2002 Mercedes Benz CL500: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
12 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
109,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 9 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 12 complaints (41.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 8.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 8.3% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 8.3% |
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 | 5 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 3 |
| Suspension | 3 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | 1 |
| Lane Departure: Blind Spot Detection | 1 |
Electrical System: 5; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 3; Suspension: 3; Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Exterior Lighting: 1; Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings: 1; Lane Departure: Blind Spot Detection: 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 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 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). 3 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 |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2012: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 5; 2016: 4; 2022: 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 10472814 · 2012-08-28 (August 28, 2012)
WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 MERCEDES CL500, I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE BAY AND THE SMELL OF SOMETHING BURNING. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT A HYDRAULIC SUSPENSION HOSE RUPTURED AND SPRAYED FLUID ONTO A CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THIS RESULTED IN A LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE AND SMALL FLAMES STARTING TO APPEAR RIGHT BEFORE THE PASSENGER SIDE ENGINE BAY WAS HOSED DOWN WITH WATER. THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP ADVISED THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE AND A RECALL WAS ISSUED/PERFORMED BACK IN 2005/2007. MERCEDES ADVISED ME NO FURTHER WORK WOULD BE DONE UND…
Owner-reported narrative. 109,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10472814 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10643633 · 2014-10-09 (October 9, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2002 MERCEDES CL500. THE CONTACT STATED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED AND THE GAUGES WERE UNABLE TO BE READ. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 78,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10643633 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10670896 · 2015-01-08 (January 8, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ CL500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS FLUID LEAKING FROM THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL MODULE. THE CONTACT WAS A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO REPLACED AN O-RING. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVE CAREFUL WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10670896 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10681604 · 2015-02-05 (February 5, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ CL500. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, SMOKE APPEARED NEAR THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE AND THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL (ABC) WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABC HIGH PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V263000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SUSPENSION). THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10681604 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10722921 · 2015-06-02 (June 2, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ CL500. THE CONTACT TURNED THE IGNITION TO THE ON POSITION, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. AFTER NUMEROUS FAILED ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 77,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 77,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10722921 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10735836 · 2015-07-22 (July 22, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ CL500. WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS DIMMED UNTIL THEY COMPLETELY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V028000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND NOTIFIED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED ON THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 137,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10735836 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10745510 · 2015-08-01 (August 1, 2015)
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT AND IT WAS RAINING HAD THE WIPERS AND THE HIGH BEAMS ON. THEN ALL OF SUDDEN THE HIGH BEANS WENT OUT AND THE DASH WENT BLACK BLACK CAUSING LIMITED VISIBILITY. THIS IS THE REASON I'M FILING A COMPLAINT BECAUSE IT ALMOST CAUSED A ACCIDENT WITH THE LIGHT DIMMING AND THE CLUSTER GOING BLANK.
Owner-reported narrative. 119,981 miles reported. Look up ODI 10745510 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10820291 · 2016-01-14 (January 14, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ CL500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS ABNORMALLY LOWERING TO THE GROUND. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 122,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10820291 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.