2005 Mercedes Benz CLK500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
18 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
48,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 13 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel/Propulsion System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 18 complaints (16.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 16.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 16.7% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 11.1% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 5.6% |
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 | 3 |
| Tires | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 |
| Electrical System:Instrument Panel:Speedometer/Odometer | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 |
Fuel/Propulsion System: 3; Tires: 3; Air Bags: 2; Electrical System: 2; Exterior Lighting: 2; Electrical System:Instrument Panel:Speedometer/Odometer: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline: 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 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 5 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 |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2005: 2; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 3; 2012: 1; 2015: 2; 2017: 1; 2018: 2; 2020: 1; 2023: 2; 2024: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel/Propulsion System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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 10377015 · 2011-01-18 (January 18, 2011)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED A WARRANTY EXTENSION FROM THE MANUFACTURER IN REGARDS TO THE AIR BAGS. HE STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ON A INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS IN BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 27,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 37,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10377015 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10382876 · 2011-02-16 (February 16, 2011)
DRIVING HOME FROM THE GROCERY STORE ON A SURFACE STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. ENGINE SWITCHED OFF ALONG WITH EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL. CAR DID RESTART AND I WAS ABLE TO GET HOME. ATTEMPTS TO RESTART AFTER THAT FAILED. THE REMEDY WAS TO REPLACE THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH (EZS OR EIS CONTROL MODULE). THE EXPLANATION I RECEIVED WAS THAT IT HAS CERTAIN COMPUTER CIRCUITS THAT AFFECT NOT ONLY STARTING BUT OTHER CAR SYSTEMS. IN FACT, INCORRECT PROGRAMMING OF THE REPLACEMENT MODULE CAUSED ME TO BE UNABLE TO LOWER THE SOFT-TOP AS IF ONE WASN'T INSTA…
Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10382876 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10953761 · 2017-02-09 (February 9, 2017)
I'VE STARTED NOTICING A VERY STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WHEEL WELL AFTER FILLING UP THE CAR. THE GAS FILL DOOR IS ON PASSENGER SIDE. IN DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE WEB, IT'S COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH MY MAKE AND MODEL WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. ALSO, A CLASS ACTION SUIT WAS FILED FOR THE S CLASS AND E CLASS MODELS OF MERCEDES THAT WERE HAVING THIS SAME GAS FUMES ISSUE AFTER FILLING UP THE TANK. MERCEDES OFFERED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY OF UP TO 15 ADDITIONAL YEARS FOR THE AFFECTED CARS…
Owner-reported narrative. 134,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10953761 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11101590 · 2018-06-13 (June 13, 2018)
WHEN THE GAS TANK IS FULL THERE IS A VERY STRONG GAS SMELL ALL AROUND THE AUTOMOBILE. THE VEHICLE IS PARKED WITH THE IGNITION OFF. THIS SHOULD NOT BE THE CASE. THE CEL WILL COME ON WITH CODE P0456. A SMOKE TEST OF THE FUEL FILLER NECK SHOWED THERE WAS A LEAK. PART NO: W0133-2075480. THIS PART IS THE SAME DESIGN AS WHAT IS ON THE CLS. THIS SAME FUEL SMELL ISSUE IS ON THE E CLASS AND CLS CLASS AND A WARRANTY EXTENSION HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR AN ADDITIONAL 15 YEARS BUT NOTHING FOR THE CLK. THIS IS A DANGEROUS ISSUE WITH HEAT AND FUEL AND IT SHOULD BE…
Owner-reported narrative. 95,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11101590 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10124456 · 2005-06-07 (June 7, 2005)
DT: CONSUMER WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON THE FREEWAY GOING 65 MPH AND ENGINE COMPLETELY STALLED; ALL OF THE LIGHTS AND EVERYTHING WENT OUT. WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD, AND PUT IT IN PARK. THAT NIGHT HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND UNTIL TODAY THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10124456 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10475964 · 2012-09-19 (September 19, 2012)
DRIVING AT 35 MPH CAR BEGAN TO STALL AND LOSE POWER, CAR EVENTUALLY GAINED POWER AND ACCELERATION, ONCE DRIVING SLOWER THE CAR LOST POWER AGAIN AND CUT COMPLETELY OFF AFTER ALL LIGHTS ON DASH BOARD CAME ON. SELLING DEALER STATED THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM WHICH WAS A SENSOR BUT THE CAR IS NOW LOSING POWER AGAIN ONE MONTH LATER. THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTING ALWAYS FLICKER UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 117,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10475964 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10126783 · 2005-06-28 (June 28, 2005)
DATE OF PURCHASE WAS 01/10/2005 SERVICE#1.1ST WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS ON 01/18/2005 MILEAGE IN WAS 788 MILES, THE FRONT & REAR, BOTH HAD TO BE RE-ALIGNED, REPLACED PARTS WERE WHEEL CAMBER/CASTER-L SIDE/ADJUST INSTALL BOLT KITS AND WHEEL CAMBER/CASTER-R SIDE/ADJUST INSTALL BOLT KITS AND CAR WAS TESTED TO VERIFY PULL TO THE RIGHT, THEY FOUND CAMBER ON LEFT FRONT OUT OF SPECS ALSO VEHICLE HAS A 0.14 SPLIT IN CASTER R&R TWO LOWER ENCAP PANELS INSTALL CASTER KIT ON RIGHT FRONT AND INSTALL CAMBER KIT ON LEFT FRONT PERFORM FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT ROAD TEST …
Owner-reported narrative. 788 miles reported. Look up ODI 10126783 at NHTSA ↗