1999 Mercedes-Benz CLK430 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

• Engine

  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

  May 30, 2014
• Engine and engine cooling

  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

  Mar 27, 2008 · 82,020 miles
• Power train › Automatic transmission › Gear position indication (prndl)

  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.

  Jul 26, 2007 · 73,000 miles
• Engine and engine cooling › Engine

  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

  Jul 6, 2006 · 100,685 miles
• Electrical system › Wiring › Interior/under dashFire

  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

  May 10, 2003
• Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Control unit/module

  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 FIELD AS A RECALL ITEM FOR SOME PERIOD OF TIME THEREAFTER, ON REPORT FROM REGIONAL TECHNICAL COORDINATOR. MY ATTEMPT TO HAVE MBUSA REPLACE THIS PART…

  May 24, 2004 · 80,000 miles
• Air bags

  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

  May 25, 2004 · 70,512 miles
• Power train › Automatic transmission

  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

  Jan 7, 2003 · 128,120 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.

NHTSA defect investigations

• ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY FAILUREClosed

  THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HARMONIC BALANCER FAILURE THAT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER-STEERING ASSIST.ODI HAS RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 546 NON-DUPLICATIVE REPORTS THAT ALLEGE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HARMONIC BALANCER FAILURE ON ALL MERCEDES-BENZ VEHICLES USING THE SUBJECT COMPONENT.THE SUBJECT COMPONENT FAILURES ARE PROGRESSIVE IN NATURE AND ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINTS AND WARRANT CLAIMS INVOLVED A FAILURE THAT HAD PROGRESSED FAR ENOUGH TO EFFECT POWER STEERING PERFORMANCE (6 OF 55 ODI COMPLAINTS REFERENCE INCREASED STEERING EFFORT).THERE HAVE BEEN NO CRASHES OR INJURIES RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE…

  PE03058 · opened Dec 17, 2003 · closed Apr 22, 2004