2001 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 recalls & problems

Safety recalls

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

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

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

Recent owner complaints

• Air bagsCrash1 injury

  MVC WITH FRONTAL IMPACT FIRST THROUGH AN T INTERSECTION THEN A CULVERT AND STRIKING A TREE AT A SPEED >45 MPH. AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND SEATBELT DID NOT LOCK ON DRIVERS SIDE WHILE ENGAGED. DRIVER INCURRED A 20% COMPRESSION FRACTURE ON L1 VERTABRAE.

  Mar 8, 2020 · 154,000 miles
• Air bagsCrash1 injury

  AIR BAG DRIVER TYPE UNKNOWN-- DRIVER STERNUM FRACTURED I WAS DRIVING A 2001 MERCEDES CLK320 DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC 1/2 CAR LENGTH BEHIND NEXT CAR. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME CHANGED LANES, TWO 3 SERIES BMWS WERE STOPPED FOR CITY BUS. I SLAMMED ON BRAKES, THEN REALIZED I WOULD HIT THE CAR IN FRONT, DID NOT SWRIVE LINED MY BODY UP BOTH ARMS ON WHEEL SKIDDED AND HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE AIRBAG HIT ME IN THE CHEST VERY HARD AT ABOUT 1300, THERE WAS A TEAR WITH WHITE PUFF AND LITTLE METAL BEAD THINGS ON AIRBAG. I CHECK TO SEE IF MY FILINGS HAD BEEN BROKEN. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE LITTLE METAL CIRCLE WAS. I COULD MOVE MY HANDS, FEET WITHOUT NUMBNESS OR TINGLING NECK DIDN'T HURT, CHEST HAD…

  Aug 31, 2016 · 90,000 miles
• Wheels

  NUMEROUS BLOW OUT AND SHREDDING OF FIRESTONE LOW PROFILE TIRES. THE TIRES LOSE AIR PRESSURE VERY QUICKLY WITHIN WEEKS OF FILLING & THIS OFTEN LEADS TO THE TIRE HEATING UP AND CATASTROPHIC SIDE WALL FAILURE. MOST OF THE TIME THE SHREDDING OCCURS ON THE INSIDE OF THE RIM AND IS NOT VISIBLE FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE DEALER TRIED TO BLAME ME FOR NOT HAVING AN ALIGNMENT DONE WHICH IN FACT (PROOF OF RECEIPTS) AN ALIGNMENT WAS CONDUCTED ONE MONTH PRIOR TO A BLOW OUT LAST YEAR 2014. THE DEALERSHIP AND THE FIRESTONE CORPORATION FAILED TO PROVIDE AS REQUIRED BY LAW THE DOT NOTIFICATIONS OF EACH OF THE BLOW OUT INFO. SEVERE FINANCIAL STRESS WAS INCURRED FOR EVERY TIME EACH OF THE INCIDENTS WERE REALIZED.…

  Sep 11, 2015 · 120,000 miles
• Exterior lighting

  WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT LED INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS THAT INDICATE WHAT GEAR YOU ARE IN AND THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE BOTH FAILED AND ARE UNABLE TO READ. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE ONLY BECAUSE I CANNOT TELL WHICH GEAR I AM IN AND OFTEN TIMES I MUST GUESS AT WHAT GEAR IT IS IN. THIS GUESSING TAKES MY EYES AND CONCENTRATION OFF THE ROAD AND COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT I KNOW THAT EVERY CLK320 HAS THIS SAME ISSUE AND MERCEDES BENZ HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS FIX. IT SEEMS THEY SHOULD AS IT COULD LEAD TO MANY ACCIDENTS. *TR

  Feb 2, 2015 · 90,000 miles
• Equipment adaptive/mobility

  THE GPS ADAPTER DOES NOT FIT TIGHTLY IN THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER SOCKET. I USE A PAPER PIECE TO MAKE IT TIGHT, HOWEVER IT GETS LOOSE AND GETS GPS DISCONNECTED WHILE DRIVING. MANY TIMES WHEN I REALIZE THIS EITHER I HAVE GONE TOO FAR OR I HAVE TO MAKE SUDDEN DECISION, WHICH MAKES IT DANGEROUS. THE PROBLEM IS NOT WITH MY GPS ADOPTER, BECAUSE IT FITS WELL IN ANY OTHER CAR. THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER SOCKET OF MB. THIS HAS BEEN LIKE THIS SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. THIS PERHAPS IS MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND MUST BE CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY. THANK YOU. *TR

  Jun 1, 2001
• SuspensionCrash

  I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE WHEN MY PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM BROKE. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL SPLAYED OUT AND BENT THE FENDER. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A GARAGE THAT WAS VERY NEARBY. THE MECHANIC NOTED THAT THE CONTROL ARM WAS HOLLOW AND SEEMED TO BE RUSTING. HE WAS ABLE TO DETECT THAT THE DRIVER SIDE CONTROL ARM HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM IN THE MAKING AND THAT THE STABILIZER BAR HAD STRESS CRACK. ALL WERE REPLACED OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WHILE I WAS ON VACATION. THE TOTAL COST WAS SLIGHTLY UNDER $2900. IT WAS A BIT SCARY AND I WAS CERTAINLY GLAD THAT I WAS NOT DRIVING FAST WHEN THIS CATACLYSMIC FAILURE OCCURRED. I THOUGHT THAT MERCEDES SHOULD HEAR ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND WHEN I…

  Jun 28, 2013 · 160,000 miles
• Engine

  WHILE STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AT THE END OF EXIT 43 OFF RAMP I95 IN LYNNFIELD MA. CAR ENGINE SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT RESTART. BELIEVE IT TO BE A FAULT CPS CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WHICH IS A KNOWN QUALITY ISSUE. *TR

  Sep 1, 2012 · 110,000 miles
• Electrical system

  THERE IS A FAULTY DISPLAY READOUTS THAT MANY OF MERCEDES BENZ CLK CLASS FROM 98-2002 AS FAR AS I'M AWARE; HAVE/ARE EXPERIENCING. IT IS A PROBLEM SINCE YOU CAN'T SEE WHICH GEAR YOU ARE IN AND THAT COULD CAUSE A DRIVER ERROR THAT MAY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. THE SHIFTER DOES HAVE MARKINGS FOR P/N/D, WHILE IN D THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE SHIFTED TO 2ND, 3RD OR 4TH GEAR AND THAT IS ON THE LCD SCREEN. IN ADDITION BAD OR WRONG TEMPERATURE READING CAN CAUSE THE CLIMATE CONTROL TO OVERHEAT OR COOL THE CAR BASED ON THE OUTSIDE READINGS. MERCEDES BENZ HAS POORLY DESIGNED THESE CLUSTERS; BASED ON A RESPONSE FROM VDO SIEMENS. (BELOW IS MY CONVERSATION WITH THEM IN MY ATTEMPT TO OBTAIN A SET…

  Nov 7, 2009

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