1999 Mercedes Benz CLK430 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
10 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
81,010 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 10 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 20.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 10.0% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 10.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 10.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Gear Position Indication (Prndl) | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Torque Converter | 1 |
Air Bags: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 1; Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Gear Position Indication (Prndl): 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Torque Converter: 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 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 4 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 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
2000: 1; 2002: 1; 2003: 1; 2004: 2; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2014: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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 10082969 · 2004-07-29 (July 29, 2004)
AT ROUGHLY 80,000 MILES, BEGAN RECEIVING ABS AND ESP WARNING LIGHTS, INTERMITTENTLY AT FIRST AND THEN INCREAING IN FREQUENCY, SO THAT NOW THEY ARE ON ROUGHLY HALF THE TIME. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED ABS CONTROL MODULE FAULT CODE C1120 ("STANDSTILL CALIBRATION OF YAW RATE SENSOR ERRONEOUS") AND CONFIRMS THAT I AM WITHOUT ABS WHEN WARNING LIGHTS ARE ON. MECEDESBENZ TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER AF42.45-U-8103A (DATED 22 JUN 2000) INDICATES THAT THIS DEFECTIVE ABS CONTROL MODULE PART WAS REPLACED IN PRODUCTION STARTING IN 2000, AND WAS REPLACED IN …
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10082969 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 736689 · 2000-11-21 (November 21, 2000)
I WAS DOING AROUND 55 AND THE ROAD WAS CURVING SLIGHTLY WHEN I SUDDENLY SAW A LARGE OBJECT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I COULD NOT GO TO THE OTHER LANE BECAUSE A CAR WAS RIGHT NEXT TO ME SO I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES, I FELT ABS KICKING IN AND WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GO AROUND THE OBJECT WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE A LARGE CARDBOARD BOX. AT THIS POINT IS WHERE I ENCOUNTER MY PROBLEM, I GIVE THE CAR GAS TO PROCEED DOWN THE ROAD, THE CAR JUST REVS AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL, I LOOK DOWN AT MY SHIFTER AND IT IS IN D. I SHIFT DOWN TO LOWER GEARS AND NOTHING. NOW I…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 736689 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003197 · 2003-01-22 (January 22, 2003)
TRANSMISSION BROKE DOWN. WHILE WAS GOING IN REVERSE FORDWARD GEAR WENT ON ,MAKING A LOUD NOISE PUT THE LEVER ON NEUTRAL AND CAR STILL GOING FORWARD
Owner-reported narrative. 128,120 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003197 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10222592 · 2008-03-28 (March 28, 2008)
I WAS STUCK IN TRAFFIC AND CAR STALLED OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR. I COULD NOT RE START FOR ABOUT 40 MIN. IT SHUT DOWN TWO MORE TIMES BEFORE I GOT HOME.THIS WAS A BAD SITUATION, VERY DANGEROUS. I HAD NO WHERE TO GO TO GET OUT OF THE WAY. TURNS OUT TO BE A BAD CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 82,020 miles reported. Look up ODI 10222592 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10136774 · 2005-09-16 (September 16, 2005)
DT: THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER DASHBOARD AFTER IT WAS PARKED. IT SET FOR A SHORT TIME. THERE WAS NO FOREWARNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DID AN INVESTIGATION, AND STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS DUE TO A MALFUNCTION IN WIRING FROM DISTRIBUTION PANEL AND THE FUSE GRID TO THE DASHBOARD. THIS HAPPENED ON MAY 10, 2003. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, AND RECEIVED NO SATISFACTION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10136774 at NHTSA ↗