2002 Mercedes-Benz C320 Interior & seats Problems

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

SEATS CONTROL MODULE

NHTSA ID

10919260

Incident

Sep 27, 2016

THE SEAT CONTROL UNITS DO NOT SHUT OFF AND CONTINUALLY DRAIN THE BATTERY. THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM FOR THIS MODEL CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10652332

Incident

Sep 3, 2014

Mileage

84,300 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ C320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER SEAT MODULE WAS DRAINING THE BATTERY AND AS A RESULT, IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,000.

NHTSA ID

10559950

Incident

Jan 9, 2014

Mileage

81,000 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

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

BATTERY DIES. AFTER DIAGNOSTIC, FOUND THAT DRIVER SEAT CONTROL UNIT DRAINED BATTERY. REPLACED BATTERY AND EVENTUALLY ALL CONTROLS FAIL ON THE SEAT AND STEERING WHEEL. I AM ONE OF MANY MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. NO SOLUTION FOUND AND NO RECALL TO REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10402463

Incident

Feb 25, 2011

Mileage

44,000 mi

MERCEDES 2002 C320. POWER SEAT CONTROL MODULE FOR BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER DRAIN THE BATTERY TO A EXTENT THAT CAR CAN NOT BE STARTED UP. ONLY SOLUTION IS BUY A NEW ($500.00 PLUS LABOR) CONTROL MODULE. I'VE DONE A RESEARCH IN DIFFERENT MERCEDES FORUMS AND IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG THESE MODELS. MB DESPITE OF ALL THE PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM HAS NOT ISSUED ANY RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10400052

Incident

Mar 15, 2011

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

WE HAVE A 2002 MERCEDES C320 WAGON. THE AUTOMATIC DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS DRAINED THE BATTERY COMPLETELY WHERE THE CAR WILL NOT START. WE HAVE DISCONNECTED THE MODULE SEATS SO THAT IT WILL STOP DRAINING THE BATTERY. THE REPLACEMENT FOR EACH MODULE SYSTEM FOR THE SEAT IS ABOUT $500 OR MORE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECTS AS IT IS DANGEROUS IF OWNERS ARE NOT AWARE OF THE SITUATION AND LEAVE THEIR CAR PARK FOR A PERIOD OF TIME WILL CAUSE THE OWNERS NOT ABLE TO START THEIR CAR, ESPECIALLY IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10306004

Incident

Jan 25, 2010

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

I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME EXACT PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY AS WELL THE POWER SEAT MODULE DRAINING THE BATTERY WITH NUMEROUS JUMP STARTS. THIS OCCURRED JUST TWO WEEKS AFTER GLADLY PURCHASING MY "FIVE POINT CERTIFIED" 2002 C320 WAGON. MERCEDES BENZ OF GREENSBORO ALSO WOULD NOT FIX CHIPPING ON THE FRONT BUMPER. STATES BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS LOW PROFILE THE BUMPER SUSTAINED THIS EXTENSIVE PEELING AS A RESULT. PEELING IS LOCATED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT TOP TO BOTTOM. SERVICE DEPT MANAGER ACKNOWLEDGED THE FACT THAT DEALERSHIP DID A POOR JOB AT REPAIRING THE PRE-EXISTING DAMAGE PRIOR TO SELLING. AFTER ONE CARWASH THE CHIPPING WAS VERY NOTICEABLE AND INCREASED WITH EACH WASH. THE SALEMANS WOULD NOT AGREE. PAINT STILL PEELING AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. I HAVE REFUSED TO PAY FOR A PRE-EXISTING PROBLEM, BUT WILL PROBABLY INCUR THIS EXPENSE JUST TO TRADE THE CAR. THE TRUNK MAKES A HORRIBLE RATTLING NOISE WHILE TRAVELING AT LOW OR HIGH SPEED. NUMEROUS LIGHTS REPLACED OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS. REAR VIEW MIRROR WILL NOT LOCK INTO POSITION WHEN INTERIOR OF CAR EXCEED 60-70 DEGREES BECAUSE RUBBER SEAL BECOMES TOO HOT. ALSO AT STATED TEMPERATURE THE DIGITAL MESSAGE BOARD BECOMES OBSCURE AND UNREADABLE. TIRES NEEDING TO BE REPLACED OFTEN. EMISSIONS PROBLEMS, TRULY THE LIST GOES ON. IN FACT, THE REASON I'M POSTING THIS COMPLAINT IS BECAUSE I HAVE THE TIME TO. MY CAR IS SITTING OUTSIDE AND WILL NOT START. POSSIBLY FUEL PUMP/SENSOR- A $700 REPAIR. I'M TIRED AND HAVE REACHED MY LIMIT WITH THE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS, TRULY. PERSONALLY FEEL INJURED AFTER SUSTAINING SUCH UNFAIR TREATMENT AND INCONVENIENCE AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO NEGOTIATE REPAIRS. PRAYERFULLY EXPECTING RECALLS AND FULL RESTITUTION FOR THE MONEY TIED UP IN THIS VEHICLE, BE IT FROM THE MANUFACTURER OR DEALERSHIP. ALL DOCUMENTATION OF SERVICE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. THE INTEGRITY OF MB ALONG WITH ITS REPUTATION HAS PROVEN NOT TO BE ONE OF IT LONG STATED HISTORY. SADLY, I AM DISAPPOINTED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10269559

Incident

Nov 11, 2005

FAULTY SEAT CONTROLLER OF A MERCEDES C32 AMG, DRAINS CAR BATTERY OVERNIGHT, CAUSES NEW BATTERY REPLACEMENT AND CONTROLLER REPLACEMENT (NOT CHEAP - APPR $400). NO NEW CONTROLLER PURCHASED FROM MB USA, JUST DISCONNECTED PLUG (MOVING SEAT IS INOPERABLE). I NOTICED ALMOST ALL US MERCEDES BENZ VEHICLES WITH THAT BODY STYLE (W203) HAVE THAT ISSUE. SOURCES: BAY AREA DEALERSHIPS, A REPAIR SHOP AND ONLINE FORUMS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10254495

Incident

Oct 10, 2008

Mileage

72,000 mi

CAR BATTERY DRAINS DUE TO A SHORT IN THE POWER SEAT CONTROL UNITS IN MY 2002 MERCEDES BENZ C320. REPLACED BATTERY, RECHARGED BATTERY NUMEROUS TIMES. EVERY OTHER OWNER OF THIS MAKE / MODEL COMPLAINS OF SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10253898

Incident

Jun 15, 2008

Mileage

65,000 mi

THE CAR PARKED IN THE GARAGE OVERNIGHT AND THE MORNING I HAD AN EMERGENCY AT THE BUSINESS AND COULD NOT START THE CAR. THE BATTERY WAS TOTALLY DRAINED. HAD IT TOWED TO THE SHOP TO BE DIAGNOSED THAT IT WAS THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE POWER SEAT THAT HAS DRAINED ALL THE ENERGY FROM THE BATTERY EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS NOT RUNNING. THE POWER SEAT IS NOW CONTINUOUSLY EXCESSIVELY DRAIN THE BATTERY EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS NOT RUNNING. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE THAT THE CAR IS NOT TRUSTED TO BE ABLE TO START IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION WHEN THE CAR IS NEEDED FOR TRANSPORTATION. THE CAR HAS VERY LOW MILEAGE ON IT. THE POWER SEAT HAS BEEN RARELY USED AND IT SHOULD NOT FAIL FOR HAVING BEEN IDLE/NOT USED FOR THE LENGTH OF TIME THAT I HAVE OWN THE CAR. I AM THE ORIGINAL FIRST TIME OWNER OF THE CAR AND I HARDLY HAVE TO ADJUST THE POWER SEAT. I BELIEVE THAT THE POWER SEAT IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT AND COULD BE A DANGEROUS IMPEDIMENT IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. THE ARE LOTS OF MERCEDES OWNER WHO HAVE EXPERIENCING THE SAME MALFUNCTION IN THEIR POWER SEATS. I FEEL THAT WITH THESE MANY PEOPLE, IT WARRANTS A RECALL BY MERCEDES FOR ALL THE POWER SEATS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10244921

Incident

Nov 10, 2007

Mileage

45,000 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

I HAVE A 2002 MERCEDES C320 AND THE CAR'S BATTERY KEEP DYING AND I HAVE TO JUMP START MY CAR EVERY DAY. BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND SAME PROBLEM HAPPENS AGAIN AND AGAIN. I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO HAS THE PROBLEM. IT HAPPENS TO MANY MANY MANY PEOPLE - SEE ATTACHED LINK HTTP://WWW.BENZWORLD.ORG/FORUMS/W203-C-CLASS/1196568-MERCEDES-C320-BATTERY-DRAIN-4.HTML I HAVE PAID THE DEALER $375 JUST FOR THE DIAGNOSES WITH NOTHING FIXED AND ACCORDING TO THESE COMPLAINTS, EVEN AFTER THEY HAVE THE RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT, THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. IT SEEMS LIKE THEY SHOULD HAVE ALL THESE CARS RECALLED AND HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED WHEN IT'S THEIR PRODUCTION/COMPONENT PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10201076

Incident

Jun 8, 2007

MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, SO I RECEIVED A JUMP, TWO DAYS LATER WHEN I DID NOT DRIVE THE CAR IT WOULD NOT START RECEIVED ANOTHER JUMP AND REPLACED THE BATTERY. DID NOT DRIVE THE CAR FROM 7-4 TO 7-8-07 AND CAR WOULD START. WENT TO MERCEDES DEALERSHIP ON 7-9-07 AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM ON MY CAR THAT THE SEAT MODULES DO NOT POWER DOWN WHEN THE CAR IS OFF AND THAT IT IS DRAINING THE BATTERY. WENT TO SEVERAL MERCEDES-BENZ FORUM WEBSITES AND FOUND THAT THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. ONCE THE SEAT MODULE ARE REPLACED FOR $1200.00 THAT THE SEAT MODULES WOULD CONTINUE TO DRAIN THE BATTERY AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AND THIS BECAME A CYCLE. PLEASE VISIT WEBSITES WWW.BENZWORLD.ORG/FORUMS OR M-BENZFORUM.COM OR TYPE IN GOOGLE OR YAHOO MERCERDES BENZ FORUM AND CONNECT. HERE YOU WILL SEE A LIST OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10196159

Incident

Jul 8, 2007

Mileage

48,200 mi

BOTH INTERNAL SEAT CONTROL MODULES HAVE ELECTRICAL FAULT. TEST CODE 8E3L-K8NNQ. FOUND 1.66 AMP OF DRAW (OUT OF SPEC. RANGE) AMP DROP WHEN DISCONNECTED: PASSENGER SIDE TO: .1114 AND DRIVER SIDE: 0.59 MILLIAMPS. 1/13 ALARM SOUNDS AND BATTERY DIES. TECHNICIAN REPLACES BATTERY, BUT WARNS LIKELY TO HAPPEN AGAIN-MANY CASES. 1/16 SAME PROBLEM. CAR TAKEN TO OTHER M-B DEALERSHIP. DIAGNOSED AS ABOVE. REPLACED BOTH MODULES 1/25. DEALERSHIP HAD TROUBLE GETTING PART DUE TO UNUSUALLY HIGH VOLUME FOR THIS REPAIR. 18 MODULES GONE OR ON RESERVE IN ONE WEEK IN SANTA MONICA ALONE. MERCEDES CORPORATE OFFICE UNRESPONSIVE. CARMAX DENIES KNOWN FAULT, BUT REPORTS CUSTOMER WITH SAME COMPLAINT PREVIOUS WEEK. *NM

NHTSA ID

10181428

Incident

Jan 13, 2007

Mileage

45,800 mi

I OWN A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ C320 WITH LESS THAN 55,000 MILES. ON SAT. AUG. 20, 2005 WHILE OPENING MY TRUNK WITH THE REMOTE I HEARD A STRANGE SOUND COMING FROM THE TRUNK ASSEMBLY. THE VERY NEXT DAY I WENT SHOPPING AND WENT TO PLACE MY ITEMS IN THE TRUNK AND HEARD THE SAME SOUND AGAIN. THIS TIME WHEN I GO TO CLOSE THE TRUNK IT WOULD NOT LATCH. I CALL MB 1-800 SERVICE, HOWEVER, THEY DIDN'T WANT TO COME BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT SURE THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO REPAIR IT AND STILL HAVE TO CHARGE ME FOR COMING. SO I THEN HAD TO TRY TO HOLD THE TRUNK DOWN WITH WHAT I HAD IN THE TRUNK WHICH WASN'T MUCH. WHILE TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY THE TRUNK LID SPRUNG OPEN WHICH TO ME WAS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE I HAD TO TRY TO MANEUVER MY WAY ACROSS LANES OF TRAFFIC WITH A TRUNK LID UP BLOCKING MY VIEW. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE GUY HIMSELF SAID HE DID NOT KNOW WHY THE ASSEMBLY BROKE. THE TRUNK IS NOT SOMETHING ONE USES EVERYDAY SO I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY IT BROKE ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT THE CAR IS 3 YEARS OLD. THIS SIMPLY SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. ALSO, I CHECKED THE DIFFERENT MB FORUMS AND IT APPEARS THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD SOME FORM OF PROBLEM WITH THEIR TRUNKS ALONG WITH A LAUNDRY LIST OF OTHER MALFUNCTIONS. I NOW HAVE TO PAY $ 350.00 PARTS AND LABOR FOR SOMETHING I BELIEVE IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT.

NHTSA ID

10133932

Incident

Aug 21, 2005

Mileage

54,452 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT UNDETERMINED SPEED BRAKE LINE LOW LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DIGITAL DASHBOARD. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE 5 MINUTES LATER. AFTER INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE BY THE MANUFACTURER/DEALERSHIP, THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE WHERE THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM.*AK

NHTSA ID

10039802

Mileage

12,000 mi