2007 Mercedes Benz CLK350: complaints, problems and recalls

MERCEDES CLK 350 IS A COUPE MODEL. WHEN THE SEAT IS MOVED FORWARD TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE REAR SEAT, THE FRONT SEAT HEADREST AUTOMATICALLY RETRACTS INTO THE SEAT. THE HEADREST GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN SO THAT THERE IS NO SPACE BETWEEN THE HEADREST AND THE TOP OF THE SEAT BACK. IF ONES HAND IS THERE AS SUPPORT WHILE GETTING IN, THE HAND IS CAUGHT AND HELD UNTIL THE SEAT BACK IS BROUGHT BACK INTO THE PROPER POSITION. THE FORCE IS SO STRONG AND THE MATERIAL ON THE HEADREST AND SEAT BACK SO FIRM THAT THEY CAN BREAK A FINGER OR A CHILDS HAND. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 5,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10206668 at NHTSA ↗

2007 AND OTHER MERCEDES BENZ VEHICLES CRUISE CONTROL LEVER [STALK] IS INSTALLED JUST ABOVE TURN SIGNAL LEVER. THERE IS NO "ON/OFF" CONTROL FOR THE M-B CRUISE CONTROL. THE 'STALK' TYPE LEVER IS 'ALWAYS ACTIVE' AND READY TO ENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. IT IS ALL TOO EASY TO CONFUSE THE CRUISE CONTROL LEVER WITH THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER DUE TO THEIR PROXIMITY. INTENDING TO SIGNAL RIGHT TURN, IF A DRIVER MISTAKENLY ENGAGES THE CRUISE CONTROL LEVER IN THE "UP" POSITION, THE DRIVER HAS MISTAKENLY ENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL "ACCELERATION" MODE WHICH…

Owner-reported narrative. 31,324 miles reported. Look up ODI 10324596 at NHTSA ↗

SEAT BELTS FAIL TO RETRACT UNLESS THERE ARE ASSISTED MANUALLY, IF NOT NOTICED THEY HANG OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. IF A DRIVER HAD DELIVERED A PASSENGER TO A DESTINATION AND THAT PASSENGER FAILED TO ASSIST THE SEAT BELT INTO THE ENCLOSURE AND EXITED LEAVING A PORTION OF THE BELT DRAGGING ON THE GROUND AND POSSIBLY GETTING CAUGHT ON A OBSTRUCTION OF SOME TYPE, OR CAUSING SOME UNINTENDED ACTION. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10436896 at NHTSA ↗

THE TRANSMISSION LOCKS UP IN LOW GEAR WHILE DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE TRANSMISSION WON'T CHANGE GEARS. *KB

Owner-reported narrative. 43,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10452449 at NHTSA ↗

THERE IS A VERY STRONG GAS SMELL. IT IS OVERWHELMING, LASTS FOR DAYS, AND WE NEED TO PARK THE CAR OUTSIDE OF THE GARAGE, AS THE SMELL IS SO INTENSE IT MAKES YOU FEEL SICK. IT JUST STARTED HAPPENING ABOUT A WEEK OR TWO AGO, AND SEEMS TO BE MOST OBVIOUS AFTER GETTING FUEL. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH A LOT OF MB OWNERS HAVING SIMILAR ISSUES. ALSO, THERE SEEMS TO BE A RECENT CLASS ACTION SUIT INITIATED BY THE NHTSA INVOLVING THIS PROBLEM. I'M CONCERNED THIS COULD BE A LIFE THREATENING SAFETY P…

Owner-reported narrative. 29,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10481332 at NHTSA ↗

MY CLK 350 CABRIOLET STATED DRIVING DIFFERENT. AT FIRST, WHENEVER I WOULD SLOW DOWN AT A STOP LIGHT, THE CAR WOULD CUT OFF. EVERYTHING WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE DASH AND I WOULD HAVE TO TURN IT OFF AND BACK ON TO DRIVE IT AGAIN. THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS THAT WHEN I WOULD DRIVE, THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT OUR OF GEARS PROPERLY, AND IT WOULD VERY PAINFULLY AND SLOWLY ACCELERATE ITS SPEED. IT WOULD JERK, LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY. COME TO FIND OUT, AT 62,000 MILES, MY CAR NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION, WITH NO LOGICAL EXPLANATION GIVE…

Owner-reported narrative. 62,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10510489 at NHTSA ↗

THE SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILURE MESSAGE APPEARED IN THE DASHBOARD MESSAGE DISPLAY OF OUR 6-YEAR OLD MERCEDES BENZ CLK350. THE SANTA BARBARA AUTO GROUP MERCEDES BENZ SERVICE PERSON EXPLAINED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WAS DEFECTIVE, DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT HAD NEVER BEEN USED/DEPLOYED, NOR HAD THE CAR EVER BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY INCIDENT. THE ESTIMATED CHARGE TO ME WAS ABOUT $1200. I CONTACTED MBUSA DIRECTLY, AND SUGGESTED THAT THEY WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR A SAFETY SYSTEM THAT SHOULD NEVER FAIL IN THE FIRST PLACE. AFTER 5 DAYS OF LEAVING VOI…

Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10515893 at NHTSA ↗

AS I WAS WATCHING THE GMC ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH RECALL ON THE NEWS THIS MORNING, IT STRUCK A CHORD, AS THE SAME THING HAPPENED ON THE ABOVE MENTIONED CAR LAST SUMMER. FORTUNATELY WE WERE DRIVING DOWN A SIDE STREET SO THE SPEED WAS LOW. THE CAR LITERALLY TURNED OFF... NO POWER STEERING, NO POWER BRAKES... NO POWER WINDOWS... NOTHING. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY SEE THIS IN THIS MODEL, BUT HAVE NOT SEEN A RECURRENCE WHEN THEY REPLACE THE SWITCH. THIS WAS NOT A REC…

Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10567540 at NHTSA ↗

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.

Reported: 2021-03-19 (March 19, 2021)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2006-2007 C350, C230, C280, CLK350, E320CDI, E350 Wagon, E350, 2006 C55 AMG, CLK500, CLS500, CLS55 AMG, E500 Wagon, E500, E55 AMG, 2007 CLK550, CLS550, CLS63 AMG, E550, E63 AMG, and E63 Wagon AMG vehicles. The bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame may deteriorate, possibly causing the glass panel to detach from the vehicle.

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. Owner letters were mailed May 7, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of recall number 19V-918. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021040012.

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.

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.