2002 Mercedes-Benz C320 Electrical Problems

Battery drains after being parked overnight, 58,000 miles, dealer maintained since new. Driven by a little old lady until I bought it. Took it to the dealer and they replaced one of the seat modules. Soon afterward, the problem recurred. Took it back to the dealer and they said it was a defective fuse box and replaced it for $650. Went to pick up the car and the battery was dead again. After some complaining, they refunded the bill. They looked at it again and said the problem was somewhere in the dashboard and it would cost $2300 just to take it apart and look for a bad module. They offered $2300 trade in toward a new or CPO car, and said my car would be sent to the crusher. I took the car back and installed a remote operated battery cutoff, and have been driving it ever since. Other than disturbing the engine computer, it's been running well for three years and 20,000 miles. Lovely car otherwise.

NHTSA ID

11612725

Incident

Jun 1, 2019

While changing one of the lights in the headlight housing, I found the wiring's insulation rotting off all the wires, exposing the bare copper presenting a fire hazard.

NHTSA ID

11549902

Incident

Oct 4, 2023

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ C320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS DRAINED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE WHICH CAUSED THE BATTERY TO DRAIN. THE MODULE WAS UNPLUGGED TO PREVENT THE BATTERY FROM BEING DRAINED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.

NHTSA ID

11320137

Incident

Mar 2, 2020

Mileage

114,000 mi

BATTERY DRAINING

NHTSA ID

11013539

Incident

Jul 25, 2017

WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WHEN ESP, BAS AND ABS LIGHTS SHOW UP, AND SPEEDOMETER DISPLAY STOPS WORKING - SPEED READING GOES TO ZERO, THOUGH THERE IS NO REDUCTION IN SPEED. GET TO DESTINATION. ON RETURN IT HAPPENS AGAIN. THIS TIME I GO TO REST AREA, STOP THE CAR, REMOVE THE KEY AND RESTART. THE CAR REFUSES TO MOVE OUT OF PARK. CALL ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND GET INSTRUCTION TO OVERRIDE PARK, DRIVE HOME WITH FLASHERS ON - VERY ROUGH RIDE QUALITY. TOW TO DEALER NEXT DAY, THEY ARE NOT SURE IF NEW PART WILL FIX IT, EVEN IF $1850 PART IS REPLACED. LOTS OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS OVER THE YEARS. TURN LIGHTS GO OUT ROUTINELY. CHANGED CD CHANGER. SEAT DRAINS BATTERY,HAD TO DISCONNECT IT. POOR ELECTRICAL SENSORS ALL AROUND. NOW IT ALSO HAS RUST DAMAGE, ALL OF A SUDDEN, AT THE BOTTOM OF DOORS.

NHTSA ID

10747123

Incident

Jul 22, 2015

Mileage

125,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES C320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER AN HOUR, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,384.

NHTSA ID

10704418

Incident

Apr 7, 2015

Mileage

123,384 mi

THERE HAVE BEEN TWO WARNING LIGHTS FOR REAR LIGHTS AND AFTER DRIVING FOR 4 HOURS, A WARNING CAME ON FOR ELECTRICAL STABILITY AND MY CAR QUIT WORKING COMPLETELY. THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL AND I HAD TO RESTART IT. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10525598

Incident

Jul 14, 2013

Mileage

68,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES C320. THE CONTACT STATED HE HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY IN THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THE SEAT CONTROLS FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT DRAINED THE BATTERY AND THE SEAT CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 90,904. *TR

NHTSA ID

10504114

Incident

Dec 10, 2012

Mileage

89,000 mi

I CAME OUT AND MY BATTERY WAS DEAD WITHOUT WARNING. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DOWNTOWN LA MOTORS(MERCEDES BENZ) DEALER, WHERE THEY EXPLAINED THAT THE SEAT CONTROL MODULES WERE STAYING ON AND CAUSING THE BATTERY TO DRAIN. I SUBSEQUENTLY HAD TO UNHOOK THE SEAT CONTROLS AND NOW I AM UNABLE TO MOVE MY SEATS OR STEERING WHEEL. THEY ESTIMATED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST AROUND 1500. NUMEROUS CUSTOMERS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE ON THE SAME VEHICLE, IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND NOT THE FAULT OF MERCEDES BENZ CONSUMERS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10466021

Incident

Jul 1, 2007

Mileage

50,000 mi

ON 1/14/2012 CAR WONT START BATTERY DEAD, CALL AAA TOW TRUCK. JUMP BATTERY OK USED CARED NEXT DAY AND ON FAUL COME UP ON MY CARS TROULBE SCREEN TO INDICATED THAT I HAD ANY OTHER TROUBLE IN ANY SYSTEM IT THE CAR, WE WHEN TO FL ON THE ON THE 16 OF JANUARY CAR WAS HOME (IN NY) SON WAS GOING TO TAKE OF HOUSE AND START CAR ONCE A WEEK. RECEIVED PHONE CALL FROM MY SON ON 1/17/2012 CAR WONT START,BATTERY DEAD, AND KEY WONT TURN. ON 4/21/2012 COME HOME FROM FL FROUND DEAD CAR AND TRANSMISTION LEAKING.CALLED MERCEDES BENZ FOR A TOE TO THE SHOP.THIS IS THR THIRED BATTERY SINCE A HAVE THIS CAR.BATTERY WAS UNDER WARRANTY.IT WAS CHANEG LEST THEN A YEAR AGO. M/B SHOP INFORMED ME BATTERY WAS DEAD. CAUSE MY SEAT MODULES SHORTED, TO REPLACE MODULES WAS COST $1200. I FEEL THAT THE BATTERY CAUSE THIS TROUBLE AND THE THE MODULES SHOULD BE REPLACED BY B/M AT NO COST TO ME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10456749

Incident

Jan 14, 2010

Mileage

40,000 mi

I HAVE A 2002 MERCEDES C320. MY BATTERY IS DEAD AFTER SEATING OVERNIGHT. TOOK THE CAR TO THE AUSTIN MB DEALERSHIP TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT THE POWER SEAT MOTOR IS DRAINING MY BATTERY. BOTH SEATS. COME TO FIND OUT THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. I CALLED MERCEDES USA AND THEY SAID THAT SINCE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, THERE IS NOT MUCH THEY CAN DO. THAT IS BULL!! OBVIOUSLY SINCE SO MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS CAR MODEL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, IT HAS TO BE A MANUFACTURER FAULT. I WAS WONDERING HOW MANY PEOPLE NEED TO EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM BEFORE MERCEDES WILL ADMIT THAT THEY HAVE A BAD COMPONENT ON THIS MODEL. I FIGURED,IF ENOUGH PEOPLE CALL AND TELL MB THAT THEY HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM, THEY WILL REALIZE THAT THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART AND THEY WILL ISSUE A RECALL AND PAY FOR NECESSARY REPAIRS. PLEASE CALL MERCEDES USA AND REPORT THIS PROBLEM. 1-800-FOR-MERCEDES (1-800-367-6372) OR 201-476-6200. *TR

NHTSA ID

10456579

Incident

Apr 2, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ C320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY CONTINUED TO FAIL EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE SEAT MODULE WAS DRAINING THE BATTERY THAT WAS LOCATED UNDER THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD TO PURCHASE TWO BATTERIES WITHIN FOUR MONTHS DUE TO THE RECURRING FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED IN REGARDS TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

NHTSA ID

10384446

Incident

Jan 5, 2011

Mileage

97,000 mi

I HAVE A 2002 MERCEDES C-320 CAR THAT THE BATTERY WILL NOT HOLD A CHARGE! I HAD THE MERCEDES DEALER COME TO MY HOME AND PUT IN A NEW BATTERY. AFTER SPENDING $300 AND 2 DAYS LATER THE NEW BATTERY WAS DEAD. I WAS TOLD IT COULD BE THE ALTERNATOR/REGULATOR BY THE MB DEALER AND THE COST WOULD BE $1,200. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO WORKS ON FOR. CARS, AND THEY REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR/REG. FOR $512 OUT THE DOOR. 2 DAYS LATER THE BATTERY WAS DEAD AGAIN. I WAS TOLD MY NEW MERC. BATTERY WAS NOT GOOD AND THEY REPLACED IT. 7 DAYS LATER MY BATTERY DIED AGAIN. MY LOCAL MECH. TOLD ME TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE MB DEALER AS THERE SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THEIR MODULE AND THEY SHOULD REPLACE IT FOR FREE AS THROUGH HIS RESEARCH MANY INDIVIDUALS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. CLEARLY A DEFECT PART BY MERCEDES AS THROUGH MY AND MY MECH. RESEARCH, THE MB MECH ARE REPLACING THE OLD MODULES WITH A NEW AND IMPROVED ONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I NOW HAVE NOW HAD AAA TO COME AND CHARGE MY BATTERY ONCE AGAIN AND I WILL TAKE IT TO THE MB DEALER. I HOPE THEY A WILL DO THE RIGHT THING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10370422

Incident

Nov 1, 2010

LEFT AND RIGHT ELECTRONIC SEAT MODULES WHICH ALSO CONTROLS THE STEERING WHEEL AND OTHERS FAILED AND MB DID NOT WANT TO ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY PART NUMBERS ARE: 2118704626 2118704726. *TR

NHTSA ID

10328394

Incident

Jun 10, 2007

Mileage

54,000 mi

AT 45,000 MILES FRONT PASSENGER SEAT STARTED DRAINING THE BATTERY. DEALER TOLD BAD CONTROL UNIT. BECAUSE OF HIGH COST OF REPAIR ($900.), IT HAS BEEN DISCONNECTED. THE CONTROL UNIT WAS LEAST UTILIZED FOR THE PASSENGERS SEAT. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED UNDER 45000 MILES USE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10325370

Incident

Dec 13, 2009

Mileage

44,975 mi

2002 C320 MERCEDES BENZ ELECTRICAL SEATS DRAINING BATTERY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10323794

Incident

May 12, 2008

MERCEDES BENZ 2002, C320 *STEERING WHEEL MALFUNCTION *SRS WARNING *SEATS MALFUNCTION *BRAKE AND OIL FLUID MISLEADING INFO *BATTERY DRAIN *TURNING SIGNALS REQUIRING NEW HARNESS THAT COST A LOT $$$. *TR

NHTSA ID

10297061

Incident

Jan 7, 2008

Mileage

92,887 mi

SEAT CONTROL UNITS DRAINING THE BATTERY IF CAR IS PARKED. CAR WILL NOT START IF PARKED FOR MORE THEN 24H. DRAIN AMPS BETWEEN 1.2 AND 1.4 AMPS. HAD TO DISCONNECT THE SEAT MODULES, NOW SEATS CAN'T BE ADJUSTED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10282614

Incident

Jul 20, 2009

Mileage

85,000 mi

CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. AFTER 15 MINUTES, CAR STARTED BACK. I HAD IT DIAGNOSED AND A MODULE WAS REPLACED. 2 MONTHS LATER, THE BATTERY STARTED DRAINING. I HAD THE ALTERNATOR REPLACED AND THE BATTERY TWICE. CAR WILL WORK FOR A DAY OR TWO AND DIES AGAIN. SO MANY OTHER MERCEDES OWNERS OF C320 ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. BATTERY DYING AND CAR STALLING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10279868

Incident

Aug 7, 2009

Mileage

74,500 mi

BATTERY DRAINING, OFFICIAL DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY WHAT IS CAUSING DRAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10269004

Incident

May 17, 2009

Mileage

76,000 mi

BATTERY GOES DEAD AFTER A FEW DAYS: MAJOR CAUSE IS ELECTRICAL POWER DRAIN DUE TO FAULTY UNITS, MAJOR CAUSE BUT NOT ONLY CAUSE IS THE SEAT CONTROL MODULE UNIT. QUICK FIX IS TO DISCONNECT TO ELIMINATE POWER DRAIN BUT THIS CAUSES OTHER SAFETY FEATURES TO GO DORMANT. I HAVE READ MORE THAN 100 REPORTS ON BENZWORLD.ORG ON THE VERY SAME ISSUE WITH LITTLE OR NO SOLUTION FROM DEALERSHIPS. ITS A MAJOR AND COMMON PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE RECALLED BEFORE PEOPLE GET HURT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10267261

Incident

Jan 15, 2009

Mileage

79,500 mi

2002 MERCEDES BENZ C320 STATION WAGON: FAILURE TO KEEP A CHARGE IN THE BATTERY, AND APPARENTLY THE SOLUTION IS TO DISCONNECT THE POWER SEATS AND THEN RECHARGE THE BATTERY. BUT THEN THE POWER SEATS ARE INOPERABLE, UNLESS YOU GET THESE REPLACED. APPARENTLY, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10254641

Incident

Jun 9, 2008

Mileage

96,000 mi

THE BATTERY IN MY 2002 MERCEDES BENZ C320 DIED IN LATE FEBRUARY 2008. DIAGNOSTICS WERE DONE AND THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED BY BY CHANDLER MERCEDES BENZ VIA ROADSIDE SERVICE. IN LATE MARCH I GOT INTO THE CAR TO GO TO WORK AND THE BATTERY WAS DEAD; CALLED ROADSIDE SERVICE. CHANDLER MB ARRIVED AND JUMP-STARTED THE CAR. MAY 5TH I GOT IN MY CAR TO GO TO WORK AND AGAIN, THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. CHANDLER MB ROADSIDE SERVICE AGAIN JUMP-STARTED THE CAR WHICH WAS THEN DELIVERED TO THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THE BATTERY WAS CHECKED AND THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. FURTHER DIAGNOSTICS REVEALED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE POWER SEAT MODULE WAS DRAINING THE BATTERY. I REQUESTED A BATTERY THAT COULD POWER THE CAR. WAS TOLD THERE IS NO BATTERY THAT WILL POWER THE CAR, THE POWER SEAT MODULE MUST BE REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF $398.00 PLUS LABOR. I DID FURTHER RESEARCH AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A VERY WIDESPREAD PROBLEM IN THE MERCEDES C320, IN FACT MERCEDES BENZ IS NOW INSTALLING A DIFFERENT MODULE IN THE 2002 C320'S DUE TO THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT WHEN I BUY A MERCEDES BENZ WITH A MERCEDES BENZ BATTERY AND A MERCEDES BENZ INSTALLED POWER SEAT MODULE, THERE SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT POWER TO DRIVE MY CAR. ASKING ME TO PAY OVER $400 TO REPLACE THEIR OWN PART BECAUSE IT DRAWS TOO MUCH POWER FROM THEIR OWN BATTERY AND THEN NOT MANUFACTURING A BATTERY THAT WILL PROVIDE THE REQUIRED POWER, IS VERY CONVENIENT FOR MERCEDES BENZ AND A GREAT WAY TO MAKE SOME VERY EASY MONEY, BUT WHEN I PAY $35,000 IN CONSIDERATION FOR A CAR AND THEY PROVIDE ME A CAR THAT DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH POWER TO RUN, I BELIEVE THERE IS SOME FRAUD GOING ON AND FROM MY RESEARCH IT APPEARS THAT IT IS ON A VERY WIDESPREAD BASIS. JUST THE FACT THAT MERCEDES HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM BY SWITCHING TO A DIFFERENT MODULE, INDICATES THEY ARE AWARE THAT THEIR ORIGINAL PART IS DEFECTIVE AND I BELIEVE IT'S THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO BEAR THE COST TO REPLACE IT WITH THEIR REPLACEMENT MODULE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10227041

Incident

May 5, 2008

Mileage

59,000 mi

2002 MERCEDES C320 BATTERY DIES EVERY 2-3 DAYS. NEEDS JUMP START EVERY 2-3 DAYS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10222229

Incident

Mar 20, 2008

Mileage

78,000 mi

I OWN A MERCEDES BENZ C320 AND LATELY I'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING SOME PROBLEMS, FEW WEEKS AGO, MY CAR WOULDN'T START ALL OF A SUDDEN. I JUMP STARTED AND I NOTICED 2 FAULTS .. ESP WARNING LIGHT AND LIGHT SENSOR ,FOR SOME REASONS SOMETHING WAS DRAINING MY BATTERY, I WENT AND PURCHASED A BRAND NEW BATTERY AND 2 DAYS LATER IT DID THE SAME THING AGAIN, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A SEAT SENSOR THAT CAUSED IT,S O WE UNPLUGGED THE SEATS, EVERYTING SEAMED FINE FOR LIKE 4 TO 5 DAYS,WHILE I WAS DRIVING,THE CAR JUST CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP WOULD NOT MOVE,THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, I'VE COME TO REALIZE THAT I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM, I HOPE THE GOVERNMENT WOULD DO THE RIGHT THING BY RECALLING THOSE VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10217517

Incident

Feb 6, 2008

Mileage

82,200 mi