Total Complaints
27 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ E320 · model year
27 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2002MERCEDES-BENZE320 carries 27 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 1 fire, 1 injury, 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 E320 is air bags with 3 filings, followed by suspension (2) and power train (2). 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 E320. 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.
Total Complaints
27 filings
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS | 3 |
| SUSPENSION | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 1 |
| STRUCTURE | 1 |
| STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL) | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 1 |
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUN ROOF WAS UNABLE TO BE OPENED AND THAT THE SUN ROOF GLASS HAD BECOME INDENTED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V918000 (VISIBILITY) FOR ANOTHER MERCEDES-BENZ VEHICLE WHICH SHE LINKED TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000. *BF*JB
Mileage: 200,000
SRS LIGHT IS ON
Mileage: 67,000
ON APRIL 25, 2016, I NOTICED THAT A WHITE BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AT ABOUT 10 MPH IN TRAFFIC. DESPITE THE WHITE WARNING LIGHT, THE FOOT BRAKES STILL HELD. IT SAID "SERVICE BRAKES , VISIT WORKSHOP". I IMMEDIATELY DROVE TO THE SOLE AUTHORISED AGENT IN TRINIDAD, WHO RAN SOME DIAGNOSTIC TESTS ON THE CAR. THEY INDICATED THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE SBC UNIT AT AN APPROXIMATE COST OF USD 3,000.00 PLUS USD 365.00 FOR LABOR. THIS, I COULD NOT AFFORD AS THE TOTAL COST IS QUITE EXORBITANT AND SURPRISING. AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP AND TOWARDS DRIVING HOME, THE RED BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR NOW LIT UP AND I HEARD A LOUD WARNING SIGNAL. THE WARNING SIGN SAID TO STOP THE CAR, WHICH I IMMEDIATELY DID AND MANAGED TO PARK THE CAR AT A FRIEND'S HOME AS I COULD NOT REACH MY HOME. THE CAR NOW HAD VERY LITTLE OR NO FOOT BRAKES AND I HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL RIGHT DOWN IN ORDER TO STOP THE CAR. I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT
Mileage: 58,100
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUSE BOX AND THE COMPUTER BURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.
Mileage: 83,000
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.
Mileage: 118,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS A GASOLINE FUEL ODOR EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
EXACT DATE OF INCIDENT NOT KNOWN I AM THIRD OWNER OF CAR AND HAVE KNOWN THE SECOND OWNER THE ENTIRE TIME OF HER OWNERSHIP. THE SRS LIGHT ON THE DASH STAYS LIT AT ALL TIMES, AS DOES THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG OFF INDICATOR. WAS WONDERING IF THIS WAS A ONE INCIDENT TYPE OR IF THIS IS A TREND AMONG OLDER E320'S THAT ARE OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR
Mileage: 90,000
THE CAR STARTED HAVING VERY STRONG VIBRATIONS AT IDLE SPEED WHEN CAR IS IN REVERSE OR DRIVE AND STOPPED AT A STANDSTILL WITH BRAKE. TOOK IT TO SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLES MOTOR MOUNTS WERE IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT, TO THE TUNE OF OVER 600.00. ONCE AGAIN I HAVE READ A SIMILAR COMPLAINT IN THE DATABASE AND REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHY MERCEDES HAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED THE FACT THAT THIS IS A TREND IN THE VEHICLES AND COME UP WITH SOME TYPE OF RECALL OR FIX FOR THE SITUATION... MAYBE MOST OWNERS JUST UNBEGRUDGINGLY PAY WHATEVER NECESSARY TO HAVE THEIR CARS FIXED OBLIVIOUS TO THE FACT THAT MERCEDES CLAIM TO FAME IS QUALITY,RELIABILITY AND LONGEVITY. I FOR ONE DO NOT THINK THAT A CAR COSTING OVER 60,000.00 SHOULD BE PLAGUED BY SO MANY DEFICIENT MANUFACTURING PROBLEMS. *TR
Mileage: 140,000
THE CAR STARTED HAVING VERY STRONG VIBRATIONS AT IDLE SPEED WHEN CAR IS IN REVERSE OR DRIVE AND STOPPED AT A STANDSTILL WITH BRAKE. TOOK IT TO SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLES MOTOR MOUNTS WERE IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT, TO THE TUNE OF OVER 600.00. ONCE AGAIN I HAVE READ A SIMILAR COMPLAINT IN THE DATABASE AND REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHY MERCEDES HAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED THE FACT THAT THIS IS A TREND IN THE VEHICLES AND COME UP WITH SOME TYPE OF RECALL OR FIX FOR THE SITUATION... MAYBE MOST OWNERS JUST UNBEGRUDGINGLY PAY WHATEVER NECESSARY TO HAVE THEIR CARS FIXED OBLIVIOUS TO THE FACT THAT MERCEDES CLAIM TO FAME IS QUALITY,RELIABILITY AND LONGEVITY. I FOR ONE DO NOT THINK THAT A CAR COSTING OVER 60,000.00 SHOULD BE PLAGUED BY SO MANY DEFICIENT MANUFACTURING PROBLEMS. *TR
Mileage: 140,000
THE TEMPERATURE LED HAS COMPLETELY GONE OUT AND THE CLOCK/GEAR SELECTION LED IS UNREADABLE... I BELIEVE SEEING ANOTHER COMPLAINT OF THE SAME TYPE IN THE DATABASE, DON'T REMEMBER THE MODEL BUT WAS WONDERING WHY IF THIS IS A TREND DOES MERCEDES NOT HAVE A FIX FOR THE SITUATION. I REALIZE THAT THE WARRANTY IS ONLY GOOD FOR SO LONG BUT IF OTHER CARS ALL HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS IT SEEMS AS IF MERCEDES WOULD WANT TO PROTECT THE REPUTATION OF QUALITY DURABILITY AND EXCELLENCE BEHIND THEIR NAME. *TR
Mileage: 92,000
THE TEMPERATURE LED HAS COMPLETELY GONE OUT AND THE CLOCK/GEAR SELECTION LED IS UNREADABLE... I BELIEVE SEEING ANOTHER COMPLAINT OF THE SAME TYPE IN THE DATABASE, DON'T REMEMBER THE MODEL BUT WAS WONDERING WHY IF THIS IS A TREND DOES MERCEDES NOT HAVE A FIX FOR THE SITUATION. I REALIZE THAT THE WARRANTY IS ONLY GOOD FOR SO LONG BUT IF OTHER CARS ALL HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS IT SEEMS AS IF MERCEDES WOULD WANT TO PROTECT THE REPUTATION OF QUALITY DURABILITY AND EXCELLENCE BEHIND THEIR NAME. *TR
Mileage: 92,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ E320. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND METAL SHAVINGS CAME OUT OF THE AIR BAGS. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. UPDATED 01/27/15
Mileage: 140,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ E-320. WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEGAN TO VIBRATE UNCONTROLLABLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 83,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Mileage: 83,000
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 DRIVER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE STEERING LOCK MALFUNCTIONED. UPDATED 02/28/12
Mileage: 73,828
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 DRIVER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE STEERING LOCK MALFUNCTIONED. UPDATED 02/28/12
Mileage: 73,828
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 109,200.
Mileage: 109,000
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 CONFUSION, DRIVER ERROR, ETC. I AM ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN THAT SUCH HAS NOT BEEN THE CASE AND I HAVE A PASSENGER WITNESS TO THESE INCIDENTS AND WHAT I DID THE VEHICLE SIMPLY OVERPOWERS MY ATTEMPTS TO BRAKE AND BUCKS LIKE A WILD HORSE. . I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE EXAMINED BY SEVERAL GARAGES AND THEY SAY THAT W/O THE ABILITY TO RECREATE THE INCIDENT A DIAGNOSIS CANNOT BE MADE. THE INCIDENT 5- 29-09 DID RESULT IN DAMAGES. NEWPORT BEACH POLICE WERE CALLED.
Mileage: 79,000
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 103,000. UPDATED 03/17/09. *LJ WHEN THE CONSUMER PICKED THE VEHICLE UP AFTER HAVING IT SERVICED, IT BEGAN TO MAKE A LOUD NOISE. THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE CONVERTER HAD GONE BAD. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS NO NOISE PRIOR TO TAKING THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALER. UPDATED 03/17/09. *JB
Mileage: 103,000
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
Mileage: 88,985
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
Mileage: 67,000
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.