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2004 Mercedes Benz CL CLASS: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

4 owner complaints analyzed

4 distinct recall campaigns

39,905 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 4 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting125.0%
Electrical and battery issues125.0%
Steering behavior125.0%

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.

Electrical System
2
Air Bags
1
Exterior Lighting
1
Seat Belts
1
Seats
1
Steering
1
Tires
1
Vehicle Speed Control
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System2
Air Bags1
Exterior Lighting1
Seat Belts1
Seats1
Steering1
Tires1
Vehicle Speed Control1

Electrical System: 2; Air Bags: 1; Exterior Lighting: 1; Seat Belts: 1; Seats: 1; Steering: 1; Tires: 1; Vehicle Speed Control: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
1
25,000 to 49,999
2
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
1
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0001
25,000 to 49,9992
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9991
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 0 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.

2005
1
2010
1
2011
1
2012
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20051
20101
20111
20121

2005: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior 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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10129309 · 2005-07-19 (July 19, 2005)

CAR WOULD NOT START AND COULD NOT GET THE CAR IN GEAR. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE DEALERS SHOP FOR REPAIR 4 TIMES TO FIX THE SAME PROBLEM. CURRENTLY THE CAR IS RUNNING. NEGOCIATING WITH MBZ TO BUY THE CAR BACK.

Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10129309 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10321225 · 2010-03-21 (March 21, 2010)

I BOUGHT A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED 2004 CL 500 MB FROM HBL TYSONS ON 8545 LEESBURG PIKE, VIENNA, VA ON APR 19, 2008. THE SALESMAN SHOWED ME THE CARFAX REPORT WHICH SHOWED NO PRIOR PROBLEMS. SO, I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE W/ AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. HOWEVER, 2 WEEKS AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR, I EXPERIENCED MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, TIRE PROBLEMS, & PROBLEMS WITH MY AIR CONDITIONER/ HEAT. OVER A 1 YEARS LATER, MY CAR HAS BEEN BACK & FORTH AT THE HBL TYSONS CORNER, VA & MB ANNAPOLIS, MD SVC CNTR OVER 40 TIMES FOR THE SAME REOCCURRING …

Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10321225 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10414632 · 2011-07-22 (July 22, 2011)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ CL WITH MICHELIN PRIMACY MXV4 TL TIRES, LINE SIZE 225/55/R17, DOT NUMBER: 898KEF1X4707. THE CONSUMERS GRANDSON WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW, CAUSING HIM TO CRASH INTO AN EMBANKMENT, HIT A SIGN POST AND CAME BACK ONTO THE ROAD INTO THE RIGHT LANE TO REST. THERE WERE NO INJURIES BUT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE POLICE WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE ESTIMATED MILEAGE ON THE TIRES WAS 16,000 AND THE REMAINING TREAD DEPTH WAS 5/16 INCHES. THE MANUFACT…

Owner-reported narrative. 88,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10414632 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10442228 · 2012-01-03 (January 3, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ CL500. THE CONTACT WAS ENTERING A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING HIM TO CRASH INTO THE BUMPER OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE DAMAGES TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED OF THE CRASH. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,809.

Owner-reported narrative. 42,809 miles reported. Look up ODI 10442228 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

04V285000 · Latches/Locks/Linkages:Trunk Lid:Lock

Reported: 2004-06-09 (June 9, 2004)

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE TRUNK LID SPRINGS COULD FAIL IN THE CLOSED TRUNK LID POSITION.

Consequence: IF THE TRUNK LID IS MANUALLY LIFTED, IT MAY NOT REMAIN IN THE UP POSITION AND COULD CAUSE INJURY IF IT COMES DOWN WHILE SOMEONE IS REACHING INTO THE TRUNK.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH TRUNK LID SPRINGS. THE RECALL BEGAN AUGUST 17, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MERCEDES- BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
06V028000 · Interior Lighting

Reported: 2006-02-02 (February 2, 2006)

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS EXPERIENCING ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CONTAINS GAUGES AND INDICATORS THAT MUST BE ILLUMINATED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION.

Consequence: DUE TO INADEQUATE ILLUMINATION, THE DRIVER WILL BE UNABLE TO READ THE GAUGES AND INDICATORS, SUCH AS THE SPEEDOMETER, WHICH COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MODULES. THE RECALL WILL BE CONDUCTED IN PHASES. PHASE I WAS MAILED OUT TO APPROXIMATELY 7,500 OWNERS ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2006. PHASE II AND PHASE III IS SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
07V263000 · Engine And Engine Cooling | Suspension

Reported: 2007-06-12 (June 12, 2007)

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, CORROSION MAY OCCUR IN THE INNER STEEL PORTIONS OF THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL'S (ABC) HIGH PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION HOSE DUE TO EXTENSIVE EXPOSURE TO HUMIDITY CAUSING DETERIORATION OF THE HOSE.

Consequence: THIS MAY RESULT IN ABC HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAKAGE NEAR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. LEAKING FLUID MAY COME IN CONTACT WITH HOT ENGINE COMPONENTS AND LEAD TO A POSSIBLE FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW CORROSION RESISTANT ABC HIGH PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION HOSE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 2, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
08V303000 · Electrical System

Reported: 2008-07-07 (July 7, 2008)

MERCEDES-BENZ IS RECALLING MY 2006-2008 M-CLASS, R-CLASS, MY 2005-2009 SLK-CLASS, MY 2005-2008 C-CLASS, MY 2003-2004 AND 2006-2008 CLK-CLASS, MY 2003-2008 E-CLASS, MY 2004 AND 2008 CL-CLASS, MY 2008 CLS-CLASS, MY 2004 AND 2007-2008 S-CLASS, MY 2003 G-CLASS, AND MY 2003-2004, 2006 AND 2009 SL-CLASS VEHICLES. A SOFTWARE CALIBRATION NUMBER (SCN) CODING RECEIVED ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES DURING A RECENT WORKSHOP VISIT WAS INCORRECT. DEPENDING ON THE MODEL YEAR AND MODEL AFFECTED, THE RESULTS OF AN INCORRECT SCN CODING CAN AFFECT A NUMBER OF VEHICLE SAFETY AND EMISSION FUNCTIONS INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF FUNCTIONS: (1) THE FUEL GAUGE READINGS MAY BE INCORRECT; (2) A STUCK FUEL-LEVEL SENSOR MAY NOT BE DISPLAYED IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER; (3) THE OBD SYSTEM MAY CAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE INCORRECTLY; AND, (4) THE SPEEDOMETER MAY BE OUT OF TOLERANCE.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE ELECTRICAL FUEL PUMP MAY NOT RECEIVE A CRASH SIGNAL THAT IS REQUIRED FOR THE FUEL PUMP TO DISCONNECT AND PREVENT FUTURE FUEL DELIVERY AS DESIGNED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL RECODE THE SCN FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 30, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.

NHTSA campaign record ↗