NHTSA vehicle safety data

1996 Mercedes Benz 202 Recalls & Complaints

The 1996 Mercedes Benz 202 has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 2 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Mercedes Benz dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1996 Mercedes Benz 202. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

1996 Mercedes Benz 202 owner complaints

Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Mercedes Benz 202, describing incidents dated November 3, 2008 to September 2, 2011.

Most-cited components

Electrical System 2 complaints

Newest complaints

ODI #10423135 · Filed September 3, 2011
THE INSULATION OF THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS GETS BRITTLE AND CRUMBLES CAUSING THE ENGINE TO EITHER NOT RUN PROPERLY OR JUST QUIT RUNNING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE ON THE ROAD. MERCEDES BENZ IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THE W202 BODY (AND I BELIEVE OTHER BODY STYLES) BETWEEN…
ODI #10247609 · Filed November 3, 2008
I OWN A 1996 MERCEDES C280. HAD THE CAR SINCE 50,000. NOW AT 99,000 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. HOOKED THE SDS DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE FOUND THAT CODES ARE NOT IRRELAVENT. DISCOVERED THAT THE WIRING AROUND THE SENSORS WERE FALLING APART!! WTF!! ORDERED A NEW WIRING HARNESS AND WAITING AND HOPEFULLY WILL…

Read all 2 complaints

FMVSS 108/REPLACEMENT HEADLAMPS/AMBER REFLECTOR

NHTSA #09E025000 · Exterior Lighting — Headlights · NHTSA notice

Reported May 11, 2009 · DOPE, INC.

Potentially affected: 42,540 vehicles

Owners notified July 28, 2009

Defect description

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Safety consequence

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON VEHICLES PRODUCED BY THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER.IN ORDER TO DETERMINE IF YOUR AFTERMARKET LAMP ASSEMBLY IS AFFECTED BY THIS NONCOMPLIANCE, PLEASE REVIEW THE LIST OF MODEL NUMBERS PROVIDED TO US BY DOPE, INC.THE LIST CAN BE FOUND UNDER "DOCUMENT SEARCH" LOCATED AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SCREEN. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

Latches/Locks/Linkages — Hood — Latch

NHTSA #96V010000 · NHTSA notice

Reported January 15, 1996 · MERCEDES-BENZ USA, INC.

Potentially affected: 44,114 vehicles

Owners notified February 14, 1996 · Vehicles built January 1, 1993 – May 1, 1995 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

IN A MINOR FRONTAL IMPACT, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE HOOD LATCH HOOK TO BE DAMAGED AND NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY AS A SECONDARY SAFETY CATCH. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 113, "HOOD LATCH SYSTEMS."

Safety consequence

CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IF THE HOOD IS DAMAGED AND THE HOOD IS NOT FULLY LATCHED, THE HOOD COULD FLY UP SUDDENLY WHILE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. THIS CONDITION CAN REDUCE THE DRIVER'S VIEW OF THE ROAD INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HOOD LATCH SECONDARY HOOK.

Notes

SYSTEM: STRUCTURE; HOOD ASSEMBLY; LATCHES.VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES.NOTE: OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME, SHOULD CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 1996 Mercedes Benz 202. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

2 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1996 Mercedes Benz 202.

Electrical System

ODI #10423135

Incident: September 2, 2011 · Filed: September 3, 2011

THE INSULATION OF THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS GETS BRITTLE AND CRUMBLES CAUSING THE ENGINE TO EITHER NOT RUN PROPERLY OR JUST QUIT RUNNING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE ON THE ROAD. MERCEDES BENZ IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THE W202 BODY (AND I BELIEVE OTHER BODY STYLES) BETWEEN 1994 THRU 1996 +- MODEL YEARS. AT ONE POINT THEY WERE DOING A GOOD-FAITH REPLACEMENT OF THESE HARNESSES BUT STOPPED. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THERE ARE ABOUT 1.5 M CARS IN THE US AFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM. *TR

Electrical System

ODI #10247609

Incident: November 3, 2008 · Filed: November 3, 2008

I OWN A 1996 MERCEDES C280. HAD THE CAR SINCE 50,000. NOW AT 99,000 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. HOOKED THE SDS DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE FOUND THAT CODES ARE NOT IRRELAVENT. DISCOVERED THAT THE WIRING AROUND THE SENSORS WERE FALLING APART!! WTF!! ORDERED A NEW WIRING HARNESS AND WAITING AND HOPEFULLY WILL FIX THE PROBLEMSSSSSSS. AND I WILL COMPLAIN AND SEE IF MERCEDES WILL HELP PAY FOR THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS. SELL THE CAR AND BUY A GOOD OL TOYOTA!!!!! *TR

Other Mercedes Benz 202 model years

Check your 1996 Mercedes Benz 202 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Mercedes Benz 202 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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