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NHTSA recalls & complaints · 1995–2001

Mercedes-Benz 202 recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 7 owner complaints for the Mercedes-Benz 202, covering model years 1995 to 2001. The 1996 model year drew the most complaints (2), and Electrical System is the component owners name most often.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint flat files, updated September 25, 2026.

Decode your Mercedes-Benz 202 VIN

See the model year, plant and build details of one vehicle, then the recalls for its exact year.

  • 1 recall campaign on file
  • 7 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
  • 6 model years with data (1995–2001)
  • most complaints: 1996 (2 for that model year)
  • top component: Electrical System (2 complaints)
  • latest recall 96V010000 (reported Jan 15, 1996)
  • 0 complaints reporting a crash (0.0%)
  • 0 complaints reporting a fire (0.0%)
  • 0 complaints reporting an injury (0.0%)
  • 0 complaints reporting a death (0.0%)

Mercedes-Benz 202 complaints by model year

6 model years · NHTSA complaints

The 1996 model year has the most complaints: 2 of 7, or 28.6%. Next come 1995 (1) and 1997 (1). The fewest are for 2001, with 1 complaint.

Owner complaints per model yearHighest yearOther years
Mercedes-Benz 202 owner complaints to NHTSA by model year, 1995–2001Column chart of 7 complaints across 7 model years. The highest is 1996 with 2. The full figures are in the table below the chart.1995: 1 complaint119951996: 2 complaints219961997: 1 complaint119971998: 0 complaints19981999: 1 complaint119992000: 1 complaint120002001: 1 complaint12001
Mercedes-Benz 202 complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Mercedes-Benz 202 complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model yearComplaintsReporting a crashReporting a fireReporting an injuryReporting a death
199510000
199620000
199710000
199910000
200010000
200110000
All model years70000

Crash, fire, injury and death columns count complaints that report at least one of them, not people.

Most-reported Mercedes-Benz 202 components

top 7 · NHTSA categories

Electrical System is the component named most often, in 2 complaints (28.6% of all 7), followed by Engine (1) and Exterior Lighting (1).

Components named most often in Mercedes-Benz 202 complaints (top 7)
Components named most often in Mercedes-Benz 202 complaints (top 7)
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints
Electrical System228.6%
Engine114.3%
Exterior Lighting114.3%
Power Train114.3%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic114.3%
Structure114.3%
Visibility114.3%

One complaint can name several components, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Component names are NHTSA’s top-level categories.

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

These figures count complaints that vehicle owners and other members of the public have submitted to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA uses complaints, together with other data, to spot safety issues that may warrant an investigation and to check whether existing recalls go far enough.

  • They are reports, not findings. Each complaint is the submitter's own account. Its presence in the database does not mean NHTSA has confirmed a defect.
  • Counts are not defect rates. The data doesn't say how many vehicles were sold, so a raw count can't tell you what share of vehicles had a problem.
  • Popular models collect more complaints. A model sold in large numbers will usually gather more complaints than a rare one, simply because more people own it.
  • One complaint can name several components. Totals by component can therefore add up to more than the number of complaints.
  • Coverage starts in 1995. NHTSA's complaint file contains complaints received since January 1, 1995.

Use complaint patterns as a prompt for questions: whether a recall covers the issue, whether the vehicle you are considering has had the fix, and what a mechanic finds on inspection. For confirmed safety defects, see the recall list for this model.

Mercedes-Benz 202 recalls

1 campaign · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name 202, newest first. The only campaign, 96V010000, covers model year 1996.

  • 1 recall campaign
Mercedes-Benz 202 recall campaigns covering each model year
1996: 1 campaign

  1. NHTSA campaign 96V010000

    Reported

    Latches/Locks/Linkages › Hood › Latch

    Model year 1996

    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."

    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.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will replace the hood latch secondary hook.

    Filed by Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC

Recall text is shown as NHTSA publishes it; older campaigns, which NHTSA stores in capital letters, are shown in sentence case. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, also answers recall questions.

How to read this recall list

This list shows every safety recall campaign NHTSA has on file for this make, model and model year. It is not specific to one vehicle: a recall often covers only vehicles built in a certain date range or with a certain part, and many of the vehicles it covers will already have been repaired.

What each recall field means
What each recall field means
FieldWhat it tells you
Campaign numberNHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
ComponentThe system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
SummaryWhat the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
ConsequenceThe safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
RemedyWhat the manufacturer will do, such as a repair, replacement or software update, and whether it is free.
  • Some recalls carry an NHTSA consumer advisory, “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside”. Follow it until the repair is done.
  • A single campaign often covers several models or model years, so the same campaign number can appear in more than one list.
  • Recalls are shown as NHTSA publishes them. Very recent campaigns may take time to appear.

Does your vehicle have an open recall? Only a VIN check can tell you. Enter the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or on the manufacturer's website. Our VIN recall check guide explains what each option covers.

Mercedes-Benz 202 questions

5 questions

How many recalls does the Mercedes-Benz 202 have?

NHTSA lists 1 vehicle recall campaign for the Mercedes-Benz 202, covering model years 1995 to 2001. The campaign, 96V010000, was reported on January 15, 1996 and is filed under “Latches/locks/linkages”.

Which Mercedes-Benz 202 model year has the most complaints?

The 1996 model year, with 2 of the 7 complaints in NHTSA’s file (28.6%). The next are 1995 (1) and 1997 (1). Complaint counts also reflect how many vehicles of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they are not a reliability ranking.

What is the most common Mercedes-Benz 202 complaint?

Electrical System is the component named most often: 2 complaints, or 28.6% of all 7. Engine (1) and Exterior Lighting (1) follow. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects, and one complaint can name several components.

Does every recall on this page apply to my Mercedes-Benz 202?

Not necessarily. Each campaign lists specific model years, and many cover only vehicles built in a certain period or fitted with a certain part; repairs already carried out aren’t shown. To see whether a recall is open on your vehicle, enter its VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or ask a Mercedes-Benz dealer.

How many Mercedes-Benz 202 complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 7 complaints, 0 report a crash, 0 a fire, 0 at least one injury and 0 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.

Other Mercedes-Benz models

8 models · most complaints first

The Mercedes-Benz models with the most NHTSA complaints, and the Mercedes-Benz VIN decoder with every Mercedes-Benz model page, WMI code and VIN note.

All Mercedes-Benz models and WMI codesLook up recalls by year

Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files, updated September 25, 2026. Recall campaigns are vehicle (V) campaigns listed for this model name; complaints are counted once per NHTSA ODI number and model year.