2002 Mercedes Benz E320: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
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.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 6 | 26.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 8.7% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 8.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 4.3% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
Examples from the source records
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 10042619 · 2003-10-07 (October 7, 2003)
PROBLEMS WITH INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING.*MR IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO READ THE TEMPERATURE AND ODOMETER READING WHILE DRIVING IN DAYLIGHT. THE CONSUMER SAW THE 2003 MODEL AND THE LIGHTING HAS BEEN CHANGED. THE CONSUMER FEELS THE 2002 MODEL SHOULD BE RECALLED. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10042619 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 10179334 · 2007-01-22 (January 22, 2007)
MY 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ E320 SE HAS 29000 MILES ON IT AND OUT OF WARRANTY. ON THE DASH IN THE LOWER RIGHT HAND CORNER IS THE GEAR SELECTION POSITION INDICATOR AND CLOCK MODULE. IN DECEMBER THE UNIT MALFUNCTIONED AND IS UNREADABLE. I HAVE TRIED TO GET SOMEONE TO FIX IT BUT NO ONE WILL DO IT BECAUSE IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY. IS THERE ANY RECOURSE FOR ME AT THIS TIME? IS THIS A FIRST FOR MB? I AM FILING THIS REPORT TO ALERT OTHERS OF THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 29,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10179334 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10193585 · 2007-06-18 (June 18, 2007)
THE PIXELS ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER OF THE 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E320 FAILED, CONVEYING GARBLED INFORMATION OR NO INFORMATION AT ALL. I AM THE SECOND OWNER THAT PURCHASED THE CAR IN JUNE 2005, AND MERCEDES BENZ REFUSED TO REPAIR IT UNDER THE 3 YEAR WARRANTY, CLAIMING THE MILEAGE, 87000, WAS TOO HIGH FOR WARRANTY REPAIR. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10193585 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10202135 · 2007-09-07 (September 7, 2007)
I WAS RECENTLY TOLD THAT MY 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 HAD AN OIL LEAK INSIDE THE ENGINE AND REQUIRED A COMPLETE ENGINE OVERHAUL FOR $5,725.00. *TR UPDATED 12-12-07. *KB UPDATED *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 88,985 miles reported. Look up ODI 10202135 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10257324 · 2009-02-03 (February 3, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ 320E. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. SHE DROVE THE VEHICLE TO HER RESIDENCE AND THE NOISE RECURRED THREE DAYS LATER AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN WARMED UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,200 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10…
Owner-reported narrative. 103,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10257324 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 ↗
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.