2002 Mercedes Benz C230

Defect. 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 NHTSA recall number 22V-954. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2024120001/2/3.

Defect. 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 NHTSA recall number 19V-918. MBUSA's numbers for this recall are 2023010004, 2023010005, and 2023010006.

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.

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 NHTSA.." 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. *JS

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 AI

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. *TR

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. *TR

BOTH FRONT POWER SEAT MODULES DRAIN BATTERY WHEN CAR IS OFF. *TR

I JUST HAD THE CONVERSATION WITH MY MB DEALER ABOUT REPLACING A MALFUNCTIONING YAW RATE SENSOR ON MY 2000 C230K. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THIS IS CAUSING A DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE IT IS RANDOMLY ENGAGING MY BRAKES AT ALL SPEEDS WHEN IT THINKS THE CAR IS OUT OF CONTROL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ C 230. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WIRING AND SEVERAL OTHER WIRES WERE BURNED. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT IF THE FUEL TANK HAD BEEN FULL OF GASOLINE, THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE FAILURE WAS NOT CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.

ON JAN 2, 2010, WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM A MOVIE IN MY 2002 MERCEDES C230, THE CAR SUDDENLY AND VIOLENTLY BEGAN PULLING TO THE RIGHT. I FIRST THOUGHT I HAD A BLOW OUT. I WAS DRIVING ON A FREEWAY AND AM NOT AWARE OF HITTING ANY THING THAT MIGHT HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE. WHEN I STOPPED, I FOUND THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS FLAT. THE FOLLOWING DAY I TOOK THE FLAT TO MY TIRE SHOP WHO INFORMED ME THE RIM HAD A CRACK IN IT, AND THAT CAUSED THE TIRE TO DEFLATE. I ORDERED A NEW WHEEL FROM THE LOCAL MERCEDES DEALER, WHO TOLD ME IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR WHEELS ON THIS MODEL TO FAIL. MERCEDES REFUSED WARRANTY. I CONSIDER THIS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY FAILURE AND ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER WITH THE LOCAL DEALER, KIMBALL MOTORS, TO PRESENT IT TO MERCEDES FOR WARRANTY AND/OR SAFETY REPLACEMENT. THE CAR IS BEYOND THE NORMAL WARRANTY PERIOD. MERCEDES REFUSED TO TAKE ANY ACTION. BOTH THE PEOPLE WHO REPLACED THE TIRE, BIG BRAND TIRE, AND THE PARTS PEOPLE AT THE DEALER, KIMBALL MOTORS, TOLD ME THEY SEE "SEVERAL FAILURES LIKE THIS" EACH YEAR. IN MY 50 PLUS YEARS OF DRIVING FOR PLEASURE AND COMMERCIALLY, I NEVER EXPERIENCED A CRACKED WHEEL AND SUBSEQUENT TIRE FAILURE. I WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT MERCEDES FAILED TO TAKE AN INTEREST IN THE FAILURE. I HAVE THE WHEEL, AND HAVE A DIGITAL PHOTO OF THE FAILURE IF THAT WILL BE OF ASSISTANCE. *TR

I BOUGHT A CAR AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON, ITS A 2002 C230 KOMPRESSOR 2 DOOR, AND THE DEALER SAID ITS A SENSOR FROM THE SUPERCHARGER. *TR

DRIVERS OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR HAS BECOME DISCOLORED AND IS NOW VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE IMAGES PARTICULARLY AT NIGHT. DEALER QUOTED $800 FOR MIRROR GLASS ONLY! *TR

DOOR LOCK MALFUNCTION - WHILE DRIVING, I HEARD SOMETHING COME FROM THE LEFT/DRIVER SIDE...IT SOUNDED LIKE A BOX OR SOMETHING FELL FROM MY REAR SEAT, ONTO THE FLOOR AND UNDER MY SEAT. *TR I SAT IN THE CAR, UNLOCKING/LOCKING, AND IT CONTINUED TO GO NUTS...EVEN THE CENTRAL LOCKING BUTTON ON THE DASH FAILED TO WORK A FEW TIMES... LOOKS LIKE A DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR PROBLEM THAT COSTS ABOUT $400 TO FIX. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ C230. ON OCTOBER 15, 2008, WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED TO 15 MPH ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE GARAGE. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RADIATOR FAILED AND COOLANT FLUID PENETRATED THE TRANSMISSION RESERVED FLUID. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE RADIATOR AND CLEANED THE TRANSMISSION AT THE COST OF $5,000. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WILL EVENTUALLY ALSO NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,146 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 59,000. UPDATED 02/24/09. *LJ UPDATED 02/25/09. *JB

I OWN A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ C230, WHICH HAS NOW HAD 2 SEVERE ISSUES WITH IT. THE FIRST ISSUE IS THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - THE SEAT CONTROL MODULES GO FAULTY AND START DRAINING THE BATTERY EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. IF YOU HAVE A BATTERY DRAIN, THIS IS THE LIKELY CULPRIT. I HAVE REPLACED THE SEAT CONTROL MODULES A TOTAL OF 3 TIMES. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ACCORDING TO INTERNET BOARDS. THE 2ND PROBLEM IS THAT OIL STARTED TO LEAK ALL OVER THE WIRES. AGAIN ANOTHER COMMON PROBLEM ACCORDING TO THE INTERNET BOARDS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ C-230. THE CONTACT'S CHILD WRAPPED THE NEAREST REAR SEAT BELT AROUND HER NECK, WHILE SEATED IN HER CHILD SEAT. WHILE THE SEAT BELT WAS AROUND THE CHILD'S NECK, IT WOULD NOT LOOSEN AND WAS EXTENDED TO THE POINT THAT THE SEAT BELT COULD ONLY RETRACT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE POLICE AND THEY CUT THE SEAT BELT FROM AROUND THE CHILD'S NECK. SHE WAS UNINJURED FROM THE SEAT BELT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 60,000.