2003 Mercedes Benz CL CLASS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
5 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
12,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Seat Belts is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 5 complaints (60.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 20.0% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 20.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 20.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Seat Belts | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
| Equipment:Electrical | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
| Seats | 1 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 1 |
| Steering | 1 |
Seat Belts: 3; Air Bags: 2; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1; Equipment:Electrical: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Seats: 1; Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner: 1; Steering: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 0 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 2 |
2004: 1; 2009: 2; 2010: 2
Pattern summary
Seat Belts leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10293508 · 2009-11-25 (November 25, 2009)
2003 MERCEDES-BENZ CL55 LOW-SPEED (25-35MPH) HIGH-ACCELERATION HEAD-ON IMPACT WITH A LIMOUSINE (APPROX. 45MPH) WHERE THE CL55 DASH MOUNTED AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AFTER THE VEHICLE CAME TO REST, AND THE CL55'S INTEGRATED SEATBELT WORN BY THE PASSENGER AND SOLE SURVIVOR RESULTED IN THE DISPLACEMENT OF THE SEAT-BACK BY 45-DEGREES WITHOUT IMPOSING A NOTABLE INJURY TO THE PASSENGER'S RIGHT SHOULDER. DUE TO THE INSTANTANEOUS NATURE OF THIS INCIDENT THE DRIVER INSTINCTIVELY BRACED HIMSELF....ON THE ACCELERATOR BEFORE IMPACT. THE 516FTLBS OF TORQUE OF TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10293508 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10261599 · 2009-03-11 (March 11, 2009)
1. EXITING A CURVE ON A WINDY ROAD AT APPROX. 30MPH, DRIVER APPLIED THROTTLE CAUSING AN AUTOMATIC DOWNSHIFT INTO A 516FTLB TORQUE LUNGE. WITH NO STEERING CONTROL IN 1-SECOND WE WERE IN THE OPPOSITE LANE. DRIVER FOUGHT TO REGAIN CONTROL DURING SECOND NO. 2. THEN A LIMO BLEW THROUGH A STOP SIGN ON A MERGE LANDING RIGHT IN FRONT OF US. BOTH DRIVER'S BRACED ON THEIR GAS PEDALS. 2. THE MERCEDES CL & SL CLASSES HAVE THE SAME FRONT SEATS WITH AN INTEGRATED SEAT BELT SYSTEM. SINCE IT WAS ONLY CONNECTED TO THE SEAT, THE SEAT FAILED WITHOUT EVEN…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10261599 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10076149 · 2004-07-06 (July 6, 2004)
VEHICLE CAME EQUIPPED WITH A KEYLESS GO DEVICE. WHEN THIS DEVICE IS USED TO START THE VEHICLE IT IS NOT MOBILE. CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF, PUT IT INTO GEAR OR ACCELERATE. DEALERSHIP HAD TO REMOVE THE FUSE FROM THE FUEL PUMP TO TURN THE MOTOR OFF, AND FLAT BED THE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A FAILURE IN THE MODULE THAT OPERATES THIS DEVICE. THERE'S TSB ON THIS ISSUE. *AK *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10076149 at NHTSA ↗