2001 Mercedes-Benz Cl Class Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2001 Mercedes-Benz Cl Class, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical125.0%
- Interior & seats125.0%
- Suspension125.0%
- Tires & wheels125.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE A 2001 MERCEDES CL 500 THAT I PAID 90K FOR AND HAS LESS THAN 40 K MILES. THE LIGHTS WENT OUT AND I COULD SMELL ELECTRICAL SMOKE. EVERY TIME I TURN ON THE IGNITION, I SMELL BURNING. I NOTICED ON AN INTERNET SEARCH THAT THERE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT THE DEALERSHIP SAYS IT HAS NOT BEEN FINALIZED, I KNOW THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS BURNING UP ON THESE VEHICLES AS MY PARTNER'S CAR ( ALSO A MERCEDES) HAD HIS DO THE SAME THING. I REQUEST THAT YOU TAKE ACTION ON THIS MATTER AS I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY $2000 TO FIX A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT AFTER PAYING THAT KIND OF MONEY FOR A VEHICLE. THE VIN NUMBER ON MY CAR [XXX]. RESPECTFULLY, [XXX]. *NM UPDATED 07/12/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WENT OUT AND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAD MALFUNCTIONED. THIS INCIDENT CAUSED THE BATTERY TO DRAIN. THERE WAS AN NHTSA RECALL, # 06V028000, REGARDING THE INTERIOR LIGHTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK UPDATED 9/22/2006 - *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
THERE IS SUPPOSE TO BE A RECALL ON THE ABC ACTIVE BODY CONTROL ON THE MERCEDES BENZ CL CLASS FROM 2001 TO 2004. MY CAR HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM AND JUST FOUND OUT IT WAS A RECALL BY FORUM YESTERDAY, BUT IT DOES NOT SAY THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS ON YOUR SITE OR ANY OTHER RECALL SITE. IF YOU COULD POST THIS RECALL TO THE LIST THAT WOULD BE GREAT. THANK YOU *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM FAILED TO MONITOR THE ADEQUATE TIRE PRESSURE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM FAILED, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO ALERTED. UPDATED 01/10/07. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .