1999 Mercedes Benz CLK320: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
14 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
69,495 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 8 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 14 complaints (21.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 2 | 14.3% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 14.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 7.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 1 |
| Equipment Adaptive/Mobility | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 3; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2; Electrical System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys: 1; Equipment Adaptive/Mobility: 1; Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 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 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 6 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
2000: 2; 2001: 4; 2003: 1; 2004: 1; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2009: 2; 2011: 1; 2016: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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 10009089 · 2003-02-24 (February 24, 2003)
THE TIRES EXPERIENCED EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR, THE VEHICLE HAD A FRONT ALIGNMENT, AND THE TIRES WERE ROTATED, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10009089 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10093459 · 2004-10-02 (October 2, 2004)
(1) VIBRATIONS OF ENGINE AT IDLE WAS FELT 1 DAY PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. (2) HEARD LOUD/KNOCKING NOISE THE NEXT DAY WHILE DRIVING HOME. (3) HOME INSPECTIONS REVEALED DISENGAGEMENT OF THE OUTER BELT PULLEY FROM THE HARMONIC BALANCER.*AK (4) CALLED THE SAN DIEGO DEALER FOR A REPAIR/REPLACEMENT. (5) THE MODEL IS CLK 320, 1999, APPROXIMATELY 64,000 MILES WHEN THIS HAPPENED. (6) DIRECTED TO THIS SITE FROM AN INTERNET FORUM, WHOSE HUNDRED OF MEMBERS HAD STATED THE SAME PROBLEMS. (7) SURPRISED TO SEE THAT ODI DID NOT FIND THE DEFECT SERIOUS ENOUGH …
Owner-reported narrative. 63,989 miles reported. Look up ODI 10093459 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10126667 · 2005-06-27 (June 27, 2005)
DT: VEHICLE IS BURNING OIL. DEALER SAID THEY CAN'T FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BURNING EXCESSIVE OIL, AND RECOMMENDED THAT THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER LOOK INTO IT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 76,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10126667 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10162880 · 2006-07-19 (July 19, 2006)
NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT A FAULTY CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR IN MERCEDES BENZ VEHICLES THAT PREVENTS CARS FROM STARTING AND ALSO SHUTS THEM OFF WHILST ON THE ROAD AND IN MOTION. CAR DIED ON ME 6 TIMES. LUCKILY, I WASN'T TRAVELING VERY FAST BUT THIS IS VERY UNSAFE BUT I DID CAUSE A TRAFFIC DELAY AND BLOCKED THE ROAD SEVERAL TIMES WHILE STALLED. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10162880 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10280370 · 2009-08-13 (August 13, 2009)
MASSIVE LOSS OF TRANSMISSION FLUID FROM SEALED TRANSMISSION UNIT. 1999 MERCEDES BENZ CLK 320 CAUSING TRANS TO STOP FUNCTIONING WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10280370 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10293531 · 2009-11-25 (November 25, 2009)
MERCEDES BENZ 1999 CLK320: THE OUTSIDE MIRROR ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR HAS TURNED SO DARK, IT IS VIRTUALLY BLACK AND THE DRIVER CANNOT SEE ANYTHING IN IT. THIS INABILITY TO SEE IN THIS EXTERIOR SIDE-VIEW MIRROR IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. IT PROBABLY IS CAUSED BY CHANGES IN THE COATING THAT IS SUPPOSED TO EITHER HEAT THE MIRROR OR DIM IT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10293531 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10403731 · 2011-05-30 (May 30, 2011)
REAR ROLL BAR WILL NOT RAISE OR LOWER, COULD BE FATAL TO REAR PASSENGERS IN A ROLL OVER SITUATION. ROLL BAR/ HEAD RESTRAINTS STUCK IN LOWER POSITION. THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM AT FIRST, NOW IT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. SWITCH WILL NOT RAISE OR LOWER ROLL BAR ALL THE WAY; AS A RESULT, CANNOT RAISE THE CONVERTIBLE TOP. THE TOP WILL NOT RAISE OR LOWER UNLESS THE ROLL BAR IS ALL THE WAY DOWN. WILL NOT RELEASE SO THAT I CAN MANUALLY RAISE THE TOP EITHER. THIS IS A DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 97,235 miles reported. Look up ODI 10403731 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10817589 · 2016-01-04 (January 4, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ CLK320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE SUN ROOF SUDDENLY SHATTERED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 199,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 199,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10817589 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.
99V030000 · Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage
Reported: 1999-02-11 (February 11, 1999)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A DEFECTIVE WELD WAS DISCOVERED ON THE WELD NUT FOR THE BOLT USED TO SECURE THE FRONT SHOULDER SEAT BELT GUIDES.
Consequence: DUE TO THIS DEFECTIVE WELD, THE ANCHORAGES MAY NOT ADEQUATELY SECURE THE FRONT SEAT BELTS IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE SHOULDER BELT ANCHOR ASSEMBLY.
NHTSA campaign record ↗