What breaks most · 1999 to 2009 model years
Mercedes-Benz CLK320 problems by year
Owners have filed 106 safety complaints with NHTSA about the Mercedes-Benz CLK320 across model years 1999 to 2009. Three years stand out: 1999 for engine and cooling complaints, 2003 for electrical system complaints and 2000 for electrical system complaints. The quietest years are 2005, 2004 and 2001.
- Years to check closely: 1999, 2003, 2000
- Fewest complaints: 2005, 2004, 2001
- Complaints on file
- 1061999 to 2009, all trims
- Worst year
- 199918 complaints
- Crashes reported
- 165 fires · 11 injuries · 0 deaths
- Typical failure mileage
- 62kMedian where owners gave mileage
- Recall campaigns
- 10Across the years shown
Complaints by model year
Raw filings with NHTSA, not adjusted for how many were sold.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Recalls | Most-reported component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | 1 | 1 | Engine and cooling (5) | |
| 16 | 4 | 0 | Electrical system (6) | |
| 14 | 5 | 0 | Speed control and throttle (3) | |
| 16 | 1 | 0 | Electrical system (8) | |
| 17 | 4 | 3 | Electrical system (6) | |
| 12 | 1 | 3 | Seat belts (4) | |
| 11 | 0 | 3 | Tires (3) | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | Tires (1) | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | Tires (1) |
What fails on the 1999 Mercedes-Benz CLK320
| Component | Share of complaints | Filings | Crashes | Parts for this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and coolingRadiators, thermostats and cooling | 28% |
5 | 0 | Shop engine and cooling parts for the 1999 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 |
| VisibilityMirrors and glass | 17% |
3 | 0 | Shop all visibility parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Unknown or other | 17% |
3 | 1 | — |
| Fuel systemFuel pumps and injectors | 11% |
2 | 0 | Shop fuel system parts for the 1999 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 |
| SuspensionStruts, springs and control arms | 11% |
2 | 0 | Shop suspension parts for the 1999 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 |
| Body and structureDoors, latches and body hardware | 11% |
2 | 0 | Shop body and structure parts for the 1999 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 |
| Powertrain and transmissionTransmission parts | 11% |
2 | 0 | Shop all powertrain and transmission parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Tires | 6% |
1 | 0 | — |
One complaint can name more than one component, so shares add to more than 100%. "Unknown or other" is NHTSA's uncategorized bucket and is shown but never ranked.
In owners' words
Complaint narratives as filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length.
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Dt: vehicle is burning oil. Dealer said they can't find the cause of the problem. Manufacturer has not been contacted yet. Independent mechanic stated that the vehicle was burning excessive oil, and recommended that the dealer or manufacturer look into it.*ak
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I a 2003 clk 320 mercedes-benz with only has 46,054 miles on it. The speedometer needle stopped working on the instrument panel on 5/4/2008. I get a digital read-out, but nothing from the needle that monitor the speed.
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Emergency trunk release failed this system should be mechanical and should not fail remains failed whether electrical power is on, accessory is powered or switch in ca in, also remain failed with key
How to read this page
Every figure comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's public complaint database, which holds every safety-related defect complaint filed by owners since 1995. We refresh it monthly and count each complaint once per component it names. Data through September 30, 2026.
NHTSA only accepts safety-related complaints. Rattles, paint, infotainment bugs and other annoyances are under-reported here, so this page is a map of what fails in ways owners consider dangerous, not a full reliability score.
Counts are raw. Use the year-over-year shape and the component mix, not the absolute numbers. Where a component maps to parts we stock, the row links to that category filtered to the year you are viewing. Air bag and seat belt complaints link to the recall checker instead, because those repairs are almost always covered.
Common questions
Which Mercedes-Benz CLK320 years have the most problems?
By NHTSA complaint volume, 1999, 2003, 2000 carry the most filings on the Mercedes-Benz CLK320. The 1999 alone has 18 complaints, led by engine and cooling.
What is the most common Mercedes-Benz CLK320 problem?
On the 1999 model year, the most-reported component is engine and cooling with 5 complaints. The table above lists the top components for every year.
At what mileage do Mercedes-Benz CLK320 problems start?
The median mileage at failure across all Mercedes-Benz CLK320 complaints that include mileage is about 62,000 miles. Older model years skew higher; the per-year figure is in the "at a glance" card.
Are these complaints verified?
No. NHTSA publishes complaints as submitted and does not investigate individual filings. Patterns across hundreds of complaints are meaningful; a single one is not.