2002 Mercedes Benz E CLASS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
8 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
44,717 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 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: Instrument Cluster/Panel is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 8 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 1 | 12.5% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 12.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 12.5% |
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: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 2 |
| Child Seat | 1 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Suspension:Front | 1 |
| Visibility | 1 |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 1 |
| Wheels:Rim | 1 |
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 2; Child Seat: 1; Electrical System: 1; Suspension:Front: 1; Visibility: 1; Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 1; Wheels:Rim: 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 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 2 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 |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
2005: 1; 2006: 2; 2007: 1; 2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2014: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Braking behavior 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10146317 · 2005-12-29 (December 29, 2005)
RIGHT REAR WINDOW MOTOR REPLACED. WINDOW HAD BEEN LOWERED AND RAISED APPROX. FOUR TIMES SINCE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 2002. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 39,410 miles reported. Look up ODI 10146317 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10150567 · 2006-02-17 (February 17, 2006)
1. HIT POTHOLE ON SIDE OF ROAD WHILE TRAVELING APPROX 10 MPH. 2. FLAT TIRE 3. REPLACE TIRE. THIS IS THE FOURTH INCIDENT IN 5 YEARS. TWO DIFFERENT TIRE MANUFACTURES INVOLVED. FAILURE IS ALWAYS SIDEWALL INTEGRITY. FAILURE IS DUE TO LOW PROFILE (235/45Z17) TIRES SUPPLIED WITH CAR. NO OTHER WHEEL/TIRE COMBINATION AVAILABLE DUE TO LARGE BRAKES. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10150567 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10170116 · 2006-10-06 (October 6, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE CHILD WAS OBSERVED UNLATCHING THE LEVER AND LOOSENING THE ENTIRE HARNESS. THE SYSTEM USED TO SECURE THE SEAT WAS A LAP BELT COMBINATION FOR A FORWARD FACING CHILD SEAT. THE CONTACT ALERTED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT NO RESOLUTION WAS PROVIDED. MAKE: BRITAX, MODEL: MARATHON, MODEL#E9L0627, DOM: 05/12/05, *AK UPDATED 10/18/2006 - THE CONSUMER'S 21 MONTH OLD CHILD PULLED BACK ON THE STRAP WHICH CAUSED THE HARNESS RELEASE LEVER TO BE DEPRESSED. THE CHILD'S WEIGHT AGAINST THE HARNESS RELEASED THE HAR…
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10170116 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10205692 · 2007-10-15 (October 15, 2007)
FAULTY COVER ON ILLUMINATED VANITY MIRROR: 1. THE DESIGN OF THE COVER FOR THE ILLUMINATED VANITY MIRROR ON THE MERCEDES BENZ 2002 E320 IS FAULTY LEADING TO THE COVER BREAKING OFF EASILY DURING NORMAL USE. THE DANGER CREATED BY THE BREAKING OFF OF THE COVER IS THAT WHEN THE SUN VISOR IS PULLED DOWN TO PROTECT AGAINST SUN GLARE, THE EXPOSED MIRROR CREATES A DANGEROUS DISTRACTION TO THE DRIVER. AFTER CONDUCTING LIMITED RESEARCH ON THE SUBJECT, IT APPEARS THAT THIS PROBLEM WITH THE ILLUMINATED VANITY MIRROR COVER BREAKING OFF IS WIDESPREAD AND A…
Owner-reported narrative. 50,023 miles reported. Look up ODI 10205692 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10216242 · 2008-01-28 (January 28, 2008)
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTING FADED TO POINT OF BARELY BEING ABLE TO SEE PIXELS IN DISPLAY.NO TEMPERATURE READING-NO CLOCK READING AND SPEEDOMETER IS BARELY READABLE.MANUFACTURER ACKNOWLEDGED FAULT ON OTHER MERCEDES MODELS BUT NOT THE E-CLASS.DON'T DRIVE CAR MUCH AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF BARELY READABLE DISPLAY. *CN
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10216242 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10232529 · 2008-06-27 (June 27, 2008)
FRONT STRUTS FAILED, AIR SUSPENSION (AIR LEAK) AND WHEELS COLLAPSED UP INTO WHEEL WELLS. THE FRONT WHEELS COULD NOT BE TURNED AT ALL; IF TURNED THE TIRES WOULD HAVE RUBBED ON THE WHEEL WELLS RESULTING IN SUDDEN DEFLATION. THIS COLLAPSE OCCURED AFTER THE CAR WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE FOLLOWING 140 MILES OF INTERSTATE DRIVING. I BELIEVE THE LEAK OCCURED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AS THE COMPUTER INDICATED MY MPG HAD DROPPED 2 MPG COMPARED TO EARLIER IN THE DAY. THERE WERE NO REPLACEMENT PARTS AVAILABLE IN THE U.S. (SENT FROM GERMANY), INDICATING EITHE…
Owner-reported narrative. 53,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10232529 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10275001 · 2009-06-25 (June 25, 2009)
THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTING IS DIMMING TO THE POINT YOU HAVE TO SQUINT TO SEE THE INFORMATION. THIS REQUIRES FOCUSING ON THE DISPLAY FOR LONGER THAN A SAFE AMOUNT OF TIME ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10275001 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10585495 · 2014-04-29 (April 29, 2014)
I REITERATE ....THIS VEHICLE IS A DEATH TRAP! MERCEDES BENZ INSTALLED POWER SEAT CONTROLLERS IN THIS CAR THAT FAIL VERY FREQUENTLY. THIS DESIGN FLAW CAUSES THE UNIT TO RUN POWER SEAT COMPONENTS CONSTANTLY EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED, KEY REMOVED AND THE CAR IS LOCKED. WITHIN 2-11 HOURS, THE ACTIVITY OF THIS FAULT SEAT CONTROLLER UNIT DRAINS THE CAR BATTERY! WHEN YOU TRY TO JUMP START THE CAR AS PER MERCEDES BENZ OWNERS MANUAL INSTRUCTIONS, THE PROCESS CAUSES THE REAR LEFT SAM (SIGNAL ACQUISITION AND ACTUATOR MODULE DRIVER SIDE) TO LOSE PARTI…
Owner-reported narrative. 102,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10585495 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.