Mercedes Benz CLK430 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
36 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
75,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 to 2003 model years. Data snapshot: . 26 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 36 complaints (19.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 16.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 13.9% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 11.1% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 5.6% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 2.8% |
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 | 7 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 4 |
| Power Train | 3 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
Electrical System: 7; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 4; Power Train: 3; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 3; Air Bags: 2; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 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 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 3
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 10 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 | 2 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2000: 2; 2002: 1; 2003: 1; 2004: 3; 2005: 2; 2006: 4; 2007: 4; 2008: 4; 2009: 1; 2010: 2; 2011: 3; 2013: 1; 2014: 3; 2015: 3; 2020: 1; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 6 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 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 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 10368110 · 2010-11-29 (November 29, 2010)
SHIFT LEVER INOPERATIVE/ ERRATIC: 2000 CLK430 BEING DRIVEN WHEN TRANSMISSION REFUSED TO SHIFT FROM LOW GEAR, THEN SECOND GEAR, AND FINALLY NOT AT ALL! HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO SHOP, SHOP FOUND SHIFTER HAD GONE BAD. I DIDN'T KNOW THE TRANSMISSION WAS ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED. $1500 LATER IT NOW RUNS OUT FINE. MILEAGE WAS 77K. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 77,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10368110 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 ↗
Owner report 10161748 · 2006-07-07 (July 7, 2006)
CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR (CPS) FAILED ON MY 2000 CLK 430. WAS REPLACED BY DEALER FOR $296. FAILED NUMEROUS TIMES, INCLUDING ONCE ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ENGINE SHUTS OFF OR REFUSES TO TURN OVER WHEN HOT (ALTHOUGH BATTERY KEEPS CRANKING), THEN AFTER 20-30 MINUTES IT TURNS ON FINE WHEN COOLED DOWN. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10161748 at NHTSA ↗
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 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 10083399 · 2004-07-21 (July 21, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALERSHIP BLAMED THE FAILURE ON THE QUALITY OF GAS IN THE STATE. A FACTORY REP REFUSED TO COME OUT BECAUSE OF WHAT THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10083399 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10412231 · 2011-07-14 (July 14, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ CLK430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND SHUT OFF WHEN A CHILD WAS ABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL OR REVERSE, WITHOUT THE PRESENCE OF THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS DOWN A HILL AS A RESULT. THE CHILD THEN TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A FENCE. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED, BUT IT WAS REPAIRED FOR BODY DAMAGES. A COMPLAINT WAS ALSO FILED WITH THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10412231 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 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2002 | 0 |
| 2003 | 0 |
1999: 0; 2000: 0; 2002: 0; 2003: 0