2003 Mercedes Benz CLK320: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
19 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
45,527 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 14 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 19 complaints (21.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 2 | 10.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 5.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 5.3% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 5.3% |
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 | 4 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 3 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 2 |
| Seat Belts | 2 |
| Structure | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module | 1 |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 1 |
Electrical System: 4; Air Bags:Frontal: 3; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 2; Seat Belts: 2; Structure: 2; Air Bags: 1; Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module: 1; Air Bags:Side/Window: 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 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 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 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2003: 2; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2007: 2; 2008: 3; 2009: 1; 2010: 3; 2014: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 2; 2020: 1; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 10010471 · 2003-03-14 (March 14, 2003)
THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE FELL OFF WHILE BELT WAS BEING FASTENED. THE TORQUE SCREW CAME UNDONE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 5,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010471 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10046710 · 2003-12-03 (December 3, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. *AK *PH *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10046710 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10117539 · 2005-04-04 (April 4, 2005)
2003 MERCEDES BENZ SUFFERED THREE TIRE SIDEWALL FLATS. ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR WHEN THE DEALER WENT TO REPLACE A DAMAGED TIRE, THEY FOUND THAT THE REMAINING TIRES ONLY HAD 2MM OF TREAD LEFT. THE LEFT FRONT SEAT BELT BUTTON WAS REPLACED. WATER LEAKED FROM THE TOP CORNER OF THE VEHICLE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 9,507 miles reported. Look up ODI 10117539 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10156324 · 2006-04-27 (April 27, 2006)
PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL NOT DISENGAGE AS DESCRIBED IN OWNER'S MANUAL. DEALER SAYS IT IS RELATIVE TO A MERCEDES BENZ BABY SMART COMPATIBLE CHILD SEAT. HOWEVER, THE MANUAL SAYS IT SHOULD DISENGAGE EVEN WHEN THE SEAT IS EMPTY. IT DOES NOT EVER DISENGAGE ACCORDING TO THE LIGHT SENSOR. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10156324 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10181882 · 2007-02-07 (February 7, 2007)
I OWN A 2003 CLK320 COUPE. YESTERDAY, I TOOK MY CAR INTO FRESNO MERCEDES AND WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH MY TREATMENT. THE UPPER DRIVER'S SEAT IS COMING APART AND THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID IT WAS A DEFECT. THINGS CHANGED WHEN THEY REALIZED THE WARRANTY HAD RECENTLY EXPIRED AND THE EXTENDED WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THE DEFECT. IT SUDDENLY BECAME A "GOTCHA" SITUATION AND UNPLEASANT. I UNDERSTAND WARRANTY EXPIRATION, BUT DO NOT UNDERSTAND RUDE ATTITUDE. I WAS NOT EVEN GIVE THE NUMBER OF WHO MERCEDES USES TO REPAIR "DEFECTS" THERE ARE TWO MERCED…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10181882 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10184527 · 2007-03-08 (March 8, 2007)
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES CLK 320. SHE HAS HAD FAILURES WITH THE TRANSMISSION SINCE MAY 2004. THE TRANSMISSION MADE A GRINDING NOISE, OFTEN HESITATED, AND FELT AS THOUGH IT HAD SLIPPED GEARS. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS REGISTERING THE VEHCICLE'S SPEED INCORRECTLY. THE VEHICLE HAD SEVERAL STALLING INCIDENTS. SHE WAS ABLE TO RESARTED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,800 MILES.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10184527 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10222246 · 2008-03-25 (March 25, 2008)
I HAVE A 203 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK320 WITH ONLY 32,300 MILES ON IT. THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE DOESN'T WORK ON MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. I GET A DIGITAL READOUT , BUT NOTHING FROM THE NEEDLE. ALL OTHER GAUGES WORK FINE. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH OTHER MB VEHICLES, BUT I WAS UNABLE TO FIND MY PARTICULAR MODEL LISTED AS QUALIFYING FOR THE RECALL. I HAVE BEEN QUOTED $1,000 TO REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND FEEL THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS SINCE IT IS A KNOWN AND SOMEWHAT WIDESPREAD ISSUE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10222246 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10228225 · 2008-05-19 (May 19, 2008)
I A 2003 CLK 320 MERCEDES-BENZ WITH ONLY HAS 46,054 MILES ON IT. THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE STOPPED WORKING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ON 5/4/2008. I GET A DIGITAL READ-OUT, BUT NOTHING FROM THE NEEDLE THAT MONITOR THE SPEED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 46,054 miles reported. Look up ODI 10228225 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
19V918000 · Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly
Reported: 2019-12-20 (December 20, 2019)
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 vehicles. The bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame may deteriorate, possibly resulting in the glass panel detaching from the vehicle. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V918-4126.pdf
Consequence: A detached glass panel can separate from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the glass panel bonding and replace the sliding roof, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 10, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2020040011.
NHTSA campaign record ↗22V954000 · Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly
Reported: 2022-12-23 (December 23, 2022)
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and may detach.
Consequence: A detached sunroof panel may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 3, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall expands NHTSA recall number 19V-918. MBUSA's numbers for this recall are 2023010004, 2023010005, and 2023010006.
NHTSA campaign record ↗24V874000 · Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly
Reported: 2024-11-19 (November 19, 2024)
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models and model years. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and can detach.
Consequence: A detached sunroof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall number 22V-954. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2024120001/2/3.
NHTSA campaign record ↗