2003 Mercedes Benz CLK CLASS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
10 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
29,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 9 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 10 complaints (10.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 2 | 20.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 10.0% |
| Braking behavior | 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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Equipment:Mechanical:Accessory Scissor/Screw/Bottle Jack/Lift | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
| Seat Belts | 1 |
| Steering | 1 |
| Structure:Body:Bumpers | 1 |
| Tires | 1 |
Electrical System: 1; Equipment:Mechanical:Accessory Scissor/Screw/Bottle Jack/Lift: 1; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Seat Belts: 1; Steering: 1; Structure:Body:Bumpers: 1; Tires: 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 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 1 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
2002: 1; 2003: 1; 2004: 2; 2007: 2; 2008: 2; 2011: 1; 2014: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Braking 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 10041631 · 2003-10-11 (October 11, 2003)
NEW HID CAR LIGHTS ARE TO BRIGHT. THESE NEW LIGHTS HAVE THE SAME EFFECT AS HAVING HIGH BEAMS ON ALL THE TIME. HID LIGHTS BLIND ONCOMING DRIVERS. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10041631 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10073868 · 2004-06-29 (June 29, 2004)
WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN TO PULL INTO THE GARAGE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT A HIGH SPEED. THE CONSUMER'S FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THE CONSUMER APPLIED EXCESSIVE FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING, BUT IT FAILED TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING WHEN IT SMASHED INTO THE GARAGE WALL. THE FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE CAME OUT TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE, BUT INDICATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A 3 FEET LONG BRAKE MARK ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. *AK *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10073868 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10089624 · 2004-08-24 (August 24, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. NO IMPACT REPORTED. THEN, SIX MONTHS LATER THE SAME TIRE BLEW OUT AGAIN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10089624 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10184003 · 2007-03-02 (March 2, 2007)
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2003 MERCEDES CLK 500, HAD A BLOWOUT ON THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE. THIS HAPPENED ON A COLD CLEAR DAY WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH. HE TIRE DEALERSHIP INFORMED HER THAT THERE WAS NAIL IN THE TIRE, BUT NOT IN THE SECTION OF THE BLOWOUT. THE TIRE WAS A BRIDGESTONE POTENZA. THE TIRE WAS PURCHASED 21/2 MONTHS AGO. THIS BLOWOUT SPLIT ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE NAIL. THE CONTACT WILL SUBMIT THE TIRE SIZE WITH THE HARD COPY AND SHE STILL HAD THE OLD TIRE THAT BLEW OUT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO WARRANTY FOR…
Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10184003 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10190664 · 2007-05-14 (May 14, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ CLK 430. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRACKETS THAT HOLD THE FRONT BUMPER WERE FAILING. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS TO DETACH FROM THE BUMPER. THE DEALER DID NOT STATE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 34,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10190664 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10232784 · 2008-06-30 (June 30, 2008)
TRANSMISSION FAILURE. RUSTED AND CORRODED TRANS AT 24,000 MILES CAUSED BY FAULTY MERCEDES VALEO RADIATOR. MERCEDES OWN STAR BULLETIN TELLS DEALERS ABOUT THIS ISSUE BUT MY DEALER DECIDED NOT TO CHECK IT OUT AND NOW MERCEDES AND DEALER ARE REFUSING TO HELP WHEN THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON MANY OF THEIR MODELS AND SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10232784 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10240228 · 2008-08-29 (August 29, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ CLK 500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED FLAMES UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND TWO OTHER VEHICLES WERE MODERATELY DAMAGED BY THE FLAMES. HE NOTICED EXCESSIVE POWER STEERING FLUID ON THE GROUND WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS LOCATED. A POLICE OFFICER STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP OR THE LINES/FITTINGS/HOSES WERE THE CAUSES OF THE FAILURE. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR "B" SERVICE, BUT NO FAILURE COULD…
Owner-reported narrative. 57,528 miles reported. Look up ODI 10240228 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10400021 · 2011-05-11 (May 11, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ CLK430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER AND RADIO WERE DEFECTIVE. HE MENTIONED THAT THE PIXELS ON BOTH WERE MISSING. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,879.
Owner-reported narrative. 32,879 miles reported. Look up ODI 10400021 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
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 ↗