1999 Mercedes Benz CLK430: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
10 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
81,010 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 10 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 20.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 10.0% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 10.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 10.0% |
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 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Gear Position Indication (Prndl) | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Torque Converter | 1 |
Air Bags: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 1; Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Gear Position Indication (Prndl): 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Torque Converter: 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 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 4 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 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
2000: 1; 2002: 1; 2003: 1; 2004: 2; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2014: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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 10003197 · 2003-01-22 (January 22, 2003)
TRANSMISSION BROKE DOWN. WHILE WAS GOING IN REVERSE FORDWARD GEAR WENT ON ,MAKING A LOUD NOISE PUT THE LEVER ON NEUTRAL AND CAR STILL GOING FORWARD
Owner-reported narrative. 128,120 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003197 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10073139 · 2004-05-25 (May 25, 2004)
THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE DEFECT REPORTED IN ODI ID NUMBER 769483: CRACK IN PASSENGER-SIDE AIRBAG COVER (1999 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK430). AT THIS POINT I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A COSMETIC DEFECT ONLY BUT WOULD LIKE TO BE NOTIFIED IF IT TURNS OUT THAT THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 70,512 miles reported. Look up ODI 10073139 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10082969 · 2004-07-29 (July 29, 2004)
AT ROUGHLY 80,000 MILES, BEGAN RECEIVING ABS AND ESP WARNING LIGHTS, INTERMITTENTLY AT FIRST AND THEN INCREAING IN FREQUENCY, SO THAT NOW THEY ARE ON ROUGHLY HALF THE TIME. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED ABS CONTROL MODULE FAULT CODE C1120 ("STANDSTILL CALIBRATION OF YAW RATE SENSOR ERRONEOUS") AND CONFIRMS THAT I AM WITHOUT ABS WHEN WARNING LIGHTS ARE ON. MECEDESBENZ TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER AF42.45-U-8103A (DATED 22 JUN 2000) INDICATES THAT THIS DEFECTIVE ABS CONTROL MODULE PART WAS REPLACED IN PRODUCTION STARTING IN 2000, AND WAS REPLACED IN …
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10082969 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10136774 · 2005-09-16 (September 16, 2005)
DT: THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER DASHBOARD AFTER IT WAS PARKED. IT SET FOR A SHORT TIME. THERE WAS NO FOREWARNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DID AN INVESTIGATION, AND STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS DUE TO A MALFUNCTION IN WIRING FROM DISTRIBUTION PANEL AND THE FUSE GRID TO THE DASHBOARD. THIS HAPPENED ON MAY 10, 2003. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, AND RECEIVED NO SATISFACTION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10136774 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10161727 · 2006-07-06 (July 6, 2006)
FAILED CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR LEFT MY CAR DEAD IN VERY HEAVY HIGHWAY TRAFFIC DURING RUSH HOUR. THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR IS NOTORIOUSLY FAILURE-PRONE ON THE 8-CYL MERCEDES MODELS. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY (FROM THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS) A DEFECTIVE PART AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED RIGHT AWAY. FAILURE OF THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR RENDERS THE CAR IMMEDIATELY AND SUDDENLY IMMOBILE. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING DEFECT. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 100,685 miles reported. Look up ODI 10161727 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10197706 · 2007-07-27 (July 27, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ CLK430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR CLUSTER PIXEL HAS FADED OUT, PREVENTING HIM FROM SEEING WHAT GEAR HE IS IN WHEN DRIVING. THE FAILURE WAS NOTICED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. MERCEDES BENZ STATED THAT ALL OF THEIR VEHICLES ARE DESIGNED THAT WAY AND REFUSE TO REPAIR HIS VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 73,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 73,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10197706 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10222592 · 2008-03-28 (March 28, 2008)
I WAS STUCK IN TRAFFIC AND CAR STALLED OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR. I COULD NOT RE START FOR ABOUT 40 MIN. IT SHUT DOWN TWO MORE TIMES BEFORE I GOT HOME.THIS WAS A BAD SITUATION, VERY DANGEROUS. I HAD NO WHERE TO GO TO GET OUT OF THE WAY. TURNS OUT TO BE A BAD CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 82,020 miles reported. Look up ODI 10222592 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10595226 · 2014-05-30 (May 30, 2014)
ON FRIDAY MAY 30, 2014, AT APPROXIMATELY 0200, I WAS GETTING ON THE FREEWAY ON 880-S IN DOWNTOWN OAKLAND. I WAS DRIVING IN THE FAR LEFT LANE, AND THERE WAS CONSTRUCTION GOING ON. WHILE I WAS DRIVING I FELT A LARGE BUMP, AND IMMEDIATELY I TRIED TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER. I LOOKED BACK AND SAW IT WAS A LARGE LOG. I FILED A REPORT WITH THE CHP, AND THEY TOLD ME TO CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. BECAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT, MY CAR CANNOT DRIVE, AND MY FIANCE USES THIS CAR FOR WORK AND SCHOOL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10595226 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.