2002 Mercedes Benz CLK320: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
16 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
59,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 11 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 16 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 12.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 6.3% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 6.3% |
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: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 4 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring: Rear Compartment/Trunk | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights:High/Low Beam Dimmer Switch | 1 |
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 4; Electrical System: 3; Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module: 1; Electrical System:Wiring: Rear Compartment/Trunk: 1; Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Exterior Lighting:Headlights:High/Low Beam Dimmer Switch: 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 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 2
50,000 to 74,999 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
2002: 2; 2004: 2; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2007: 3; 2008: 3; 2009: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 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 10057181 · 2004-01-21 (January 21, 2004)
VEHICLE WAS TOWED THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS DUE TO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATING. *PH THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO PERMANENTLY CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THEY REPLACED THE CONDUCTOR PLATE, 2 RINGS ON THE CONNECTOR, TRANS PAN AND VALVE BODY. THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR NEVER CLOSED PROPERLY THE FIRST TIME. IT HAD TO BE SLAMMED TO ENSURE IT WAS CLOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD IT WAS FIXED, HOWEVER IT WAS NOT. THE SEAT BELTS DON'T SEEM TO PROVIDE MUCH PROTECTION AS THEY ARE LOOSE AND SLIP OFF THE CONSUMER…
Owner-reported narrative. 14,862 miles reported. Look up ODI 10057181 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10062661 · 2004-03-19 (March 19, 2004)
THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT EVEN ONE MONTH OLD WHEN I BEGAN EXPERIENCING MAJOR PROBLEMS SUCH AS SEAT BROKEN, SIDE MIRROR BROKEN, SUSPENSION/ALIGNMENT OFF, EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR, REAR HYDROLIC BODY MOUNTS LEAKING AND DEFECTIVE. WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR, I HAD THE VEHICLE IN THE SHOP OVER 12 TIMES. MERCEDES WILL NOT SETTLE WITH ME AND I CONTINUE TO HAVE MAJOR PROBLEMS. I FILED FOR THE LEMON LAW BUT HAS TAKEN OVER A YEAR AND IS STILL NOT RESOLVED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10062661 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10116177 · 2005-03-31 (March 31, 2005)
I WAS THE DRIVER WITH SEATBELT OF THE MB CLK 430 2002 ON A FULL STOP ON A RED LIGHT AT COR. BERGEN AVE AND JFK BLVD JERSEY CITY WHEN ANOTHER DRIVER FROM OPPOSITE DIRECTION CROSSED THE YELLOW LINE,INNER LANE AND HIT ME ON THE DRIVER SIDE FULL SPEED.THE FRONT OT SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT INFLATE.HE SPED AWAY.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10116177 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10164947 · 2006-08-08 (August 8, 2006)
WHEN DRIVING ON RTE 6 IN HYANNIS, MASSACHUSETTS IN MY MERCEDES CLK 430 (THE DROP DOWN OPTIONS ONLY INCLUDE CLK 320) , THE "BATTERY ALTERNATOR" LIGHT WENT ON ON THE DASHBOARD. WITHIN SECONDS THE ENTIRE CAR SHUT DOWN AT HIGH SPEED. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE RIGHT LANE AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER WITH A VERY HARD STOP ONTO THE SHOULDER. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THERE WAS AN "OPEN RECALL" ON MY CAR FOR PRECISELY THIS PROBLEM. I CALLED THE MANUFACTURER TO FIND OUT WHY I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. THEY CLAIMED THERE WAS NO …
Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10164947 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10185478 · 2007-03-19 (March 19, 2007)
I PURCHASED A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED 2002 MERCEDES BENZ CLK320. WITHIN THE FIRST MONTH OF PURCHASE I BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE AMPLIFIER WHICH WAS LATER DISCOVERED AFTER BEING REPLACED 3 TIMES GETTING WET WHENEVER THE CAR BECAME WET. RESULTING IN A CRACKLING AND POPPING SOUND ULTIMATELY LEADING TO COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE AUDIO SYSTEM. AFTER COMPLAINING TO THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, I WAS REFERED TO A MERCEDES BENZ REPAIR SHOP. THEY CLAIMED TO NOT BE ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM AFTER WETTING THE CAR WHICH WAS A LIE UPON WASHING …
Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10185478 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10198949 · 2007-08-09 (August 9, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES CLK320. THE LIGHTS FOR THE GEAR INDICATOR ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT HE WOULD HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000, AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 61,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10198949 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10203031 · 2007-09-14 (September 14, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ CLK320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DIGITAL INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS DIMMING ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. AS TIME PROGRESSES, THE PANEL BECOMES MORE DIM. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10203031 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10216337 · 2008-01-28 (January 28, 2008)
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MALFUNCTIONS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10216337 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.