Total Complaints
9 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ 230 · model year
2002 MERCEDES-BENZ 230
9 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2002MERCEDES-BENZ230 carries 9 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 5 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2002 230 is electrical system with 2 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (1) and electrical system:ignition (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 15 investigation files overlapping the 2002 230. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
9
Complaints
5
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
5 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 1 |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | 1 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES | 1 |
| PARKING BRAKE | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
| SEATS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20130207SEATS
DRIVER AND PASSENGER POWER SEAT MODULES DRAIN BATTERY. *TR
20130207ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DRIVER AND PASSENGER POWER SEAT MODULES DRAIN BATTERY. *TR
20090905CrashELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PRIOR TO FOLLOWING INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE, A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ C230 KOMPRESSOR HAS EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL FAILURES RESULTING IN THE COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE, POWER STEERING, SRS SYSTEM, CAR LOCKS, AND BRAKING SYSTEMS. THE AFOREMENTIONED FAILURES IN BRAKING, POWER STEERING WHICH RESULTED IN TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING HAVE OCCURRED 6 TIMES WITHIN A 2 MONTH PERIOD (AUGUST 15TH 2009- SEPTEMBER 5TH 2009). THE MOST RECENT EVENT IS LISTED BELOW. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT A GAS STATION ON SEPTEMBER 5TH 2009 AT 10:30 AM IN FIRST GEAR WITH THE FOOT BRAKE ON. AFTER THE OWNER LEFT THE PARKED VEHICLE, IT BEGAN ROLLING FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A NEARBY CONCRETE WALL OF THE UNION 76 GAS STATION ON RINALDI AND BALBOA IN GRANADA HILLS, CA. NO SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE WAS CAUSED TO THE WALL, AND NO INJURIES WERE CAUSED, HOWEVER ON IMPACT THE CAR CONTRACTED A MAJOR DENT ON THE RIGHT FRONT BUMPER ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE CAR. THERE WAS NO KEY IN THE CAR, IT HAD BEEN
Mileage: 71,004
20090905CrashELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
PRIOR TO FOLLOWING INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE, A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ C230 KOMPRESSOR HAS EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL FAILURES RESULTING IN THE COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE, POWER STEERING, SRS SYSTEM, CAR LOCKS, AND BRAKING SYSTEMS. THE AFOREMENTIONED FAILURES IN BRAKING, POWER STEERING WHICH RESULTED IN TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING HAVE OCCURRED 6 TIMES WITHIN A 2 MONTH PERIOD (AUGUST 15TH 2009- SEPTEMBER 5TH 2009). THE MOST RECENT EVENT IS LISTED BELOW. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT A GAS STATION ON SEPTEMBER 5TH 2009 AT 10:30 AM IN FIRST GEAR WITH THE FOOT BRAKE ON. AFTER THE OWNER LEFT THE PARKED VEHICLE, IT BEGAN ROLLING FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A NEARBY CONCRETE WALL OF THE UNION 76 GAS STATION ON RINALDI AND BALBOA IN GRANADA HILLS, CA. NO SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE WAS CAUSED TO THE WALL, AND NO INJURIES WERE CAUSED, HOWEVER ON IMPACT THE CAR CONTRACTED A MAJOR DENT ON THE RIGHT FRONT BUMPER ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE CAR. THERE WAS NO KEY IN THE CAR, IT HAD BEEN
Mileage: 71,004
20090905CrashLATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
PRIOR TO FOLLOWING INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE, A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ C230 KOMPRESSOR HAS EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL FAILURES RESULTING IN THE COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE, POWER STEERING, SRS SYSTEM, CAR LOCKS, AND BRAKING SYSTEMS. THE AFOREMENTIONED FAILURES IN BRAKING, POWER STEERING WHICH RESULTED IN TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING HAVE OCCURRED 6 TIMES WITHIN A 2 MONTH PERIOD (AUGUST 15TH 2009- SEPTEMBER 5TH 2009). THE MOST RECENT EVENT IS LISTED BELOW. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT A GAS STATION ON SEPTEMBER 5TH 2009 AT 10:30 AM IN FIRST GEAR WITH THE FOOT BRAKE ON. AFTER THE OWNER LEFT THE PARKED VEHICLE, IT BEGAN ROLLING FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A NEARBY CONCRETE WALL OF THE UNION 76 GAS STATION ON RINALDI AND BALBOA IN GRANADA HILLS, CA. NO SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE WAS CAUSED TO THE WALL, AND NO INJURIES WERE CAUSED, HOWEVER ON IMPACT THE CAR CONTRACTED A MAJOR DENT ON THE RIGHT FRONT BUMPER ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE CAR. THERE WAS NO KEY IN THE CAR, IT HAD BEEN
Mileage: 71,004
20090905CrashPARKING BRAKE
PRIOR TO FOLLOWING INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE, A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ C230 KOMPRESSOR HAS EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL FAILURES RESULTING IN THE COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE, POWER STEERING, SRS SYSTEM, CAR LOCKS, AND BRAKING SYSTEMS. THE AFOREMENTIONED FAILURES IN BRAKING, POWER STEERING WHICH RESULTED IN TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING HAVE OCCURRED 6 TIMES WITHIN A 2 MONTH PERIOD (AUGUST 15TH 2009- SEPTEMBER 5TH 2009). THE MOST RECENT EVENT IS LISTED BELOW. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT A GAS STATION ON SEPTEMBER 5TH 2009 AT 10:30 AM IN FIRST GEAR WITH THE FOOT BRAKE ON. AFTER THE OWNER LEFT THE PARKED VEHICLE, IT BEGAN ROLLING FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A NEARBY CONCRETE WALL OF THE UNION 76 GAS STATION ON RINALDI AND BALBOA IN GRANADA HILLS, CA. NO SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE WAS CAUSED TO THE WALL, AND NO INJURIES WERE CAUSED, HOWEVER ON IMPACT THE CAR CONTRACTED A MAJOR DENT ON THE RIGHT FRONT BUMPER ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE CAR. THERE WAS NO KEY IN THE CAR, IT HAD BEEN
Mileage: 71,004
20090905CrashSTEERING
PRIOR TO FOLLOWING INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE, A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ C230 KOMPRESSOR HAS EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL FAILURES RESULTING IN THE COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE, POWER STEERING, SRS SYSTEM, CAR LOCKS, AND BRAKING SYSTEMS. THE AFOREMENTIONED FAILURES IN BRAKING, POWER STEERING WHICH RESULTED IN TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING HAVE OCCURRED 6 TIMES WITHIN A 2 MONTH PERIOD (AUGUST 15TH 2009- SEPTEMBER 5TH 2009). THE MOST RECENT EVENT IS LISTED BELOW. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT A GAS STATION ON SEPTEMBER 5TH 2009 AT 10:30 AM IN FIRST GEAR WITH THE FOOT BRAKE ON. AFTER THE OWNER LEFT THE PARKED VEHICLE, IT BEGAN ROLLING FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A NEARBY CONCRETE WALL OF THE UNION 76 GAS STATION ON RINALDI AND BALBOA IN GRANADA HILLS, CA. NO SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE WAS CAUSED TO THE WALL, AND NO INJURIES WERE CAUSED, HOWEVER ON IMPACT THE CAR CONTRACTED A MAJOR DENT ON THE RIGHT FRONT BUMPER ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE CAR. THERE WAS NO KEY IN THE CAR, IT HAD BEEN
Mileage: 71,004
20070821ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
MY 2002 MERCEDES 230 SLK FAILED TO START, STRANDED MY WIFE, BECAUSE OF A FAILURE IN THE IGNITION LOCK AND STEERING INTERLOCK. THIS IS THE SECOND FAILURE IN 50,000 MILES. *TR UPDATED 09/11/07 *TR
Mileage: 51,000
20070711POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE C230 MERCEDES BENZ 2002 STARTED LURCHING WHEN COMING TO A STOP. UPON BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THEY DID A GLYCOL TEST ON THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID TO FIND GLYCOL IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE CAUSE WAS DUE TO A LEAK IN THE RADIATOR TO THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER. REPAIRS CURRENTLY INCLUDED A NEW RADIATOR, TRANSMISSION FLUSH, AND A NEW TRANSMISSION MODULE FOR ABOUT $2100, IF THAT DIDN'T WORK THEN A TORQUE CONVERTER FOR ANOTHER $2700. *AK
Mileage: 66,000
Compare 2002MERCEDES-BENZ230 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ 230 have?▼
The 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ 230 has 9 NHTSA complaints, 5 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ 230?▼
The most-complained component for the 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ 230 is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION.
Is the 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ 230 safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.