Mercedes Benz CLK problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
19 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
48,788 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 to 2008 model years. Data snapshot: . 18 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 19 complaints (21.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 10.5% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 10.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 10.5% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 10.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 10.5% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 5.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 3 |
| Seats | 2 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
Electrical System: 4; Exterior Lighting: 4; Fuel/Propulsion System: 3; Seats: 2; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 1; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 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 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 1 |
2002: 1; 2004: 1; 2005: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 4; 2011: 2; 2012: 3; 2013: 5; 2014: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 10522057 · 2013-06-27 (June 27, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ CLK 430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO THIRD OR FOURTH GEAR. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND PROGRESSED TO A PERMANENT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 230,000. RETURNED BY USPS ON 8/9/2013. 2ND ATTEMPT FAILED O…
Owner-reported narrative. 230,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10522057 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10282730 · 2009-09-03 (September 3, 2009)
2008 CLK 550 - TRANSMISSION LOCKED IN DRIVE, WHEN SHIFTER INDICATED THAT CAR WAS IN PARK. WE WERE ADVISED THAT A SHIFT LINKAGE CLIP BROKE. THE CAR DROVE UNCONTROLLED INTO A LOW WALL DAMAGING THE VEHICLE. HAD THIS HAPPENED 5 MINUTES BEFORE IN A HOSPITAL PARKING LOT, THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS INJURY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 17,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10282730 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10342110 · 2010-07-08 (July 8, 2010)
AFTER THE 2001 CLK 430 DISPLAYED SEVERAL TIMES THE ABS ALERT AND ESC ALERT THE CAR BEGAN TO JERK AND COMPLETELY STOP. WE HAVE HAD THE COMPLETE BRAKE AND TIRE SYSTEM REPLACE FROM CALIPERS TO RIMS. WE ARE NOW BEING TOLD THE PROBLEM IS THE YAW RATE SENSOR WHICH HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 126,768 miles reported. Look up ODI 10342110 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10568245 · 2014-03-10 (March 10, 2014)
THE BRAKE LIGHT ON THE TRUNK SIMPLY FELL OFF. I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE AT LEAST 50 OTHER OWNERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THOSE THAT SIMPLY JUST WENT AHEAD AND GOT IT FIXED WITHOUT POSTING IT. THIS IS A DEFECT WHERE THE RED LENS SEPARATES FROM THE LIGHT HOUSING AND THE BRAKE LIGHT NO LONGER SHOWS RED WHEN BRAKING. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS CONTINUES TO RE-OCCUR EACH TIME IT IS REPLACED AT A COST OF $352.50 EACH TIME, NOT TO MENTION THE SAFETY ISSUE WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WHI…
Owner-reported narrative. 51,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10568245 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8017497 · 2002-08-28 (August 28, 2002)
WHILE PARKED BATTERY EXPLODED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8017497 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10487608 · 2012-12-06 (December 6, 2012)
WE BOUGHT THIS CAR AS-IS IN OCTOBER OF 2011. AT THAT TIME IT HAD 67,500 MILES ON IT. IN ABOUT MARCH OF 2012 WE NOTICED THAT THERE WERE THREE MAJOR THINGS WRONG WITH THE CAR AND THEY ALL APPEARED TO BE ELECTRICAL. THE WINDSHIELD SPRAY DID NOT FUNCTION EVEN THOUGH IT WAS FULL OF LIQUID. WE WIGGLED THE ELECTRICAL PLUG AND CHANGED THE FUSE AND IT WORKED FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS. THE NEXT THING WAS THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE HEATED SEAT DID NOT WORK AND STILL DOES NOT. WE CANNOT FIND THE FUSE FOR THAT ONE. THEN THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT CONTROL ON THE DO…
Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10487608 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10074697 · 2004-06-02 (June 2, 2004)
SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING DUE TO DISINTEGRATION OF HARMONIC BALANCER. NEAR ACCIDENT. DEALER REPLACED HARMONIC BALANCER AND OTHER DAMAGED PARTS INCLUDING OIL PAN.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 94,850 miles reported. Look up ODI 10074697 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10131349 · 2005-08-03 (August 3, 2005)
DT: CONTACT STATED THE HARMONIC BALANCER HAD TO BE REPLACED . THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THERE WAS A SERVICE CAMPAIGN FOR THIS SPECIFIC COMPONENT. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE DID NOT RECEIVE THIS IN THE MAIL. THE HARMONIC BALANCER CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO NOT HAVE STEERING CONTROL WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 46,576 miles reported. Look up ODI 10131349 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10556256 · 2013-12-16 (December 16, 2013)
OUR 2006 MERCEDES CLK 500 STARTED TO SMELL LIKE GAS RIGHT AFTER FILLING IT UP AND WOULD CONTINUE TO SMELL UNTIL ABOUT 3/4 OF A TANK. AFTER REMOVING THE REAR SEAT AND SERVICE COVER I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS STANDING GASOLINE ON TOP OF THE GAS TANK. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 105,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10556256 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10556944 · 2013-12-22 (December 22, 2013)
AFTER FILLING UP THE GAS TANK AND PARKING IT IN THE GARAGE IT GIVES OFF A TERRIBLE GAS ODOR WHICH GETS MORE AND MORE STRONG THE LONGER THE CAR IS IN THE GARAGE. ONCE THE CARS FUEL TANK EMPTIES SOMEWHAT IT SEEMS TO NOT EMIT THE GAS ODORS AS MUCH . SHAME ON MERCEDES USA FOR NOT DOING A RECALL ON THIS HAZARD. FOR A COMPANY THAT PRIDES ITSELF ON SAFETY.. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS ON THE EXACT SAME COMPLAINTS ALL OVER THE WEB. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10556944 at NHTSA ↗
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2001 | 0 |
| 2002 | 0 |
| 2003 | 0 |
| 2005 | 0 |
| 2006 | 0 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
1998: 0; 2000: 0; 2001: 0; 2002: 0; 2003: 0; 2005: 0; 2006: 0; 2007: 1; 2008: 1