The Used Car Index

2002 Mercedes-Benz S Class problems

NHTSA lists 48 complaints for the 2002 Mercedes-Benz S Class, 0 of them mention a crash and 0 mention a fire. 0 complaints mention an injury, with 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported.

Data build 2026-10-10.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as MERCEDES BENZ S CLASS.

At a glance

Complaints
48
With crash
0
With fire
0
With injury (complaints)
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
0
Recalls
2
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
36,911
Investigations
1
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
9

Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. No sales source is available for this record.

Where the complaints are

Top systems
SystemComplaintsShare of this vehicle's complaints
SUSPENSION1939.6%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1225.0%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING48.3%
INTERIOR LIGHTING48.3%
AIR BAGS36.3%
TIRES36.3%
EQUIPMENT24.2%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING24.2%
POWER TRAIN24.2%
VISIBILITY24.2%
Top subsystems
SystemSubsystemComplaints
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMINSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL6
SUSPENSIONFRONT6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGENGINE3
POWER TRAINAUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION2
AIR BAGSSIDE/WINDOW1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMWIRING1
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROLAUTOMATIC (ASC)1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGEXHAUST SYSTEM1
SUSPENSIONREAR1
TIRESSIDEWALL1

One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.

Model-generated complaint tags: This model year has not been tagged.

Recalls

See new recalls and investigations this week.

2 recalls.

07V263000

Date: 2007-06-12. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SUSPENSION.

Defect: ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, CORROSION MAY OCCUR IN THE INNER STEEL PORTIONS OF THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL'S (ABC) HIGH PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION HOSE DUE TO EXTENSIVE EXPOSURE TO HUMIDITY CAUSING DETERIORATION OF THE HOSE.

Consequence: THIS MAY RESULT IN ABC HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAKAGE NEAR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. LEAKING FLUID MAY COME IN CONTACT WITH HOT ENGINE COMPONENTS AND LEAD TO A POSSIBLE FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW CORROSION RESISTANT ABC HIGH PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION HOSE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 2, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

06V028000

Date: 2006-02-02. Systems: INTERIOR LIGHTING.

Defect: ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS EXPERIENCING ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CONTAINS GAUGES AND INDICATORS THAT MUST BE ILLUMINATED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION.

Consequence: DUE TO INADEQUATE ILLUMINATION, THE DRIVER WILL BE UNABLE TO READ THE GAUGES AND INDICATORS, SUCH AS THE SPEEDOMETER, WHICH COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MODULES. THE RECALL WILL BE CONDUCTED IN PHASES. PHASE I WAS MAILED OUT TO APPROXIMATELY 7,500 OWNERS ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2006. PHASE II AND PHASE III IS SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

Investigations

1 investigations; 0 open.

PE07042

Opened: 2007-08-14. Closed: 2007-11-20.

AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM FAILURE

THE SUBJECT S-CLASS VEHICLES CONTAIN A COMPRESSED AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM THAT USES AIR STRUTS ON EACH OF THE FOUR WHEELS IN LIEU OF TRADITIONAL SPRINGS AND SHOCK ABSORBERS.THESE AIR STRUTS USE COMPRESSED AIR TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE AND CONTROL RIDE HEIGHT.IN THE EVENT OF THE LOSS OF AIR FROM THE SYSTEM, AN ALERT WILL FLASH ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WARNING THE DRIVER TO EITHER DRIVE CA

Systems: SUSPENSION.

Linked campaign numbers: None listed.

Manufacturer communications

9 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
VISIBILITY2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE1
PARKING BRAKE1
POWER TRAIN1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC1

10136035

Date: 2014-06-23. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: VISIBILITY.

Complaints about poor wiping effect of winshield wiper

10030939

Date: 2009-07-31. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: PARKING BRAKE.

MERCEDES: PARKTRONIC INTERMITTENTLY NOT FUNCTIONING. THE FUNCTION WORKS AGAIN AFTER A SHORT TIME OR DISTANCE. WHEN THE FOOT OPERATED PARKING BRAKE IS APPLIED, THE PARKTRONIC SYSTEM IS DEACTIVATED. IF THE FOOT OPERATED PARKING BRAKE IS ON AT THE FIRST NOTCH, THE CONTACT SWITCH MAY REACT WITH A CO

10030929

Date: 2009-06-15. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC.

MERCEDES: CORROSION PROTECTION COATINGS FOR BRAKE COMPONENTS AND HARDWARE MAY BE DAMAGED AND OR STRIPPED AWAY IF HIGHLY CONCENTRATED ACID BASED CLEANERS ARE USED. ONCE THE CORROSION PROTECTION IS DAMAGED OR REMOVED THE BRAKE COMPONENTS AND OR HARDWARE CAN BEGIN TO CORRODE. INCLUDE ALL MODELS AN

10025845

Date: 2008-07-28. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EXTERIOR LIGHTING.

MERCEDES BENZ: WATER IN TAIL LAMP HOUSING ON EITHER RIGHT SIDE OR LEFT SIDE. *PE

10019492

Date: 2006-02-14. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER SHOWS DASHES INSTEAD OF MAIN ODOMETER READING. *TT

10014583

Date: 2005-03-16. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: VISIBILITY.

SEAL BETWEEN EXTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRROR HOUSING AND DOOR. *TT

10009985

Date: 2004-08-31. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: SUSPENSION.

THE HIGH PRESSURE HYDRAULIC DISTRIBUTION HOSE OF THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL (ABC) MAY DETERIORATE OVER TIME DUE TO EXCESSIVE EXPOSURE TO HUMIDITY AND HIGH TEMPERATURES. VOLUNTARY RECALL CAMPAIGN OF ACTIVE BODY CONTROL (ABC) (12 CYLINDER ONLY). *NM

10009820

Date: 2004-08-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.

REPLACEMENT OF ABC PRESSURE SUPPLY VALVE UNIT HYDRAULIC LINE. *TT

627197

Date: 2001-10-10. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, POWER TRAIN.

SUBJECT REGARDING HARD STARTING AFTER FUEL FILTER REPLACEMENT. *JG

Notes on this record

  • Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
  • System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
  • Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
  • A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.

Other names NHTSA uses

None listed.

Matched NHTSA models

Matched labels and complaints
NHTSA model labelComplaints
S CLASS48

Same model, other years

All model years | All Mercedes-Benz models

Other Mercedes-Benz models, 2002

Sources

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