The rear subframe rusted out and failed at the driver side trailing arm mount. It is available for inspection. My pregnant wife was driving it when it failed, luckily it failed an 1/8th mile from our house on a 25mph back road. The problem with these subframes has been well documented in later models and the subject of a class action lawsuit. Nobody has inspected it. There were no symptoms prior to the failure.
The worst 2002 Mercedes Benz C230 problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Engine19
- Electrical12
- Brakes5
- Visibility5
- Steering4
- Suspension4
- Transmission3
- Airbags2
- Body2
- Fuel system2
- Lights2
- Locks2
- Seat belts2
- Seats2
- Tires2
- Wheels1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2002 Mercedes Benz C230
Recalls 2
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly
- What is wrong
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models and model years. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and can detach.
- Risk
- A detached sunroof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1‑800‑367‑6372. This recall is an expansion of previous the federal safety agency recall number 22V‑954. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2024120001/2/3.
Recall number 24V874000 · Recall details
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly
- What is wrong
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and may detach.
- Risk
- A detached sunroof panel may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 3, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1‑800‑367‑6372. This recall expands the federal safety agency recall number 19V‑918. MBUSA's numbers for this recall are 2023010004, 2023010005, and 2023010006.
Recall number 22V954000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2002 Mercedes Benz C230 48
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Repeat workshop visit for vehicle vibration while braking from 60MPH. NOTE: Although the symptom is...
- Clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors
- Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end)
- There are several types of complaint about noises or poor windshield wiper wiping performance: A: Wiper...
- Headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged
- Headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged
- Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end)
- Headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged
- Headlamps leaking or fogged
- Vehicle with atypical reduced heat output
What 2002 Mercedes Benz C230 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Recall ID: 24V874 on Sliding Roof Bonding was issued. Mercedes-Benz of Nashville was not able to open the Roof and asked for $219.88 to determine cause of sunroof being inoperative. Recall letter stated that: "vehicle repair will be provided at no cost to you" "If dealer for any reason is unable to remedy the situation without charge.. you may submit a complaint to the federal safety agency.." Hence I am submitting this complaint that my sliding roof was not checked nor repaired.
There is an old recall campaign for the Camshaft Seal, # 2009100001. This car is among those affected by this problem and should be covered for issues and repairs.
Takata recall esl (electric steering lock) components the motor fails to unlock the steering the first time, but work in following attempts. Some times it takes 1 to 4 hours for esl to unlock. This happens only when the vehicle is parked weather overnight or just coming out of the store shopping.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 mercedes-benz c230. While reversing at 5 MPH, the steering column lock failed to engage. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or mechanic. The manufacturer and dealer were not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 163,000. ..updated 09/25/17 *bf .. .updated 10/04/17 *bf the consumer stated due to the steering lock failure the steering wheel moves freely while driving and parked.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 mercedes-benz c230. While driving between 15-20 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate. While depressing the accelerator pedal, the ABS and check engine warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the wire harness melted and needed replacement. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 12,000.
Strong order of gas coming from behind the drivers seat. Pulled back seat off and there is a pool of gas under there. Appears one of the plastic overs has cracks in it.
On june 9, 2011 I drove to sacramento, california to visit my cousin when I got there I went to lock my doors but the lock kept jumping up and down. It finally locked after 12 attempts. I took it to the dealer and they quoted me a price of $3500.00 to replace the regulator. The second incident occurred on july 18, 2011 with my brakes.the break warning light came on. I took it to the dealer and $795.00 they claimed I needed for both brakes and rotors which I could not understand since 6 months prior the rotors had been replaced. I again had to have the rotors and breaks replaced in july 2012 as well as the back breaks but this time I took it to another place other than the dealer and here it is 2014 and they are still holding and the cost was $495.00 for both front and back as well 4 new michelin tires the dealer wanted to charge me $495.00 for the back alone. The third incident occurred in las vegas I was in heavy traffic and the car shut off. It started back right away but I had a ten hour drive to make it home and this worried me. The fourth incident was with the sunroof I went to the car wash and the wax that was used caused the sunroof to stick after it dried and later the motor went out because of multiple attempts to open the roof, the dealer quoted me a price of $5000.00 to repair it. Last but not least the SRS light came on, I took it to the dealer and I was told that the drivers seatbelt and back seatbelt on drivers side were defective and if I had an accident the air bags might not deploy and the seatbelts might not hold, this will cost me $700.00 to have fixed. I don't have a money tree growing in my yard. Also my rear taillight kept going out and what we found was that the entire casing had caught on fire and burned. The entire unit had to be replaced. I have paid more in repairs on this cars than I paid in groceries over the pass five years.
The power seat modules continuously drain the battery causing dead battery within 24-48 hours. The seats must be unplugged to stop the problem. Mercedes dealership wants $100 to diagnose and $1,500 per seat module. There are hundreds of people online with the same problem making this a defect.
After placing the vehicle in park, I pulled the steering wheel lever lock, (red warning light came on), and adjusted the height and depth of the steering wheel. I then pushed the steering wheel lever lock back in (red warning light disappeared). I started driving and while I was making a right on a curve the steering wheel slipped out of place and almost caused me to swerve into another lane. I pulled over attempted to reengage the steering wheel lock in several different positions, but it would not stay locked. The red warning light only comes on when the steering wheel lock lever is pulled out, but it does not show that the steering wheel is disengaged when the lever is pushed in even though the locking mechanism does not function. I looked online and found a forum with several other people having the same problem on a variety of different vehicles of different years. I feel it is dangerous to operate my vehicle.
Compare the 2002 Mercedes Benz C230
Other model years
Questions about the 2002 Mercedes Benz C230
Is the 2002 Mercedes Benz C230 reliable?
Owners have filed 54 complaints about the 2002 Mercedes Benz C230, close to a typical C230 model year.
What is the 2002 Mercedes Benz C230 year score?
The 2002 Mercedes Benz C230 scores 75 out of 100 (average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Mercedes Benz C230: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2002 Mercedes Benz C230?
Engine and cooling, with 19 complaints, typically around 25,500 miles. Next is electrical (12).
How many recalls does the 2002 Mercedes Benz C230 have?
2 recalls, covering visibility.
What year does the Mercedes Benz C230 have bad engine?
The Mercedes Benz C230 model years with the most engine complaints are 2006 (53 complaints), 2007 (36 complaints) and 2003 (22 complaints).
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