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U.S. public vehicle records

Mercedes Benz CL CLASS problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

33 owner complaints analyzed

7 distinct recall campaigns

54,563 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2000 to 2005 model years. Data snapshot: . 32 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 33 complaints (24.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Electrical and battery issues412.1%
Transmission and shifting26.1%
Steering behavior26.1%
Braking behavior13.0%
Fuel system concerns13.0%

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.

Suspension
8
Electrical System
5
Engine And Engine Cooling
4
Seat Belts
4
Air Bags
3
Interior Lighting
3
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel
2
Seats
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Suspension8
Electrical System5
Engine And Engine Cooling4
Seat Belts4
Air Bags3
Interior Lighting3
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel2
Seats2

Suspension: 8; Electrical System: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling: 4; Seat Belts: 4; Air Bags: 3; Interior Lighting: 3; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 2; Seats: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
8
25,000 to 49,999
7
50,000 to 74,999
9
75,000 to 99,999
5
100,000 to 149,999
3
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0008
25,000 to 49,9997
50,000 to 74,9999
75,000 to 99,9995
100,000 to 149,9993
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 1 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.

2001
1
2003
2
2004
1
2005
2
2006
4
2007
8
2008
2
2009
4
2010
5
2011
3
2012
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20011
20032
20041
20052
20064
20078
20082
20094
20105
20113
20121

2001: 1; 2003: 2; 2004: 1; 2005: 2; 2006: 4; 2007: 8; 2008: 2; 2009: 4; 2010: 5; 2011: 3; 2012: 1

Pattern summary

Suspension leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 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 10167695 · 2006-09-08 (September 8, 2006)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WENT OUT AND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAD MALFUNCTIONED. THIS INCIDENT CAUSED THE BATTERY TO DRAIN. THERE WAS AN NHTSA RECALL, # 06V028000, REGARDING THE INTERIOR LIGHTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK UPDATED 9/22/2006 - *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10167695 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10168193 · 2006-09-13 (September 13, 2006)

I HAVE A 2001 MERCEDES CL 500 THAT I PAID 90K FOR AND HAS LESS THAN 40 K MILES. THE LIGHTS WENT OUT AND I COULD SMELL ELECTRICAL SMOKE. EVERY TIME I TURN ON THE IGNITION, I SMELL BURNING. I NOTICED ON AN INTERNET SEARCH THAT THERE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT THE DEALERSHIP SAYS IT HAS NOT BEEN FINALIZED, I KNOW THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS BURNING UP ON THESE VEHICLES AS MY PARTNER'S CAR ( ALSO A MERCEDES) HAD HIS DO THE SAME THING. I REQUEST THAT YOU TAKE ACTION ON THIS MATTER AS I DON'T FEEL I…

Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10168193 at NHTSA ↗

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 10321225 · 2010-03-21 (March 21, 2010)

I BOUGHT A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED 2004 CL 500 MB FROM HBL TYSONS ON 8545 LEESBURG PIKE, VIENNA, VA ON APR 19, 2008. THE SALESMAN SHOWED ME THE CARFAX REPORT WHICH SHOWED NO PRIOR PROBLEMS. SO, I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE W/ AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. HOWEVER, 2 WEEKS AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR, I EXPERIENCED MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, TIRE PROBLEMS, & PROBLEMS WITH MY AIR CONDITIONER/ HEAT. OVER A 1 YEARS LATER, MY CAR HAS BEEN BACK & FORTH AT THE HBL TYSONS CORNER, VA & MB ANNAPOLIS, MD SVC CNTR OVER 40 TIMES FOR THE SAME REOCCURRING …

Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10321225 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 10047962 · 2003-12-24 (December 24, 2003)

THE BRAKES CHATTERED AND THE FRONT END SHIMMIED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED. THIS WAS CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE ROTORS, PER DEALERSHIP. *AK *CB *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10047962 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 ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

2000
4
2001
4
2002
2
2003
2
2004
4
2005
1
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
20004
20014
20022
20032
20044
20051

2000: 4; 2001: 4; 2002: 2; 2003: 2; 2004: 4; 2005: 1

Year-by-year records

Mercedes Benz CL CLASS model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
200014Not available
2001440
2002192-2
2003520
200444+2
200501-3