2002 Mercedes-Benz 230 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2002 Mercedes-Benz 230, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical333.3%
- Interior & seats222.2%
- Brakes111.1%
- Driver assistance111.1%
- Steering111.1%
- Transmission111.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVER AND PASSENGER POWER SEAT MODULES DRAIN BATTERY. *TR
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 ENTIRELY TURNED OFF AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ON. THE OWNER HAS NEVER EXPERIENCED THE CAR STARTING ON ITS OWN WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE TRANSMISSION OR WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ACTIVATED. THE CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY AND THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP FOUND NO PROBLEMS WITH THE C230'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS AT THE LAST CHECK UP. PRIOR TO SERVICING THERE WERE MULTIPLE WARNINGS THE CAR DISPLAYED IN MARCH 2009, SPECIFICALLY SRS MALFUNCTIONS AND LIGHT SENSOR MALFUNCTION. THESE WERE ABSOLVED AFTER MAINTENANCE BUT REAPPEARED AGAIN AT 1500 BEFORE SERVICE IN LATE AUGUST. THERE HAVE BEEN NO PRIOR REPAIRS MADE ON THE CAR. THE MOST RECENT REPAIR WAS ON AUGUST 27TH WHEN THE DOOR LOCK REGULATOR FAILED AND ALL DOORS OF THE CAR WOULDN'T CLOSE. THE ACCENTUATOR IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS REPLACED ON AUGUST 27TH WHICH RESOLVED THE DOOR LOCK PROBLEM. HOWEVER NONE OF THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR HAVE BEEN RESOLVED AND WILL REQUIRE DEALERSHIP EVALUATION. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVER AND PASSENGER POWER SEAT MODULES DRAIN BATTERY. *TR
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 ENTIRELY TURNED OFF AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ON. THE OWNER HAS NEVER EXPERIENCED THE CAR STARTING ON ITS OWN WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE TRANSMISSION OR WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ACTIVATED. THE CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY AND THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP FOUND NO PROBLEMS WITH THE C230'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS AT THE LAST CHECK UP. PRIOR TO SERVICING THERE WERE MULTIPLE WARNINGS THE CAR DISPLAYED IN MARCH 2009, SPECIFICALLY SRS MALFUNCTIONS AND LIGHT SENSOR MALFUNCTION. THESE WERE ABSOLVED AFTER MAINTENANCE BUT REAPPEARED AGAIN AT 1500 BEFORE SERVICE IN LATE AUGUST. THERE HAVE BEEN NO PRIOR REPAIRS MADE ON THE CAR. THE MOST RECENT REPAIR WAS ON AUGUST 27TH WHEN THE DOOR LOCK REGULATOR FAILED AND ALL DOORS OF THE CAR WOULDN'T CLOSE. THE ACCENTUATOR IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS REPLACED ON AUGUST 27TH WHICH RESOLVED THE DOOR LOCK PROBLEM. HOWEVER NONE OF THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR HAVE BEEN RESOLVED AND WILL REQUIRE DEALERSHIP EVALUATION. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
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 ENTIRELY TURNED OFF AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ON. THE OWNER HAS NEVER EXPERIENCED THE CAR STARTING ON ITS OWN WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE TRANSMISSION OR WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ACTIVATED. THE CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY AND THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP FOUND NO PROBLEMS WITH THE C230'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS AT THE LAST CHECK UP. PRIOR TO SERVICING THERE WERE MULTIPLE WARNINGS THE CAR DISPLAYED IN MARCH 2009, SPECIFICALLY SRS MALFUNCTIONS AND LIGHT SENSOR MALFUNCTION. THESE WERE ABSOLVED AFTER MAINTENANCE BUT REAPPEARED AGAIN AT 1500 BEFORE SERVICE IN LATE AUGUST. THERE HAVE BEEN NO PRIOR REPAIRS MADE ON THE CAR. THE MOST RECENT REPAIR WAS ON AUGUST 27TH WHEN THE DOOR LOCK REGULATOR FAILED AND ALL DOORS OF THE CAR WOULDN'T CLOSE. THE ACCENTUATOR IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS REPLACED ON AUGUST 27TH WHICH RESOLVED THE DOOR LOCK PROBLEM. HOWEVER NONE OF THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR HAVE BEEN RESOLVED AND WILL REQUIRE DEALERSHIP EVALUATION. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
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 ENTIRELY TURNED OFF AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ON. THE OWNER HAS NEVER EXPERIENCED THE CAR STARTING ON ITS OWN WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE TRANSMISSION OR WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ACTIVATED. THE CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY AND THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP FOUND NO PROBLEMS WITH THE C230'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS AT THE LAST CHECK UP. PRIOR TO SERVICING THERE WERE MULTIPLE WARNINGS THE CAR DISPLAYED IN MARCH 2009, SPECIFICALLY SRS MALFUNCTIONS AND LIGHT SENSOR MALFUNCTION. THESE WERE ABSOLVED AFTER MAINTENANCE BUT REAPPEARED AGAIN AT 1500 BEFORE SERVICE IN LATE AUGUST. THERE HAVE BEEN NO PRIOR REPAIRS MADE ON THE CAR. THE MOST RECENT REPAIR WAS ON AUGUST 27TH WHEN THE DOOR LOCK REGULATOR FAILED AND ALL DOORS OF THE CAR WOULDN'T CLOSE. THE ACCENTUATOR IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS REPLACED ON AUGUST 27TH WHICH RESOLVED THE DOOR LOCK PROBLEM. HOWEVER NONE OF THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR HAVE BEEN RESOLVED AND WILL REQUIRE DEALERSHIP EVALUATION. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
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 ENTIRELY TURNED OFF AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ON. THE OWNER HAS NEVER EXPERIENCED THE CAR STARTING ON ITS OWN WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE TRANSMISSION OR WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ACTIVATED. THE CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY AND THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP FOUND NO PROBLEMS WITH THE C230'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS AT THE LAST CHECK UP. PRIOR TO SERVICING THERE WERE MULTIPLE WARNINGS THE CAR DISPLAYED IN MARCH 2009, SPECIFICALLY SRS MALFUNCTIONS AND LIGHT SENSOR MALFUNCTION. THESE WERE ABSOLVED AFTER MAINTENANCE BUT REAPPEARED AGAIN AT 1500 BEFORE SERVICE IN LATE AUGUST. THERE HAVE BEEN NO PRIOR REPAIRS MADE ON THE CAR. THE MOST RECENT REPAIR WAS ON AUGUST 27TH WHEN THE DOOR LOCK REGULATOR FAILED AND ALL DOORS OF THE CAR WOULDN'T CLOSE. THE ACCENTUATOR IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS REPLACED ON AUGUST 27TH WHICH RESOLVED THE DOOR LOCK PROBLEM. HOWEVER NONE OF THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR HAVE BEEN RESOLVED AND WILL REQUIRE DEALERSHIP EVALUATION. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .