2004 Mercedes Benz CLK CLASS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
7 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
17,900 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 7 complaints (14.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 42.9% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Equipment | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Torque Converter | 1 |
| Seat Belts | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 1 |
| Tires | 1 |
| Tires:Sidewall | 1 |
Air Bags: 1; Equipment: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Torque Converter: 1; Seat Belts: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 1; Tires: 1; Tires:Sidewall: 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 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 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 (2). 4 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 |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
2004: 1; 2005: 3; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2011: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 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 10101418 · 2004-11-30 (November 30, 2004)
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE IMPACT WAS SO SEVERE THAT THE ENTIRE FRONT GRILL AND BUMPER WERE RIPPED OFF. THERE WAS DAMAGE ON EVERY SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. ONLY THE RIGHT REAR AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *NM *SC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10101418 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10106935 · 2005-01-06 (January 6, 2005)
THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR WAS REPLACED TWICE. THE SEAT BELT MECHANISM ARM MALFUNCTIONED. ALSO, TRANSMISSION WAS SERVICED FOR LEAKING FLUID, AND NOT CHANGING GEARS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10106935 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10116614 · 2005-04-08 (April 8, 2005)
ON MONDAY, APRIL 4TH, I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 CLK55 CONVERTIBLE TO MY OFFICE, GOING 55 MPH AND LOST ALL POWER. I ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND THE CAR GOING AGAIN, WITH NO SUCCESS. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND THEN DRIVE A FEW MILES PER HOUR TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. THE DEALER IS TELLING ME THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND THE TRANSMISSION ARE BROKEN. THE TORQUE CONVERTER PART HAS BEEN ORDERED FROM GERMANY, AND IT IS ON BACKORDER FOR THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES. HAD THIS HAPPENED IN OTHER C…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10116614 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10117970 · 2005-04-16 (April 16, 2005)
SPARE TIRE FOLDS OVER WHEN INSTALLED IN A TURN UNDER 55 MPH LEAVING CAR EXTREMLY UNSTABLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10117970 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10155791 · 2006-04-20 (April 20, 2006)
WHILE USING THE CUP HOLDER ON MY 2004 MERCEDEZ BENZ CLK VIN [XXX] COFFEE SPILLED AND CAUSED THE RADIO AND A/C UNIT TO MALFUNCTION. THIS RESULTED IN ALMOST $2,000 IN REPAIR COSTS. THE CUP HOLDER IN THE VEHICLE IS PLACED DIRECTLY ABOVE THE RADIO AND A/C CONTROLS. I KNOW THAT MERCEDES HAD PROBLEMS IN THE PAST WITH THE SLK MODELS WITH SPILLS CAUSING THE ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION TO SHORT OUT. BASED ON THE DESIGN OF THE CUP HOLDER IS WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO PREVENT SPILLING WHEN FACED WITH A SUDDEN STOP OR A HOLE IN THE ROAD. I REQUESTED THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 17,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10155791 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10185625 · 2007-03-20 (March 20, 2007)
KEYES MERCEDES BENZ SOLD ME A VEHICLE ,CLK 320, WITH DEFECTIVE TIRES , AND WAS UNWILLING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10185625 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10440867 · 2011-12-21 (December 21, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ CLK. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO INFORMED THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 111,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10440867 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
03V534000 · Seat Belts
Reported: 2003-12-19 (December 19, 2003)
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, SOME SEAT BELT BUCKLES MAY HAVE A BURR ON A METAL COMPONENT OF THE LOCKING MECHANISM. THE PRESENCE OF THE BURR COULD PREVENT THE SEAT BELT FROM LOCKING UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BELTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 22, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD 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 ↗