2002 Mercedes-Benz C Class Recalls, Complaints & Specs
No safety recalls list the 2002 Mercedes-Benz C Class, and owners have filed 31 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
No safety recalls on record
NHTSA's recall database lists no safety campaigns that include the 2002 Mercedes-Benz C Class. That is good news, with two caveats: recalls can be issued at any time (this page refreshes daily), and a recall filed under a related model name may not appear here. The VIN check above queries NHTSA directly for your exact vehicle.
31 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2002 Mercedes-Benz C Class have filed 31 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a crash and 2 describe a fire. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 61,512 miles. Complaints peaked in 2002 with 5 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“This is a follow-up to complaint #10579528. Spoke to robin, customer service representative at mercedes benz corporate headquarters in the united states. They refuse to acknowledge a design flaw in th”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 30, 2014 · Fuel/propulsion system
“I called mbusa 2 weeks ago regarding my 2002 c320 wagon which was smelling of pure gasoline which the odor was so strong it was coming into the house from the garage giving us headaches. I checked onl”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 10, 2013 · Fuel system, gasoline
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class (C230 Kompressor, C240, C32 AMG, C320, …). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 17–21 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 15–19 / 21–26 |
| Fuel | Premium |
| EPA class | Compact Cars, Small Station Wagons |
| Engine | 4/6 cyl, 2.3/2.6/3.2 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 5-spd; Manual 6-spd |
Compare Mercedes-Benz C Class model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Mercedes-Benz C Class model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 Mercedes-Benz C Class | 0 | 1 |
| 1994 Mercedes-Benz C Class | 0 | 15 |
| 1995 Mercedes-Benz C Class | 0 | 49 |
| 1996 Mercedes-Benz C Class | 1 | 6 |
| 1997 Mercedes-Benz C Class | 0 | 3 |
| 1998 Mercedes-Benz C Class | 1 | 6 |
| 1999 Mercedes-Benz C Class | 1 | 7 |
| 2000 Mercedes-Benz C Class | 0 | 8 |
| 2001 Mercedes-Benz C Class | 0 | 14 |
| 2002 Mercedes-Benz C Class | 0 | 31 |
| 2003 Mercedes-Benz C Class | 0 | 9 |
| 2004 Mercedes-Benz C Class | 1 | 15 |
| 2005 Mercedes-Benz C Class | 2 | 5 |
| 2006 Mercedes-Benz C Class | 2 | 9 |
| 2008 Mercedes-Benz C Class | 1 | 13 |
| 2012 Mercedes-Benz C Class | 0 | 1 |
Checking a specific 2002 Mercedes-Benz C Class
How do I know if my 2002 Mercedes-Benz C Class has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Mercedes-Benz dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number.
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Mercedes-Benz models
- C3003,469 complaints
- E3502,170 complaints
- E3201,164 complaints
- ML350952 complaints
- GLK350904 complaints
- ML320742 complaints
- C250726 complaints
- C230657 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.