2002 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Electrical
Electrical leads by volume: 54 of 120 complaints (45%) mention it.
Complaints filed fell from 183 in 2001 to 120 in 2002.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | vs. 2002 Large Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 4,300–4,550 | 4,300–4,850 | 4,300–4,850 | 4,300–5,550 | 4,100–5,950 | |
| Combined MPG | 17–18 | 16–18 | 16–18 | 14–18 | 13–19 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 15 / 21–22 | 14–16 / 20–23 | 13–15 / 20–22 | 12–15 / 17–22 | 11–16 / 17–24 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 494–523 | 494–555 | 494–555 | 494–635 | 468–684 | |
| Complaints filed | 159 | 183 | 120 | 74 | 50 | |
| Recalls issued | 5 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 5 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 6 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 2 | |
| Injuries reported | 7 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 3 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2002 Mercedes-Benz S-Class have?
3 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2002 Mercedes-Benz S-Class?
Electrical: 54 of 120 NHTSA complaints (45%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2002 Mercedes-Benz S-Class get?
EPA rates it 16–18 MPG combined across 4 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2002 Mercedes-Benz S-Class?
EPA estimates $4,300–$4,850 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (4)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic 5-spd | 8 | 4.3L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 15 mpg (high) | 22 mpg (high) | 18 mpg (high) | $4,300 (low) | 494 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic 5-spd | 8 | 5.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 14 mpg | 21 mpg | 17 mpg | $4,550 | 523 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic 5-spd | 8 | 5.4L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 14 mpg | 20 mpg (low) | 17 mpg | $4,550 | 523 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic 5-spd | 12 | 5.8L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 13 mpg (low) | 21 mpg | 16 mpg (low) | $4,850 (high) | 555 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 54 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 40 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (3)
SUSPENSION; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING · Campaign 07V263000 · Jun 25, 2007
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.
INTERIOR LIGHTING · Campaign 06V028000 · Feb 2, 2006
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.
SUSPENSION · Campaign 04V228000 · May 12, 2004
Defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER 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 HEAT AND HUMIDITY. OVER TIME, CORROSION MAY DETERIORATE THE INNER STEEL PORTIONS OF THE HOSE.
Consequence: THIS MAY RESULT IN ABC HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAKAGE. UNDER SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, LEAKING HYDRAULIC FLUID MAY COME IN CONTACT WITH HOT ENGINE COMPONENTS AND LEAD TO A POSSIBILITY OF FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW, CORROSION RESISTANT ABC HIGH-PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION HOSES. THE RECALL BEGAN AUGUST 31, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.