2007 Mercedes Benz CLK350 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
42 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
68,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2007 model year. Data snapshot: . 36 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel/Propulsion System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 13 of 42 complaints (31.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 10 | 23.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 14.3% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 7.1% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 7.1% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 4.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 2.4% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 13 |
| Air Bags | 7 |
| Power Train | 5 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 |
| Structure:Body | 2 |
| Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly | 2 |
Fuel/Propulsion System: 13; Air Bags: 7; Power Train: 5; Electrical System: 4; Engine: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Structure:Body: 2; Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 9 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 10 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 10 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 3
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 6 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 |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2020 | 9 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2007: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 2; 2013: 2; 2014: 4; 2015: 6; 2016: 4; 2017: 4; 2018: 3; 2020: 9; 2021: 2; 2023: 2; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel/Propulsion System leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 10 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 6 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 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 10481332 · 2012-10-21 (October 21, 2012)
THERE IS A VERY STRONG GAS SMELL. IT IS OVERWHELMING, LASTS FOR DAYS, AND WE NEED TO PARK THE CAR OUTSIDE OF THE GARAGE, AS THE SMELL IS SO INTENSE IT MAKES YOU FEEL SICK. IT JUST STARTED HAPPENING ABOUT A WEEK OR TWO AGO, AND SEEMS TO BE MOST OBVIOUS AFTER GETTING FUEL. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH A LOT OF MB OWNERS HAVING SIMILAR ISSUES. ALSO, THERE SEEMS TO BE A RECENT CLASS ACTION SUIT INITIATED BY THE NHTSA INVOLVING THIS PROBLEM. I'M CONCERNED THIS COULD BE A LIFE THREATENING SAFETY P…
Owner-reported narrative. 29,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10481332 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10585061 · 2014-04-26 (April 26, 2014)
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT A SLOW SPEED AND THE CAR JUST QUITS. SOMETIMES IT WILL START ITSELF BACK UP AND SOMETIMES I HAVE TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO TURN IGNITION OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN. THE CAR WILL JUST QUIT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND AFTER SOME QUICK THINKING AND REALIZING WHAT JUST HAPPENED THE ONLY THING TO DO IS DRIFT TO THE BERM OF THE ROAD WITH NO PWR STEERING OR BRAKES. THERE ARE ALSO TIMES WHEN I START THE CAR IT WILL QUIT AND TAKES TWO TO THREE MORE TRIES. ALSO HAD A SEVERE RAW GAS COMING FROM THE CAR AFTER A FILL UP. THE GAS …
Owner-reported narrative. 66,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10585061 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10452449 · 2012-03-20 (March 20, 2012)
THE TRANSMISSION LOCKS UP IN LOW GEAR WHILE DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE TRANSMISSION WON'T CHANGE GEARS. *KB
Owner-reported narrative. 43,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10452449 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10510489 · 2013-05-03 (May 3, 2013)
MY CLK 350 CABRIOLET STATED DRIVING DIFFERENT. AT FIRST, WHENEVER I WOULD SLOW DOWN AT A STOP LIGHT, THE CAR WOULD CUT OFF. EVERYTHING WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE DASH AND I WOULD HAVE TO TURN IT OFF AND BACK ON TO DRIVE IT AGAIN. THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS THAT WHEN I WOULD DRIVE, THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT OUR OF GEARS PROPERLY, AND IT WOULD VERY PAINFULLY AND SLOWLY ACCELERATE ITS SPEED. IT WOULD JERK, LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY. COME TO FIND OUT, AT 62,000 MILES, MY CAR NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION, WITH NO LOGICAL EXPLANATION GIVE…
Owner-reported narrative. 62,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10510489 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10865442 · 2016-05-17 (May 17, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK350. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL VALVE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10865442 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10324596 · 2010-04-08 (April 8, 2010)
2007 AND OTHER MERCEDES BENZ VEHICLES CRUISE CONTROL LEVER [STALK] IS INSTALLED JUST ABOVE TURN SIGNAL LEVER. THERE IS NO "ON/OFF" CONTROL FOR THE M-B CRUISE CONTROL. THE 'STALK' TYPE LEVER IS 'ALWAYS ACTIVE' AND READY TO ENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. IT IS ALL TOO EASY TO CONFUSE THE CRUISE CONTROL LEVER WITH THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER DUE TO THEIR PROXIMITY. INTENDING TO SIGNAL RIGHT TURN, IF A DRIVER MISTAKENLY ENGAGES THE CRUISE CONTROL LEVER IN THE "UP" POSITION, THE DRIVER HAS MISTAKENLY ENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL "ACCELERATION" MODE WHICH…
Owner-reported narrative. 31,324 miles reported. Look up ODI 10324596 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10567540 · 2014-03-06 (March 6, 2014)
AS I WAS WATCHING THE GMC ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH RECALL ON THE NEWS THIS MORNING, IT STRUCK A CHORD, AS THE SAME THING HAPPENED ON THE ABOVE MENTIONED CAR LAST SUMMER. FORTUNATELY WE WERE DRIVING DOWN A SIDE STREET SO THE SPEED WAS LOW. THE CAR LITERALLY TURNED OFF... NO POWER STEERING, NO POWER BRAKES... NO POWER WINDOWS... NOTHING. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY SEE THIS IN THIS MODEL, BUT HAVE NOT SEEN A RECURRENCE WHEN THEY REPLACE THE SWITCH. THIS WAS NOT A REC…
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10567540 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10763762 · 2015-09-14 (September 14, 2015)
THE SRS (SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM) LIGHT CAME ON AND A MESSAGE SAYING THERE WAS A FAULT AND THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE TAKEN TO THE WORKSHOP. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE WIRING HARNESS IN THE DRIVER SEAT NEEDS REPLACED. THIS HARNESS IS CONNECTED TO THE SIDE AIR BAG LOCATED IN THE DRIVER SEAT. THE ESTIMATE TO REPLACE THE HARNESS IS $850. THE MECHANIC AT THE MB DEALER SAID THE WIRES WEAR AWAY FROM SEAT MOVEMENT OVER THE YEARS AND NOW NEED REPLACED. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. THE AIR BAGS ARE INSTALLED AS A SAFETY DEVICE AND SHOULD NOT…
Owner-reported narrative. 103,240 miles reported. Look up ODI 10763762 at NHTSA ↗