2001 Mercedes Benz CLK320: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
15 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
90,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 10 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 15 complaints (13.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 13.3% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 6.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 6.7% |
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 | 2 |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 2 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Equipment Adaptive/Mobility | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
Air Bags: 2; Air Bags:Side/Window: 2; Electrical System: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 1; Engine: 1; Equipment Adaptive/Mobility: 1; Exterior Lighting: 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 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 2
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 5 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 |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
2001: 1; 2002: 1; 2006: 1; 2007: 3; 2009: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 2; 2016: 1; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns 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 10148391 · 2006-01-23 (January 23, 2006)
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH , STEPPED ON ACCELERATOR TO PASS SOMEONE AND THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. AFTER THAT PULLED OVER TO SIDE BY COASTING AND FOUND THAT THE THROTTLE LINKAGE CABLE HAD BROKEN AT THE ATTACHMENT UNDER THE HOOD. TOWED TO MERCEDES DEALER WHERE IT IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED WITH A NEW THROTTLE CABLE ASSEMBLY UNDER WARRANTY. 320 CLK 2001 WITH 36400 MILES .ALL MAINTANANCE DONE ON TIME. COULD HAVE BEEN A DANGEROUS SITUATION . I USED THE CRUISE CONTROL TO MANEUVER TO THE SHOULDER AND WAIT FOR EMERGENCY TOW.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 36,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10148391 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10182498 · 2007-02-13 (February 13, 2007)
I WAS HIT BY A FORD E350 FORD WORK VAN IN THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING INJURY TO MY SHOULDER FROM THE DOOR BUCKLING INTO ME AND MOVING MY SEAT AND CONSOLE OVER. ALL PROFESSIONALS THAT SEE THIS CAR ARE VERY SURPRISED I AM NOT CRITICALLY INJURED OR DEAD. MERCEDES-BENZ SENT A TECHNICAL TEAM TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THE AIRBAG OPERATED PROPERLY. THEY SAID THE VEHICLE WAS HIT BENEATH THE AIRBAG AND THE VAN STARTS AT 27" OFF THE GROUND. THERE IS NOT AN INCH OF THAT DOOR THAT IS NOT CAVED IN. CAR HAS NOT BEEN RE…
Owner-reported narrative. 81,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10182498 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10183188 · 2007-02-21 (February 21, 2007)
I WAS HIT IN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND MY AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. MERCEDES SENT OUT A TECHNICAL TEAM WHO FOUND THAT THE AIRBAG OPERATED PROPERLY. THEY SAID I GOT HIT TOO LOW BUT I WAS HIT BY A FORD WORK VAN WHOSE BUMPER IS 27" UP. THERE IS NOT AN INCH OF THAT DOOR THAT IS NOT CAVED IN. I WAS HIT SO HARD I WAS PUSHED ACROSS THE INTERSECTION AND UP ON A CURB. MY SEAT AND CONSOLE WERE MOVED OVER. I DON'T THINK I CAN SAFELY REPAIR AND USE OR RESELL THE CAR DUE TO THE AIRBAG DEFECT. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10183188 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10206511 · 2007-10-22 (October 22, 2007)
PULLING CAR INTO DRIVEWAY AND IT JUST SURGED OR TOOK OFF, RUNNING INTO THE GARAGE DOOR AND CRASHING. I HAD FOOT ON BRAKE LEAVING BLACK MARKS ON DRIVEWAY. HAD 2 WITNESSES TO THE INCIDENT. EXACT DAY NOT LISTED AS I DO NOT HAVE THAT WITH ME. SINCE THAT TIME I HAVE NOTICED IN THE NEWSPAPERS AND T.V. OF 2 OTHER INCIDENTS THAT CAUSED PROPERTY DAMAGE OR EVEN DEATH IN SAME BRAND OF VEHICLE THAT WOULD BE EXPLAINED BY SAME MALFUNCTION. 1. IN COLUMBIA S.C(DEATH). AND 1. IN FRANKFORT KY. RUNNING INTO A KROGER STORE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10206511 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10268270 · 2009-05-08 (May 8, 2009)
I OWN A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ CLK 320. MY CONCERN IS OVER ITS FAULTY DISPLAY READOUTS THAT I HEAR MANY OTHER OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING. THE SAFETY CONCERN IS THAT THE LEFT HALF OF THE DISPLAY IS VERY WEAK/DIM AND GETTING HARDER AND HARDER TO READ. IT'S HAZARDOUS AS I HAVE TO SQUINT TO READ THE DISPLAY WHICH TAKES MY EYES OFF THE ROAD LONGER THAN THEY SHOULD BE. AS PART OF THIS CLUSTER, THE TEMPERATURE PIXELS ARE NOT FUNCTIONAL WHICH HAS BEEN UNREADABLE FOR SOME TIME NOW. THE MAIN DISPLAY ISSUE STARTED A FEW MONTHS AGO BUT I FEAR WILL WORSEN. IS THE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10268270 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10433587 · 2011-10-30 (October 30, 2011)
THERE IS A FAULTY DISPLAY READOUTS THAT MANY OF MERCEDES BENZ CLK CLASS FROM 98-2002 AS FAR AS I'M AWARE; HAVE/ARE EXPERIENCING. IT IS A PROBLEM SINCE YOU CAN'T SEE WHICH GEAR YOU ARE IN AND THAT COULD CAUSE A DRIVER ERROR THAT MAY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. THE SHIFTER DOES HAVE MARKINGS FOR P/N/D, WHILE IN D THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE SHIFTED TO 2ND, 3RD OR 4TH GEAR AND THAT IS ON THE LCD SCREEN. IN ADDITION BAD OR WRONG TEMPERATURE READING CAN CAUSE THE CLIMATE CONTROL TO OVERHEAT OR COOL THE CAR BASED ON THE OUTSIDE READINGS. MERC…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10433587 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10473299 · 2012-09-02 (September 2, 2012)
WHILE STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AT THE END OF EXIT 43 OFF RAMP I95 IN LYNNFIELD MA. CAR ENGINE SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT RESTART. BELIEVE IT TO BE A FAULT CPS CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WHICH IS A KNOWN QUALITY ISSUE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10473299 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10536339 · 2013-08-20 (August 20, 2013)
I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE WHEN MY PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM BROKE. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL SPLAYED OUT AND BENT THE FENDER. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A GARAGE THAT WAS VERY NEARBY. THE MECHANIC NOTED THAT THE CONTROL ARM WAS HOLLOW AND SEEMED TO BE RUSTING. HE WAS ABLE TO DETECT THAT THE DRIVER SIDE CONTROL ARM HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM IN THE MAKING AND THAT THE STABILIZER BAR HAD STRESS CRACK. ALL WERE REPLACED OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WHILE I WAS ON VACATION. THE TOTAL COST WAS SLIGHTLY UNDER $2900. IT WAS A BIT SCARY AND…
Owner-reported narrative. 160,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10536339 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.