Model year record

2002 Mercedes-Benz CL600 recalls & problems

The 2002 Mercedes-Benz CL600 has 1 safety recall and 13 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is suspension (6 complaints).

Recalls1safety recalls

Complaints13filed by owners

Crashes · fires0 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths2 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

SuspensionMay 13, 2004

Suspension

Recall 04V2280006,238 vehicles

Problem: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, CORROSION MAY OCCUR IN THE INNER STEEL PORTIONS OF THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL'S (ABC) HIGH-PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION HOSE DUE TO EXTENSIVE EXPOSURE TO HEAT AND HUMIDITY. OVER TIME, CORROSION MAY DETERIORATE THE INNER STEEL PORTIONS OF THE HOSE.
Risk: THIS MAY RESULT IN ABC HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAKAGE. UNDER SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, LEAKING HYDRAULIC FLUID MAY COME IN CONTACT WITH HOT ENGINE COMPONENTS AND LEAD TO A POSSIBILITY OF FIRE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW, CORROSION RESISTANT ABC HIGH-PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION HOSES. THE RECALL BEGAN AUGUST 31, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Fuel economy

CL600

16mpg combined

City / highway	13 / 21 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

5.8 L · 12 cyl · Automatic 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $5,150/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Injuries	Typical mileage*
SuspensionRear	6	2	63,500 mi
Engine and engine coolingEngine; Cooling system	3	0	81,400 mi
Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings	2	0	—
Electronic stability control (esc)	1	0	—
Exterior lighting	1	0	—
Engine	1	0	—
Electrical system	1	0	—
Fuel system, gasoline	1	0	—
Service brakes	1	0	—
Steering	1	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Service brakes
LEAKING ABC FLUID. THE ABC SISTEM WAS BROKEN
Sep 29, 2017 · 10 miles
Suspension
ABC HYDRAULIC SYSTEM HIGH PRESSURE HOSE CORROSION AND FAILURE OF FITTINGS. CAUSED DAMAGE TO VEHICLE, SMOKE POURED FROM UNDER VEHICLE, AND POSSIBLE FIRE. THE FLUID SPRAYED ALL OVER EXHAUST. VEHICLE RIDE HEIGHT WAS THROWN QUICKLY TO GROUND.
Aug 16, 2015
Engine
THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE TO MERCEDES, THIS IS A MAJOR FIRE HAZARD, THESE CARS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR THIS PROBLEM. OIL WILL SPRAY ALL OVER THE EXHAUST, AND PLASTIC CREATING A VACUUM. LUCKY MY FAMILY HASN'T DIED FROM THIS FIRE HAZARD. ITS ALL OVER THE MB FORUMS, EVERYONE ON REPAIR PAL, EVERYONE KNOWS THAT THIS IS COMMON AND LIFE THREATENING HAZARD THAT SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH THE REDESIGNED OIL COOLER. I HAVE CONTACTED MERCEDES BENZ ON THIS ISSUE. *TR
May 5, 2014 · 80,000 miles
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
OEM REPLACED HIGH PRESSURE HYDRAULIC HOSE DEFECTIVE AND LEAKING AGAIN, CAN CAUSE HYDRAULIC FLUID TO LEAK ONTO HOT EXHAUST AND START A COMPLETE FIRE.. *TR
Dec 19, 2012 · 130,000 miles
Exterior lighting
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ CL600. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH, THE CONTROL PANEL FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN FAILED TO QUALIFY FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:06V028000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 32,000.
Sep 11, 2012 · 32,000 miles
Service brakes, hydraulic
ABC HOSE LEAKED HYDRAULIC FLUID IN HUGE PUDDLE AS THE VEHICLE WAS BEING BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. NOT LONG AFTER THE WHEELS WERE SITTING ON TOP OF THE WHEEL WELL. MERCEDES SERVICE DIAGNOSED AS HOSE THAT REQUIRES TRANSMISSION TO BE REMOVED TO FIX. WAS TOLD RECALL WORK WAS DONE IN 2004 SO I HAD TO PAY FULL REPAIR PRICE ($4,700). *TR
Jan 4, 2012 · 76,000 miles
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
I OWN A 2002 CL-600 THAT HAS A TERRIBLE ENGINE OIL LEAK. THE DEALER WANTS $5,800 TO REPAIR THE OIL COOLER. SEARCHING THE WEB SHOWS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MERCEDES 12 CYLINDER ENGINES. BECAUSE LEAKING MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL ONTO A HOT MOTOR IS A SERIOUS FIRE SAFETY ISSUE, MERCEDES SHOULD RECALL ALL 12 CYLINDER CARS AND INSTALL A BETTER DESIGNED OIL COOLER. *KB
Jan 12, 2011 · 127,000 miles
Suspension1 injury
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THEN THE CARS SUSPENSION STARTED ACTING ERRATIC, I COULD NOT MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE TILL A SHORT TIME LATER. MY CARS SUSPENSION RAISED AND LOWERED IN A VIOLENT WAY. MY HEAD WAS THROWN FORWARD INTO THE STEERING WHEEL, AND BACK IN THE HEAD REST. I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT. I CONTACTED MERCEDES, AND THEY TOLD ME IN SO MANY WORDS, TOO BAD FOR ME. *TR
Jun 21, 2011 · 51,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.