2002 Mercedes-Benz C320 vs 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2002 Mercedes-Benz C320 | 2002 Volkswagen Jetta |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 68 | 702 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 5 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 45 | 242 |
| Investigations | 0 | 7 |
| Crash reports | 3 | 31 |
| Fire reports | 3 | 71 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 19 | 19–39 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 72,000 mi | 54,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Mercedes-Benz C320 | Volkswagen Jetta |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 36 | 148 |
| Seats | 23 | 101 |
| Air Bags | 4 | 108 |
| Power Train | 5 | 103 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 104 |
| Exterior Lighting | 5 | 50 |
| Visibility | 2 | 45 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 46 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Battery drain | 9 | 0 |
| Won’t start | 7 | 0 |
| Stalling | 5 | 50 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 26 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 26 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 22 |
| Shifting problems | 0 | 15 |
| Overheating | 0 | 13 |
2002 Mercedes-Benz C320
2002 Volkswagen Jetta
Compare all Mercedes-Benz C320 vs Volkswagen Jetta years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.