The 1996 Mercedes-Benz 202 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 44,114 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.
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.
Complaints by component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2
Total complaints2
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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…”
“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…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1996 Mercedes-Benz 202 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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