Mercedes Benz CLK320 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
111 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
66,495 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 to 2009 model years. Data snapshot: . 76 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 20 of 111 complaints (18.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 9.0% |
| Braking behavior | 8 | 7.2% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 6.3% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 5.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 4.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.9% |
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 | 20 |
| Seat Belts | 12 |
| Air Bags | 10 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 10 |
| Tires | 8 |
| Unknown Or Other | 6 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 5 |
Electrical System: 20; Seat Belts: 12; Air Bags: 10; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 10; Tires: 8; Unknown Or Other: 6; Vehicle Speed Control: 6; Air Bags:Frontal: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 13 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 16 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 15 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 15 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 9 |
Under 25,000: 13; 25,000 to 49,999: 16; 50,000 to 74,999: 15; 75,000 to 99,999: 15; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 9
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (16). 35 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 4 |
| 2001 | 6 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 6 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2007 | 12 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2010 | 7 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2000: 4; 2001: 6; 2002: 3; 2003: 6; 2004: 4; 2005: 5; 2006: 7; 2007: 12; 2008: 8; 2009: 7; 2010: 7; 2011: 5; 2012: 2; 2013: 2; 2014: 5; 2015: 5; 2016: 7; 2017: 4; 2018: 3; 2020: 3; 2021: 1; 2023: 2; 2024: 2; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 10 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 7 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 10093119 · 2004-09-23 (September 23, 2004)
BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND INTO TRAFFIC THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. BOTH LANES CAME TO A SCREECHING HALT. THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART OR ALLOW ME TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL TO PUSH IT TO THE SIDE. THIS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OTHER OCCASIONS WHERE THE CAR COMPLETELY DIES AS YOU ARE DRIVING AND YOU HAVE TO TRY AND GET THE CAR OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT HAS ALSO HAPPENED AS I AM PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC WHICH IS A VERY SCARY SITUATION. THE MERCEDES DEALER IS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE IN THEIR SHOP AND THERE ARE…
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10093119 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11153622 · 2018-11-25 (November 25, 2018)
EMERGENCY TRUNK RELEASE FAILED THIS SYSTEM SHOULD BE MECHANICAL AND SHOULD NOT FAIL REMAINS FAILED WHETHER ELECTRICAL POWER IS ON, ACCESSORY IS POWERED OR SWITCH IN CA IN, ALSO REMAIN FAILED WITH KEY
Owner-reported narrative. 225,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11153622 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10043907 · 2003-10-29 (October 29, 2003)
AT ABOUT 2PM ON THE DATE OF THE INCIDENT, DRIVER LEFT STORE PARKING LOT AND HAD STOPPED CAR, WAITING FOR AN APPROPRIATE TIME TO TURN RIGHT INTO THE RIGHT LANE OF A THREE LANE MAJOR HIGHWAY. CAR ACCELLERATED OUT OF DRIVER'S CONTROL ACROSS THE THREE LANES OF THE HIGHWAY, IN FRONT OF AND AMID APPROACHING TRAFFIC, AND THEN ONTO A GRASSY MEDIAN STRIP WITH A RAVINE IN THE CENTER. CAR ENTERED MEDIAN STRIP ALMOST DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM THE POINT WHERE THE CAR HAD BEEN STOPPED AND WAITING TO ENTER THE HIGHWAY. *AK AS THE CAR WAS CROSSING THE HIGHWAY, D…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10043907 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10206511 · 2007-10-22 (October 22, 2007)
PULLING CAR INTO DRIVEWAY AND IT JUST SURGED OR TOOK OFF, RUNNING INTO THE GARAGE DOOR AND CRASHING. I HAD FOOT ON BRAKE LEAVING BLACK MARKS ON DRIVEWAY. HAD 2 WITNESSES TO THE INCIDENT. EXACT DAY NOT LISTED AS I DO NOT HAVE THAT WITH ME. SINCE THAT TIME I HAVE NOTICED IN THE NEWSPAPERS AND T.V. OF 2 OTHER INCIDENTS THAT CAUSED PROPERTY DAMAGE OR EVEN DEATH IN SAME BRAND OF VEHICLE THAT WOULD BE EXPLAINED BY SAME MALFUNCTION. 1. IN COLUMBIA S.C(DEATH). AND 1. IN FRANKFORT KY. RUNNING INTO A KROGER STORE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10206511 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 559650 · 2001-02-14 (February 14, 2001)
SINCE THE DATE OF OWNERSHIP CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING COLUMN, THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEMS. *MJS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 559650 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 898610 · 2001-10-31 (October 31, 2001)
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 10 MPH, POWER STEERING WENT OUT, DEALER REPLACED THE LOWER ENGINE PULLEY. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 898610 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10162880 · 2006-07-19 (July 19, 2006)
NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT A FAULTY CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR IN MERCEDES BENZ VEHICLES THAT PREVENTS CARS FROM STARTING AND ALSO SHUTS THEM OFF WHILST ON THE ROAD AND IN MOTION. CAR DIED ON ME 6 TIMES. LUCKILY, I WASN'T TRAVELING VERY FAST BUT THIS IS VERY UNSAFE BUT I DID CAUSE A TRAFFIC DELAY AND BLOCKED THE ROAD SEVERAL TIMES WHILE STALLED. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10162880 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 784130 · 2000-06-28 (June 28, 2000)
THE VEHICLE STARTED BACK FIRING AND STALLING, IT SUDDENTLY LOST ALL POWER, TRACTION LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH, WHILE THE CONSUMER PULLED TO THE SIDE THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE.*ET
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 784130 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10280370 · 2009-08-13 (August 13, 2009)
MASSIVE LOSS OF TRANSMISSION FLUID FROM SEALED TRANSMISSION UNIT. 1999 MERCEDES BENZ CLK 320 CAUSING TRANS TO STOP FUNCTIONING WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10280370 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10184527 · 2007-03-08 (March 8, 2007)
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES CLK 320. SHE HAS HAD FAILURES WITH THE TRANSMISSION SINCE MAY 2004. THE TRANSMISSION MADE A GRINDING NOISE, OFTEN HESITATED, AND FELT AS THOUGH IT HAD SLIPPED GEARS. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS REGISTERING THE VEHCICLE'S SPEED INCORRECTLY. THE VEHICLE HAD SEVERAL STALLING INCIDENTS. SHE WAS ABLE TO RESARTED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,800 MILES.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10184527 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 885832 · 2001-04-13 (April 13, 2001)
WHEN ACCELERATING VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS REPAIRED FUEL PUMP. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 885832 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 |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 1 |
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2001 | 0 |
| 2002 | 0 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 0 |
| 2009 | 0 |
1999: 1; 2000: 0; 2001: 0; 2002: 0; 2003: 3; 2004: 3; 2005: 3; 2006: 0; 2009: 0