Mercedes BENZ CLK Class Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used Mercedes BENZ CLK Class options? We analyzed 10 model years (2000–2009) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Mercedes BENZ CLK Class has 268 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls across model years 2000–2009. The most reported issue area is FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM. 2007 drew the most complaints; 2009 drew the fewest.
- Make
- Mercedes BENZ
- Model
- CLK Class
- Model years analyzed
- 2000–2009 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 268
- Safety recall campaigns
- 0
- Crash-related complaints
- 13
- Fire-related complaints
- 7
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2007 (53 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2009 (9 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Reliability signal
- Poor
By model year
Mercedes BENZ CLK Class: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
NCAP crash test ratings for this model are not yet loaded or this vehicle was not tested in the years analyzed. NHTSA tests a subset of new vehicles each year. Check nhtsa.gov/ratings directly for the latest results.
What the complaint data suggests
PoorThe MERCEDES BENZ CLK CLASS has 268 NHTSA complaints and 0 recalls on record. 13 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 268 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 0 federal recall campaigns
- 13 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Sep 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
0 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
No NHTSA recalls were found in our database for this model. Always verify open recalls using your specific VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2000–2009. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 268 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
268 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes - Benz CLK350. The contact stated he turned on the air condition of his vehicle and an odor of mold came from the vents. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and stated that there was no recall for that failure. The manufacturer was contacted, and they also stated that there was no recall for the failure and advised the contact to call the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was 40,030.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ CLK350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT HEADREST AIR BAG EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING, AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED LOSS OF HEARING IN HER LEFT EAR THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S SOS SYSTEM ALERTED HER OF A FAILURE AND A TOW TRUCK WAS SENT TO THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO RBM OF ALPHARETTA (345 MCFARLAND PKWY, ALPHARETTA, GA 30004) HOWEVER THE FAILURE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED AS THE DEALER WAS WAITING FOR THE MANUFACTURER TO ADVISE AND SEND A FIELD INSPECTOR TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 123,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ CLK350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR STATE EMISSION TESTING AND SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V918000 (VISIBILITY) HOWEVER, PARTS TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
DRIVING STRAIGHT ABOUT 25MPH ALONG A AN OTHERWISE EMPTY RESIDENTIAL STREET. EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE MICRO-BURSTS OF SUDDEN, BRIEF, VIOLENT, UNINTENDED BRAKING. DRIVER'S FOOT WAS NOWHERE NEAR THE BRAKE PEDAL. BRAKING WAS SO VIOLENT THAT THE WHEELS LOCKED UP AND MADE SKIDDING SOUNDS AND OCCUPANTS WERE SHAKEN. EACH INCIDENCE OF BRAKING WAS VERY SHORT, PERHAPS A FRACTION OF A SECOND. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE (WHILE TRAVELING ~25MPH) THERE WERE ABOUT FOUR SEPARATE "BRAKES" WITHIN A FEW SECONDS. THIS OCCURRED ONLY TWO BLOCKS FROM HOME. I PROCEEDED HOME AT A MUCH SLOWER PACE WITH THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS FLASHING. EN ROUTE I EXPERIENCED SEVERAL MORE INCIDENTS OF SUDDEN, BRIEF, VIOLENT UNINTENDED BRAKING. NO WARNING LIGHTS (E.G. ESP) FLASHED DURING ANY OF THE BRAKING EPISODES. EVEN AT LOW SPEED ON A EMPTY ROAD THE UNINTENDED BRAKING WAS SO VIOLENT AS TO LEAVE ME SHAKEN. IF IT OCCURRED AT HIGH SPEED, ON A BUSY ROAD, AND/OR OF WITH AN INEXPERIENCED DRIVER THE CONSEQUENCES COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS.
I WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT LAST FEBRUARY, MY AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY AS COMPARED TO THE OTHER VEHICLE (TOYOTA) WHERE HER AIRBAG WORKED. MY CAR AND THE OTHER PERSON'S CAR WERE TOTALED. I WAS DRIVING ON THE MIDDLE LANE OF A 3 LANE ROAD WHEN THE DRIVER ON THE RIGHT SIDE LANE HIT A PARKED VEHICLE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD, SPUN AROUND, AND CROSS OVER TO MY LANE AND HIT ME HEAD ON. A ROAD DUE TO MY ACCIDENT, I SUSTAINED A FRACTURE OF MY NECK AND STILL HAVE ONGOING PHYSICAL THERAPY TREATMENTS. *TT *TR
THE TPMS CONSTANTLY DISPLAYS FALSE WARNING MESSAGES ABOUT THE TIRES BEING LOW ON PRESSURE. THIS BEGAN ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, WHEN THE CAR WAS 7 YEARS OLD, 100K MILES. NUMEROUS TRIPS TO THE DEALER AND OTHER REPAIR SHOPS HAS NOT ALLEVIATED THE PROBLEM. TPMS CONSTANTLY GIVING A FALSE WARNING ABOUT LOW TIRE PRESSURE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. MUCH LIKE SMOKE ALARMS WHICH GIVE FALSE NOTICE, FALSE TIRE PRESSURE WARNINGS WILL BE IGNORED. THE VEHICLE IS TYPICALLY IN A MOVING CONDITION WHEN THE TPMS ISSUES A FALSE ALERT.
Read 14 more owner reports
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK350. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE ODOR OF FUEL WAS PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAL CONNECTED TO THE FUEL PUMP WAS FAULTY AND THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.
STRONG FUEL ODOR OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE FOLLOWING FILL UP. MILEAGE 59590.JUST PURCHASED USED WITHOUT EXTENDED WARRANTY.. HAVE NOT TAKEN FOR SERVICE. WILL SEEK INFO PRIOR TO TAKING TO MB SERVICE.
WHEN INSPECTING MY TIRES AT 19000 MILES, I DISCOVERED CRACKING ALONG THE INNER SIDEWALL FOR ONE MY FOUR TIRES. THIS IS THE ONLY TIRE SHOWING ANY CRACKING. *TR I TOOK THE TIRE FOR REVIEW TO THE TIRE DEALER, AND THEIR EXPERT INDICATED THIS WAS INDEED A DEFECTIVE TIRE, THAT THE CRACKING WAS NOT YET DETRIMENTAL TO THE TIRE, BUT THAT IS SHOULD BE REPLACED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V918000 (VISIBILITY) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. MERCEDES-BENZ OF ROCKVILLE CENTRE (650 SUNRISE HWY, ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY 11570) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
MANY OWNERS OF LATE-MODEL MERCEDES-BENZ CARS EQUIPPED WITH 3.0L AND 3.5L V6 ENGINES (M272 OR M273) HAVE EXPERIENCED PERFORMANCE PROBLEMS THAT INCLUDE POOR IDLE, LOSS OF POWER AND A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WITH A P2006 CODE (OR SOMETIMES OTHER CODES). THE SHAFTS WILL FAIL INSIDE THE MANIFOLD AND BIND, CAUSING THE LEVER TO BREAK AND THE CAPS SHOWN TO LOOK LIKE THEY ARE POPPING OFF THE MANIFOLD.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ CLK350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE SUNROOF. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V918000 (VISIBILITY) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. MERCEDES-BENZ OF ROCKVILLE CENTRE 650 SUNRISE HWY, ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY 11570 WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD NO LONGER BE DRIVEN UNTIL THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
PURCHASED FROM PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL WITH MILEAGE 43,000. FILLED UP THE GAS TANK ON TWO OCCASIONS. AFTER EACH OCCASION, PLACED CAR IN GARAGE AFTERWARD AND CLOSED GARAGE DOOR. THE SMELL OF RAW GAS WAS OVERWHELMING AS SOON AS GARAGE DOOR WAS SHUT. DUE TO THE OVERWHELMING SMELL AND SAFETY CONCERN, CAR WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. NO LEAKS ON GARAGE FLOOR WERE FOUND. CAR PARKED IN GARAGE THE NEXT DAY WITHOUT THE SMELL OF RAW GAS.
MY PARTNER TOLD ME THAT HIS PASSENGER HEADLIGHT WAS BURNED OUT AND THAT HE WAS TOLD IT WAS GOING TO BE OVER $800 TO REPLACE. I DECIDED TO TRY TO REPLACE THE BULB MYSELF, BUT I FOUND THAT THE INSULATION ON THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS LEADING THE HEADLIGHT CONNECTORS HAD DETERIORATED TO THE POINT THAT THE WIRES ARE BARE, CAUSING ELECTRICAL SHORTING, EQUIPMENT FAILURE, LEADING TO POTENTIAL ELECTRICAL FIRE WHICH MAY CAUSE SERIOUS LIFE THREATENING ACCIDENTS. I HAVE FOUND AT LEAST ONE OTHER COMPLAINT OF THIS NATURE, REPORTED ON NOVEMBER 13 2017, FOR A 2008 CLK350 VEHICLE WITH THE SAME LEADING VIN NUMBER OF WDBTK56F.... THAT COMPLAINT INDICATES THAT "MERCEDES BENZ IS NOT SUPPLYING A FIX AS REPORTED BY MULTIPLE OWNERS. ALSO EXTENDED WARRANTY INSURERS ARE DENYING COVERAGE DUE TO THE WIDE SPREAD DEFECT ACROSS THE MERCEDES BENZ MODELS." I CANNOT FIND ANY MORE INFORMATION ON THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT NORMAL FOR ANY VEHICLE, MUCH LESS ONE THAT IS ONLY 10 YEARS OLD.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK350. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING AND "CHECK SRS AIR BAG" DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE WIRING FOR BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. A DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
ROUTINE MAINTENANCE IDENTIFIED GASOLINE LEAKING FROM FUEL TANK'S "FUEL SENDER". SMALL CRACK IN PLASTIC FUEL SENDER AT POINT WHERE FUEL HOSE ATTACHED TO SENDER ALLOWED GASOLINE TO ACCUMULATE OVER TIME IN AREA SURROUNDING SENDER AND THEN TRAVEL TO UNDERSIDE OF CAR IN AN AREA IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO EXHAUST SYSTEM. AT TIME LEAK WAS DISCOVERED APPROX 1/4 CUP OF FUEL HAD ACCUMULATED. HAD PROBLEM NOT BEEN DISCOVERED A CAR FIRE WAS INEVITABLE
ON 12/31/2017 MY CAR WAS PARKED ON DRIVE WAY OF 800 VILLA FLORENCE DR. NAPLES FLORIDA AND WITHOUT ANY PRIOR SIGN OF TROUBLE CAR CUT IN FIRE FROM LEFT SIDE OF TRUNK. THERE WAS NOTHING IN TRUNK OF THIS CAR EXCEPT TO LIGHT WEIGHT BEACH CHAIRS.
MY WIFE TOLD ME HER HEADLIGHT WAS BURNED OUT. WHEN I REPLACED THE BULB, I FOUND THE INSULATION ON THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS AND HEADLIGHTS IS DETERIORATING LEAVING EXPOSED BARE WIRES CAUSING ELECTRICAL SHORTING, EQUIPMENT FAILURES, ELECTRICAL FIRES, LEADING TO POTENTIALLY SERIOUS LIFE THREATENING ACCIDENTS. MERCEDES BENZ IS NOT SUPPLYING A FIX AS REPORTED BY MULTIPLE OWNERS. ALSO EXTENDED WARRANTY INSURERS ARE DENYING COVERAGE DUE TO THE WIDE SPREAD DEFECT ACROSS THE MERCEDES BENZ MODELS.
I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED FROM A PRIVATE PARTY ON 10/21/17 WITH 76,860 MILES. I FILLED THE TANK WITH GAS, PARKED IT MY GARAGE, DOOR CLOSED. NEXT MORNING THERE A VERY STRONG ODOR OF RAW GAS. A MERCEDES DEALER CONFIRMED THROUGH DIAGNOSTICS AND A SMOKE TEST THAT BOTH SENDING UNITS AND SEALS WERE DEFECTIVE, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
AIR BAG NOT REPLACED
Showing 20 of 268 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Mercedes BENZ CLK Class
These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Mercedes BENZ CLK Class, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Mercedes BENZ CLK Class has 268 complaints on record across 10 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Mercedes BENZ CLK Class has 0 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 13 of the Mercedes BENZ CLK Class's 268 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Mercedes BENZ CLK Class vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Mercedes BENZ CLK Class vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Mercedes BENZ CLK Class has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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How does the Mercedes BENZ CLK Class stack up? Compare complaint history with similar vehicles.
By state
Check a Mercedes BENZ CLK Class by state
Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used Mercedes BENZ CLK Class.
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Keep researching before you buy
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Mercedes BENZ CLK Class reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the Mercedes BENZ CLK Class reliable?
Poor. The Mercedes BENZ CLK Class has 268 NHTSA owner complaints and 0 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Mercedes BENZ CLK Class years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2007 (53 complaints), 2006 (48 complaints), 2004 (38 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common Mercedes BENZ CLK Class problems?
Top reported issues: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (53 complaints); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (49 complaints); AIR BAGS (35 complaints).
Does the Mercedes BENZ CLK Class have recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns are currently on record for the Mercedes BENZ CLK Class. Always verify with a VIN check as recalls can be added at any time.