 20, 2015)

WHILE DECELERATING ONTO HIGHWAY FROM ON RAMP, THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO SLIP OUT OF GEAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. IT'S IS A SCARY SITUATION TO LOSE POWER AS YOU MERGE INTO HIGHWAY. I COASTED TO BRAKE DOWN LANE. I SHIFTED BACK INTO PARK GEAR TO RESET, THEN BACK INTO DRIVE GEAR TO RESUME TRAVEL. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWO MORE TIMES SINCE. CAN BE A DANGEROUS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ROADWAYS.

Owner-reported narrative. 118,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10717564 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10098526 · 2004-11-09 (November 9, 2004)

E320 4 MATIC (ALL WHEEL DRIVE)2002. NOISE IN THE RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION WHEN GOING OVER SPEED BUMPS, OR A DIP/INCLINE IN THE PAVEMENT THEN COMING BACK TO NORMAL LEVEL.*AK STEERING WHEEL MAKES NOISE WHEN TURNING IN WARM WEATHER MERCEDES BENZ HAS DETERMINED THAT THE FIRST PROBLEM NOISE IS INHERENT IN THE DESIGN OF THEIR E320 4 MATICS AND CAN NOT BE REPAIRED. THIS NOISE ISSUE HOWEVER DOES AFFECT THE RESALE OF THE CAR, AND ALSO CAN NOT BE STARMARKED CERTIFICED BY MERCEDES TO BE RESOLD ON THEIR PRE-OWNED USED CAR LOT. ONE OF THE STARMARKED …

Owner-reported narrative. 1,272 miles reported. Look up ODI 10098526 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10434885 · 2011-11-08 (November 8, 2011)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING LOCK FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,828 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 11/29/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE RETURNED TO HER VEHICLE AND INSERTED THE KEY, IT WOULD NOT TURN. THE INDICATOR SAID TO REMOVE THE KEY. THE CONSUMER THEN MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE CAR EACH TIME REMOVING THE KEY AS DIRECTED. THE TOW TRUCK…

Owner-reported narrative. 73,828 miles reported. Look up ODI 10434885 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 8011499 · 2002-06-11 (June 11, 2002)

WHEN APPLYING GAS FROM A STOP, VEHICLE WILL HESITATE AND THEN STALL. THIS HAS HAPPENED 25 TIMES, DEALER CANNOT FIND A CAUSE. *AK DEALER REPLACED MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. MANUFACTURER ADVISED CUSTOMER THAT CUSTOMERS WHO DRIVE WITH TWO FEET MAY EXPERIENCE SOME ENGINE HESITATION. *TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8011499 at NHTSA ↗