2002 Mercedes-Benz E320 Owner Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUN ROOF WAS UNABLE TO BE OPENED AND THAT THE SUN ROOF GLASS HAD BECOME INDENTED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V918000 (VISIBILITY) FOR ANOTHER MERCEDES-BENZ VEHICLE WHICH SHE LINKED TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000. *BF*JB

NHTSA ID

11352956

Incident

Aug 1, 2020

Mileage

200,000 mi

SRS LIGHT IS ON

NHTSA ID

11110169

Incident

Jul 1, 2010

Mileage

67,000 mi

ON APRIL 25, 2016, I NOTICED THAT A WHITE BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AT ABOUT 10 MPH IN TRAFFIC. DESPITE THE WHITE WARNING LIGHT, THE FOOT BRAKES STILL HELD. IT SAID "SERVICE BRAKES , VISIT WORKSHOP". I IMMEDIATELY DROVE TO THE SOLE AUTHORISED AGENT IN TRINIDAD, WHO RAN SOME DIAGNOSTIC TESTS ON THE CAR. THEY INDICATED THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE SBC UNIT AT AN APPROXIMATE COST OF USD 3,000.00 PLUS USD 365.00 FOR LABOR. THIS, I COULD NOT AFFORD AS THE TOTAL COST IS QUITE EXORBITANT AND SURPRISING. AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP AND TOWARDS DRIVING HOME, THE RED BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR NOW LIT UP AND I HEARD A LOUD WARNING SIGNAL. THE WARNING SIGN SAID TO STOP THE CAR, WHICH I IMMEDIATELY DID AND MANAGED TO PARK THE CAR AT A FRIEND'S HOME AS I COULD NOT REACH MY HOME. THE CAR NOW HAD VERY LITTLE OR NO FOOT BRAKES AND I HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL RIGHT DOWN IN ORDER TO STOP THE CAR. I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 10MPH IN CITY TRAFFIC AND THIS "NO BRAKES" SITUATION RESULTED IN EXTREME DANGER TO BOTH ME, MY WIFE, PEDESTRIANS AND OTHER TRAFFIC. I WAS LATER INFORMED THAT THESE SBC UNITS WERE FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE AND WERE PREVIOUSLY RECALLED BY MERCEDES BENZ, BUT I AS AN OWNER WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. IN ADDITION, THE SOLE AGENTS IN TRINIDAD FOR MERCEDES BENZ IS REFUSING TO HONOR THE RECALL AND CHANGE THE SBC UNIT FREE OF CHARGE. I NEED URGENT ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER EITHER FROM MERCEDES BENZ USA OR MERCEDES BENZ GERMANY AS I AM A HAPLESS VICTIM OF THIS MERCEDES BENZ SBC RECALL. PLEASE NOTE THAT EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IN SEPTEMBER 2005, IT HAS BARELY COMPLETED 58,000 MILES. SINCE THE CAR WAS BOUGHT, IT HAS ONLY BEEN MAINTAINED AND SERVICED BY THE SOLE MERCEDES BENZ AGENT IN TRINIDAD.MERCEDES BENZ RECALL NUMBER 2005070007 AND 2005110001 AND/OR 2004050014

NHTSA ID

10863864

Incident

Apr 25, 2016

Mileage

58,100 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUSE BOX AND THE COMPUTER BURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

NHTSA ID

10811702

Incident

Nov 23, 2015

Mileage

83,000 mi

WHILE DECELERATING ONTO HIGHWAY FROM ON RAMP, THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO SLIP OUT OF GEAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. IT'S IS A SCARY SITUATION TO LOSE POWER AS YOU MERGE INTO HIGHWAY. I COASTED TO BRAKE DOWN LANE. I SHIFTED BACK INTO PARK GEAR TO RESET, THEN BACK INTO DRIVE GEAR TO RESUME TRAVEL. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWO MORE TIMES SINCE. CAN BE A DANGEROUS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ROADWAYS.

NHTSA ID

10717564

Incident

Apr 10, 2013

Mileage

118,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS A GASOLINE FUEL ODOR EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10669287

Incident

Dec 31, 2014

THE CAR STARTED HAVING VERY STRONG VIBRATIONS AT IDLE SPEED WHEN CAR IS IN REVERSE OR DRIVE AND STOPPED AT A STANDSTILL WITH BRAKE. TOOK IT TO SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLES MOTOR MOUNTS WERE IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT, TO THE TUNE OF OVER 600.00. ONCE AGAIN I HAVE READ A SIMILAR COMPLAINT IN THE DATABASE AND REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHY MERCEDES HAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED THE FACT THAT THIS IS A TREND IN THE VEHICLES AND COME UP WITH SOME TYPE OF RECALL OR FIX FOR THE SITUATION... MAYBE MOST OWNERS JUST UNBEGRUDGINGLY PAY WHATEVER NECESSARY TO HAVE THEIR CARS FIXED OBLIVIOUS TO THE FACT THAT MERCEDES CLAIM TO FAME IS QUALITY,RELIABILITY AND LONGEVITY. I FOR ONE DO NOT THINK THAT A CAR COSTING OVER 60,000.00 SHOULD BE PLAGUED BY SO MANY DEFICIENT MANUFACTURING PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10661030

Incident

Nov 16, 2010

Mileage

140,000 mi

THE TEMPERATURE LED HAS COMPLETELY GONE OUT AND THE CLOCK/GEAR SELECTION LED IS UNREADABLE... I BELIEVE SEEING ANOTHER COMPLAINT OF THE SAME TYPE IN THE DATABASE, DON'T REMEMBER THE MODEL BUT WAS WONDERING WHY IF THIS IS A TREND DOES MERCEDES NOT HAVE A FIX FOR THE SITUATION. I REALIZE THAT THE WARRANTY IS ONLY GOOD FOR SO LONG BUT IF OTHER CARS ALL HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS IT SEEMS AS IF MERCEDES WOULD WANT TO PROTECT THE REPUTATION OF QUALITY DURABILITY AND EXCELLENCE BEHIND THEIR NAME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10661028

Incident

Nov 30, 2005

Mileage

92,000 mi

EXACT DATE OF INCIDENT NOT KNOWN I AM THIRD OWNER OF CAR AND HAVE KNOWN THE SECOND OWNER THE ENTIRE TIME OF HER OWNERSHIP. THE SRS LIGHT ON THE DASH STAYS LIT AT ALL TIMES, AS DOES THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG OFF INDICATOR. WAS WONDERING IF THIS WAS A ONE INCIDENT TYPE OR IF THIS IS A TREND AMONG OLDER E320'S THAT ARE OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10661023

Incident

Nov 4, 2003

Mileage

90,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ E320. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND METAL SHAVINGS CAME OUT OF THE AIR BAGS. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. UPDATED 01/27/15

NHTSA ID

10659188

Incident

Aug 13, 2014

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ E-320. WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEGAN TO VIBRATE UNCONTROLLABLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 83,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10454614

Incident

Mar 16, 2011

Mileage

83,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING LOCK FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,828 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 11/29/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE RETURNED TO HER VEHICLE AND INSERTED THE KEY, IT WOULD NOT TURN. THE INDICATOR SAID TO REMOVE THE KEY. THE CONSUMER THEN MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE CAR EACH TIME REMOVING THE KEY AS DIRECTED. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE STEERING LOCK MALFUNCTIONED. UPDATED 02/28/12

NHTSA ID

10434885

Incident

Jun 14, 2011

Mileage

73,828 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE FOLLOWED BY AN ABNORMALLY LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER, THE VEHICLE CAME TO A HALT AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER TRAIN DROPPED DUE TO FOUR LOOSE SCREWS. AS A RESULT, THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 109,200.

NHTSA ID

10426882

Incident

Sep 10, 2011

Mileage

109,000 mi

THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES WHEN I AM COMING TO A STOP;THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 5-6 TIMES. ON MAY 23, 09 I WAS ALMOST STOPPED IN A PARKING PLACE AND THE CAR STARTED BUCKING AGAINST MY APPLICATION OF THE BRAKE AND IT WAS ABOUT 30 YARDS BEFORE THE VEHICLE STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE AND STOPPED. ON FEB.13 OF THIS YEAR I WAS STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN AND THE VEHICLE AGAIN STARTED ACCELERATING. PLACING THE GEAR INTO NEUTRAL SAVED ANOTHER CRASH. THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENTS HAS BEEN ONLY ABOUT 2 MPH. I KNOW THAT "OTHERS" LIKE TO CLAIM CONFUSION, DRIVER ERROR, ETC. I AM ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN THAT SUCH HAS NOT BEEN THE CASE AND I HAVE A PASSENGER WITNESS TO THESE INCIDENTS AND WHAT I DID THE VEHICLE SIMPLY OVERPOWERS MY ATTEMPTS TO BRAKE AND BUCKS LIKE A WILD HORSE. . I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE EXAMINED BY SEVERAL GARAGES AND THEY SAY THAT W/O THE ABILITY TO RECREATE THE INCIDENT A DIAGNOSIS CANNOT BE MADE. THE INCIDENT 5- 29-09 DID RESULT IN DAMAGES. NEWPORT BEACH POLICE WERE CALLED. THE FEB 13 2210 INCIDENT DID NOT RESULT IN DAMAGES (UNLESS YOU ARE INCLUDING BEING TERRIFIED OF A CRASH). *TR

NHTSA ID

10314646

Incident

Feb 13, 2010

Mileage

79,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ 320E. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. SHE DROVE THE VEHICLE TO HER RESIDENCE AND THE NOISE RECURRED THREE DAYS LATER AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN WARMED UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,200 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000. UPDATED 03/17/09. *LJ WHEN THE CONSUMER PICKED THE VEHICLE UP AFTER HAVING IT SERVICED, IT BEGAN TO MAKE A LOUD NOISE. THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE CONVERTER HAD GONE BAD. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS NO NOISE PRIOR TO TAKING THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALER. UPDATED 03/17/09. *JB

NHTSA ID

10257324

Incident

Jan 25, 2009

Mileage

103,000 mi

I WAS RECENTLY TOLD THAT MY 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 HAD AN OIL LEAK INSIDE THE ENGINE AND REQUIRED A COMPLETE ENGINE OVERHAUL FOR $5,725.00. *TR UPDATED 12-12-07. *KB UPDATED *JB

NHTSA ID

10202135

Incident

Aug 22, 2007

Mileage

88,985 mi

THE PIXELS ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER OF THE 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E320 FAILED, CONVEYING GARBLED INFORMATION OR NO INFORMATION AT ALL. I AM THE SECOND OWNER THAT PURCHASED THE CAR IN JUNE 2005, AND MERCEDES BENZ REFUSED TO REPAIR IT UNDER THE 3 YEAR WARRANTY, CLAIMING THE MILEAGE, 87000, WAS TOO HIGH FOR WARRANTY REPAIR. *AK

NHTSA ID

10193585

Incident

Jun 30, 2005

Mileage

67,000 mi

MY 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ E320 SE HAS 29000 MILES ON IT AND OUT OF WARRANTY. ON THE DASH IN THE LOWER RIGHT HAND CORNER IS THE GEAR SELECTION POSITION INDICATOR AND CLOCK MODULE. IN DECEMBER THE UNIT MALFUNCTIONED AND IS UNREADABLE. I HAVE TRIED TO GET SOMEONE TO FIX IT BUT NO ONE WILL DO IT BECAUSE IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY. IS THERE ANY RECOURSE FOR ME AT THIS TIME? IS THIS A FIRST FOR MB? I AM FILING THIS REPORT TO ALERT OTHERS OF THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10179334

Incident

Dec 28, 2006

Mileage

29,400 mi

E320 4 MATIC (ALL WHEEL DRIVE)2002. NOISE IN THE RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION WHEN GOING OVER SPEED BUMPS, OR A DIP/INCLINE IN THE PAVEMENT THEN COMING BACK TO NORMAL LEVEL.*AK STEERING WHEEL MAKES NOISE WHEN TURNING IN WARM WEATHER MERCEDES BENZ HAS DETERMINED THAT THE FIRST PROBLEM NOISE IS INHERENT IN THE DESIGN OF THEIR E320 4 MATICS AND CAN NOT BE REPAIRED. THIS NOISE ISSUE HOWEVER DOES AFFECT THE RESALE OF THE CAR, AND ALSO CAN NOT BE STARMARKED CERTIFICED BY MERCEDES TO BE RESOLD ON THEIR PRE-OWNED USED CAR LOT. ONE OF THE STARMARKED AREAS IS NO NOISE ISSUES COMING FROM THE SUSPENSION. THE STEERING WHEEL NOISE IS ANOTHER INHERENT PROBLEM WITH ALL E320'S. THEIR ATTEMPT TO FIX IT HAS NOT LASTED. IN BOTH CASES THEIR IS NO DETERMINATION AS TO WHETHER EITHER COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE END RESULT IS THAT THE OWNER WILL SUFFER WHEN THE CAR IS TO BE TRADED IN OR SOLD TO A THIRD PARTY. THE VALUE OF THE CAR IS SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCED BY THESE INHERENT DEFECTS THAT CAN NOT BE CORRECTED AS PROVEN. ALSO THEIR STARMARKED VEHICLE REQUIREMENTS WOULD ELIMINATE THIS CAR FROM BEING PUT FOR SALE ON THEIR PRE-OWNED LOT DUE TO THE SUSPENSION NOISE NOT BEING ABLE TO BE REPAIRED. THE OTHER PROBLEM WILL OCCURR IF THE WEATHER IS WARM AND SO THEREFORE IT COULD OR COULD NOT BE HAPPENING AT THE TIME OF THE SALE.

NHTSA ID

10098526

Incident

Mar 5, 2003

Mileage

1,272 mi

PROBLEMS WITH INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING.*MR IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO READ THE TEMPERATURE AND ODOMETER READING WHILE DRIVING IN DAYLIGHT. THE CONSUMER SAW THE 2003 MODEL AND THE LIGHTING HAS BEEN CHANGED. THE CONSUMER FEELS THE 2002 MODEL SHOULD BE RECALLED. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10042619

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL EXCEEDS TO THE FLOOR,CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10034318

Incident

Mar 17, 2003

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FLAT TIRE, THE TIRE WAS REPLACE WITH THE SPARE THAT CAME WITH THE VEHICLE AND THE LUG NUTS WITH THE ORIGINAL TIRE, IT APPEARS THAT THE SPARE TIRE USES DIFFERENT SIZE LUG NUTS THAN THE ORIGINAL WHEEL, AS A RESULT OF USING THE INCORRECT LUG NUTS THE BRAKES WERE DAMAGED, THERE ARE NO LABELS OR WARNINGS IN THE POCKET GUIDE STATING TO USE THE ADDITION LUG NUTS PROVIDED WHEN USING THE SPARE TIRE. NLM

NHTSA ID

568602

Incident

Jul 1, 2002

WHEN APPLYING GAS FROM A STOP, VEHICLE WILL HESITATE AND THEN STALL. THIS HAS HAPPENED 25 TIMES, DEALER CANNOT FIND A CAUSE. *AK DEALER REPLACED MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. MANUFACTURER ADVISED CUSTOMER THAT CUSTOMERS WHO DRIVE WITH TWO FEET MAY EXPERIENCE SOME ENGINE HESITATION. *TT

NHTSA ID

8011499

Incident

Nov 10, 2001