The problem
Certain passenger vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 208, s7.3, "occupant crash protection." the seat belt chimes May not function as designed and is not consistent with the requirements of the standard.
The risk
If the driver buckles his seat belt prior to starting the vehicle, the chime will not sound at all when the vehicle is started.
The fix
Dealers will inspect the vehicles to ensure that the seat belt chime operates as required by the standard. Owner notification began September 25, 2002. Owners who do not receive the free instructions within a reasonable time should contact Mercedes-Benz at 1-201-573-0117.
Recall details
| NHTSA campaign | 02V-203 (02V203000) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC |
| Component | Seat belts › Front › Warning light/devices |
| Report date | July 26, 2002 |
| Owners notified | September 25, 2002 |
| Vehicles affected | 3,603 |
| Initiated by | Manufacturer |
Vehicles covered
Frequently asked questions
Is the recall 02V-203 repair free?
Yes. Mercedes-Benz dealers will fix the problem at no cost: Dealers will inspect the vehicles to ensure that the seat belt chime operates as required by the standard. Owner notification began September 25, 2002.
How do I know if my car is included?
Not every vehicle of the listed model years is affected — the recall covers 3,603 vehicles built in a certain window. Check your 17-character VIN with our VIN recall check or at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.