2004 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 2004 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
- Electrical220.0%
- Driver assistance110.0%
- Interior & seats110.0%
- Exterior lighting110.0%
- Seat belts110.0%
- Steering110.0%
- Tires & wheels110.0%
- Airbags110.0%
- Visibility110.0%
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 BOUGHT A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED 2004 CL 500 MB FROM HBL TYSONS ON 8545 LEESBURG PIKE, VIENNA, VA ON APR 19, 2008. THE SALESMAN SHOWED ME THE CARFAX REPORT WHICH SHOWED NO PRIOR PROBLEMS. SO, I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE W/ AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. HOWEVER, 2 WEEKS AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR, I EXPERIENCED MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, TIRE PROBLEMS, & PROBLEMS WITH MY AIR CONDITIONER/ HEAT. OVER A 1 YEARS LATER, MY CAR HAS BEEN BACK & FORTH AT THE HBL TYSONS CORNER, VA & MB ANNAPOLIS, MD SVC CNTR OVER 40 TIMES FOR THE SAME REOCCURRING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ARE BECOMING WORSE B/C THE CAR FREEZES; THE STEERING WHEEL MALFUNCTIONS & LOCKS UPON STARTING THE CAR & SOMETIMES, WHILE IN MOTION; IN ADDITION TO OTHER MALFUNCTIONS INVOLVING: SEAT BELT, SEAT HEAD REST, HEADLIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS, REAR FOG LIGHTS, LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS; HEAT/AIR CONDITIONER, SRS, & AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. I'M PAYING A CAR NOTE & I BARELY HAVE MY CAR B/C THE SVC. CNTRS HAVE MY CAR FOR 2-3 WEEKS AT A TIME B/C THEY CAN'T FIX IT. I'VE EVEN BEEN TOLD BY THEM THAT MY PARTICULAR CAR IS TOO INTRICATE TO FIX. I'VE CONTACTED MB CORPORATE IN MONTVALE, NJ VIA TELEPHONICALLY & CORRESPONDENCE, TO ELEVATE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS, BUT, MY LAST 2 COMPLAINTS WERE TO NO AVAIL B/C I HEARD NOTHING FROM THEM AS OF YET. I KEEP ALL OF MY RECEIPTS FROM EACH TIME I'VE DROPPED MY CAR OFF & I'M READY TO PURSUE A LAWSUIT. IN FACT, I'VE CONTACTED BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU, YOUR AGENCY, & SEVERAL LAWYERS B/C I'VE RECENTLY DISCOVERED VIA A CLASS ACTION SUIT, THAT THE YEAR, MAKE, & MODEL OF MY CAR IS INVOLVED IN A NAT'L RECALL WHERE A FAULTY VALVE W/I THE HEAT/AIR CONDITIONER, CAUSES A BUILD-UP OF DEBRIS & WATER, WHICH LEAKS INTO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, CAUSING IT TO MALFUNCTION & SHUT DOWN. HELP ME B/C IT'S OBVIOUS THE CAR IS UNFIXABLE AND TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. ACCORDING TO THE CLASS ACTION, THESE PROBLEMS PRE-EXISTED BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR AND MB WAS AWARE OF THEM PRIOR TO SELLING THE CAR. *TR
CAR WOULD NOT START AND COULD NOT GET THE CAR IN GEAR. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE DEALERS SHOP FOR REPAIR 4 TIMES TO FIX THE SAME PROBLEM. CURRENTLY THE CAR IS RUNNING. NEGOCIATING WITH MBZ TO BUY THE CAR BACK.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ CL500. THE CONTACT WAS ENTERING A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING HIM TO CRASH INTO THE BUMPER OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE DAMAGES TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED OF THE CRASH. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,809.
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
I BOUGHT A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED 2004 CL 500 MB FROM HBL TYSONS ON 8545 LEESBURG PIKE, VIENNA, VA ON APR 19, 2008. THE SALESMAN SHOWED ME THE CARFAX REPORT WHICH SHOWED NO PRIOR PROBLEMS. SO, I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE W/ AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. HOWEVER, 2 WEEKS AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR, I EXPERIENCED MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, TIRE PROBLEMS, & PROBLEMS WITH MY AIR CONDITIONER/ HEAT. OVER A 1 YEARS LATER, MY CAR HAS BEEN BACK & FORTH AT THE HBL TYSONS CORNER, VA & MB ANNAPOLIS, MD SVC CNTR OVER 40 TIMES FOR THE SAME REOCCURRING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ARE BECOMING WORSE B/C THE CAR FREEZES; THE STEERING WHEEL MALFUNCTIONS & LOCKS UPON STARTING THE CAR & SOMETIMES, WHILE IN MOTION; IN ADDITION TO OTHER MALFUNCTIONS INVOLVING: SEAT BELT, SEAT HEAD REST, HEADLIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS, REAR FOG LIGHTS, LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS; HEAT/AIR CONDITIONER, SRS, & AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. I'M PAYING A CAR NOTE & I BARELY HAVE MY CAR B/C THE SVC. CNTRS HAVE MY CAR FOR 2-3 WEEKS AT A TIME B/C THEY CAN'T FIX IT. I'VE EVEN BEEN TOLD BY THEM THAT MY PARTICULAR CAR IS TOO INTRICATE TO FIX. I'VE CONTACTED MB CORPORATE IN MONTVALE, NJ VIA TELEPHONICALLY & CORRESPONDENCE, TO ELEVATE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS, BUT, MY LAST 2 COMPLAINTS WERE TO NO AVAIL B/C I HEARD NOTHING FROM THEM AS OF YET. I KEEP ALL OF MY RECEIPTS FROM EACH TIME I'VE DROPPED MY CAR OFF & I'M READY TO PURSUE A LAWSUIT. IN FACT, I'VE CONTACTED BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU, YOUR AGENCY, & SEVERAL LAWYERS B/C I'VE RECENTLY DISCOVERED VIA A CLASS ACTION SUIT, THAT THE YEAR, MAKE, & MODEL OF MY CAR IS INVOLVED IN A NAT'L RECALL WHERE A FAULTY VALVE W/I THE HEAT/AIR CONDITIONER, CAUSES A BUILD-UP OF DEBRIS & WATER, WHICH LEAKS INTO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, CAUSING IT TO MALFUNCTION & SHUT DOWN. HELP ME B/C IT'S OBVIOUS THE CAR IS UNFIXABLE AND TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. ACCORDING TO THE CLASS ACTION, THESE PROBLEMS PRE-EXISTED BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR AND MB WAS AWARE OF THEM PRIOR TO SELLING THE CAR. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
I BOUGHT A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED 2004 CL 500 MB FROM HBL TYSONS ON 8545 LEESBURG PIKE, VIENNA, VA ON APR 19, 2008. THE SALESMAN SHOWED ME THE CARFAX REPORT WHICH SHOWED NO PRIOR PROBLEMS. SO, I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE W/ AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. HOWEVER, 2 WEEKS AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR, I EXPERIENCED MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, TIRE PROBLEMS, & PROBLEMS WITH MY AIR CONDITIONER/ HEAT. OVER A 1 YEARS LATER, MY CAR HAS BEEN BACK & FORTH AT THE HBL TYSONS CORNER, VA & MB ANNAPOLIS, MD SVC CNTR OVER 40 TIMES FOR THE SAME REOCCURRING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ARE BECOMING WORSE B/C THE CAR FREEZES; THE STEERING WHEEL MALFUNCTIONS & LOCKS UPON STARTING THE CAR & SOMETIMES, WHILE IN MOTION; IN ADDITION TO OTHER MALFUNCTIONS INVOLVING: SEAT BELT, SEAT HEAD REST, HEADLIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS, REAR FOG LIGHTS, LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS; HEAT/AIR CONDITIONER, SRS, & AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. I'M PAYING A CAR NOTE & I BARELY HAVE MY CAR B/C THE SVC. CNTRS HAVE MY CAR FOR 2-3 WEEKS AT A TIME B/C THEY CAN'T FIX IT. I'VE EVEN BEEN TOLD BY THEM THAT MY PARTICULAR CAR IS TOO INTRICATE TO FIX. I'VE CONTACTED MB CORPORATE IN MONTVALE, NJ VIA TELEPHONICALLY & CORRESPONDENCE, TO ELEVATE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS, BUT, MY LAST 2 COMPLAINTS WERE TO NO AVAIL B/C I HEARD NOTHING FROM THEM AS OF YET. I KEEP ALL OF MY RECEIPTS FROM EACH TIME I'VE DROPPED MY CAR OFF & I'M READY TO PURSUE A LAWSUIT. IN FACT, I'VE CONTACTED BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU, YOUR AGENCY, & SEVERAL LAWYERS B/C I'VE RECENTLY DISCOVERED VIA A CLASS ACTION SUIT, THAT THE YEAR, MAKE, & MODEL OF MY CAR IS INVOLVED IN A NAT'L RECALL WHERE A FAULTY VALVE W/I THE HEAT/AIR CONDITIONER, CAUSES A BUILD-UP OF DEBRIS & WATER, WHICH LEAKS INTO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, CAUSING IT TO MALFUNCTION & SHUT DOWN. HELP ME B/C IT'S OBVIOUS THE CAR IS UNFIXABLE AND TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. ACCORDING TO THE CLASS ACTION, THESE PROBLEMS PRE-EXISTED BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR AND MB WAS AWARE OF THEM PRIOR TO SELLING THE CAR. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
I BOUGHT A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED 2004 CL 500 MB FROM HBL TYSONS ON 8545 LEESBURG PIKE, VIENNA, VA ON APR 19, 2008. THE SALESMAN SHOWED ME THE CARFAX REPORT WHICH SHOWED NO PRIOR PROBLEMS. SO, I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE W/ AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. HOWEVER, 2 WEEKS AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR, I EXPERIENCED MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, TIRE PROBLEMS, & PROBLEMS WITH MY AIR CONDITIONER/ HEAT. OVER A 1 YEARS LATER, MY CAR HAS BEEN BACK & FORTH AT THE HBL TYSONS CORNER, VA & MB ANNAPOLIS, MD SVC CNTR OVER 40 TIMES FOR THE SAME REOCCURRING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ARE BECOMING WORSE B/C THE CAR FREEZES; THE STEERING WHEEL MALFUNCTIONS & LOCKS UPON STARTING THE CAR & SOMETIMES, WHILE IN MOTION; IN ADDITION TO OTHER MALFUNCTIONS INVOLVING: SEAT BELT, SEAT HEAD REST, HEADLIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS, REAR FOG LIGHTS, LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS; HEAT/AIR CONDITIONER, SRS, & AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. I'M PAYING A CAR NOTE & I BARELY HAVE MY CAR B/C THE SVC. CNTRS HAVE MY CAR FOR 2-3 WEEKS AT A TIME B/C THEY CAN'T FIX IT. I'VE EVEN BEEN TOLD BY THEM THAT MY PARTICULAR CAR IS TOO INTRICATE TO FIX. I'VE CONTACTED MB CORPORATE IN MONTVALE, NJ VIA TELEPHONICALLY & CORRESPONDENCE, TO ELEVATE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS, BUT, MY LAST 2 COMPLAINTS WERE TO NO AVAIL B/C I HEARD NOTHING FROM THEM AS OF YET. I KEEP ALL OF MY RECEIPTS FROM EACH TIME I'VE DROPPED MY CAR OFF & I'M READY TO PURSUE A LAWSUIT. IN FACT, I'VE CONTACTED BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU, YOUR AGENCY, & SEVERAL LAWYERS B/C I'VE RECENTLY DISCOVERED VIA A CLASS ACTION SUIT, THAT THE YEAR, MAKE, & MODEL OF MY CAR IS INVOLVED IN A NAT'L RECALL WHERE A FAULTY VALVE W/I THE HEAT/AIR CONDITIONER, CAUSES A BUILD-UP OF DEBRIS & WATER, WHICH LEAKS INTO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, CAUSING IT TO MALFUNCTION & SHUT DOWN. HELP ME B/C IT'S OBVIOUS THE CAR IS UNFIXABLE AND TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. ACCORDING TO THE CLASS ACTION, THESE PROBLEMS PRE-EXISTED BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR AND MB WAS AWARE OF THEM PRIOR TO SELLING THE CAR. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
I BOUGHT A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED 2004 CL 500 MB FROM HBL TYSONS ON 8545 LEESBURG PIKE, VIENNA, VA ON APR 19, 2008. THE SALESMAN SHOWED ME THE CARFAX REPORT WHICH SHOWED NO PRIOR PROBLEMS. SO, I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE W/ AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. HOWEVER, 2 WEEKS AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR, I EXPERIENCED MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, TIRE PROBLEMS, & PROBLEMS WITH MY AIR CONDITIONER/ HEAT. OVER A 1 YEARS LATER, MY CAR HAS BEEN BACK & FORTH AT THE HBL TYSONS CORNER, VA & MB ANNAPOLIS, MD SVC CNTR OVER 40 TIMES FOR THE SAME REOCCURRING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ARE BECOMING WORSE B/C THE CAR FREEZES; THE STEERING WHEEL MALFUNCTIONS & LOCKS UPON STARTING THE CAR & SOMETIMES, WHILE IN MOTION; IN ADDITION TO OTHER MALFUNCTIONS INVOLVING: SEAT BELT, SEAT HEAD REST, HEADLIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS, REAR FOG LIGHTS, LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS; HEAT/AIR CONDITIONER, SRS, & AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. I'M PAYING A CAR NOTE & I BARELY HAVE MY CAR B/C THE SVC. CNTRS HAVE MY CAR FOR 2-3 WEEKS AT A TIME B/C THEY CAN'T FIX IT. I'VE EVEN BEEN TOLD BY THEM THAT MY PARTICULAR CAR IS TOO INTRICATE TO FIX. I'VE CONTACTED MB CORPORATE IN MONTVALE, NJ VIA TELEPHONICALLY & CORRESPONDENCE, TO ELEVATE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS, BUT, MY LAST 2 COMPLAINTS WERE TO NO AVAIL B/C I HEARD NOTHING FROM THEM AS OF YET. I KEEP ALL OF MY RECEIPTS FROM EACH TIME I'VE DROPPED MY CAR OFF & I'M READY TO PURSUE A LAWSUIT. IN FACT, I'VE CONTACTED BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU, YOUR AGENCY, & SEVERAL LAWYERS B/C I'VE RECENTLY DISCOVERED VIA A CLASS ACTION SUIT, THAT THE YEAR, MAKE, & MODEL OF MY CAR IS INVOLVED IN A NAT'L RECALL WHERE A FAULTY VALVE W/I THE HEAT/AIR CONDITIONER, CAUSES A BUILD-UP OF DEBRIS & WATER, WHICH LEAKS INTO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, CAUSING IT TO MALFUNCTION & SHUT DOWN. HELP ME B/C IT'S OBVIOUS THE CAR IS UNFIXABLE AND TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. ACCORDING TO THE CLASS ACTION, THESE PROBLEMS PRE-EXISTED BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR AND MB WAS AWARE OF THEM PRIOR TO SELLING THE CAR. *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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ CL WITH MICHELIN PRIMACY MXV4 TL TIRES, LINE SIZE 225/55/R17, DOT NUMBER: 898KEF1X4707. THE CONSUMERS GRANDSON WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW, CAUSING HIM TO CRASH INTO AN EMBANKMENT, HIT A SIGN POST AND CAME BACK ONTO THE ROAD INTO THE RIGHT LANE TO REST. THERE WERE NO INJURIES BUT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE POLICE WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE ESTIMATED MILEAGE ON THE TIRES WAS 16,000 AND THE REMAINING TREAD DEPTH WAS 5/16 INCHES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT HE SHOULD RETURN THE TIRE TO THEM FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE MILEAGE WAS 88,000. UPDATED 08/31/11*LJ ACCORDING TO MICHELIN. THE TIRE CAME IN CONTACT WITH AN UNKNOWN OBJECT OR OBSTRUCTION, WHICH CUT AND ABRADED THROUGH THE SIDEWALL RUBBER AND POLYESTER PILES CAUSING RAPID LOSS OF AIR. MICHELIN DENIED THE CONSUMERS CLAIM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. UPDATE 09/09/11*JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
I BOUGHT A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED 2004 CL 500 MB FROM HBL TYSONS ON 8545 LEESBURG PIKE, VIENNA, VA ON APR 19, 2008. THE SALESMAN SHOWED ME THE CARFAX REPORT WHICH SHOWED NO PRIOR PROBLEMS. SO, I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE W/ AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. HOWEVER, 2 WEEKS AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR, I EXPERIENCED MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, TIRE PROBLEMS, & PROBLEMS WITH MY AIR CONDITIONER/ HEAT. OVER A 1 YEARS LATER, MY CAR HAS BEEN BACK & FORTH AT THE HBL TYSONS CORNER, VA & MB ANNAPOLIS, MD SVC CNTR OVER 40 TIMES FOR THE SAME REOCCURRING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ARE BECOMING WORSE B/C THE CAR FREEZES; THE STEERING WHEEL MALFUNCTIONS & LOCKS UPON STARTING THE CAR & SOMETIMES, WHILE IN MOTION; IN ADDITION TO OTHER MALFUNCTIONS INVOLVING: SEAT BELT, SEAT HEAD REST, HEADLIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS, REAR FOG LIGHTS, LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS; HEAT/AIR CONDITIONER, SRS, & AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. I'M PAYING A CAR NOTE & I BARELY HAVE MY CAR B/C THE SVC. CNTRS HAVE MY CAR FOR 2-3 WEEKS AT A TIME B/C THEY CAN'T FIX IT. I'VE EVEN BEEN TOLD BY THEM THAT MY PARTICULAR CAR IS TOO INTRICATE TO FIX. I'VE CONTACTED MB CORPORATE IN MONTVALE, NJ VIA TELEPHONICALLY & CORRESPONDENCE, TO ELEVATE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS, BUT, MY LAST 2 COMPLAINTS WERE TO NO AVAIL B/C I HEARD NOTHING FROM THEM AS OF YET. I KEEP ALL OF MY RECEIPTS FROM EACH TIME I'VE DROPPED MY CAR OFF & I'M READY TO PURSUE A LAWSUIT. IN FACT, I'VE CONTACTED BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU, YOUR AGENCY, & SEVERAL LAWYERS B/C I'VE RECENTLY DISCOVERED VIA A CLASS ACTION SUIT, THAT THE YEAR, MAKE, & MODEL OF MY CAR IS INVOLVED IN A NAT'L RECALL WHERE A FAULTY VALVE W/I THE HEAT/AIR CONDITIONER, CAUSES A BUILD-UP OF DEBRIS & WATER, WHICH LEAKS INTO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, CAUSING IT TO MALFUNCTION & SHUT DOWN. HELP ME B/C IT'S OBVIOUS THE CAR IS UNFIXABLE AND TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. ACCORDING TO THE CLASS ACTION, THESE PROBLEMS PRE-EXISTED BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR AND MB WAS AWARE OF THEM PRIOR TO SELLING THE CAR. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
I BOUGHT A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED 2004 CL 500 MB FROM HBL TYSONS ON 8545 LEESBURG PIKE, VIENNA, VA ON APR 19, 2008. THE SALESMAN SHOWED ME THE CARFAX REPORT WHICH SHOWED NO PRIOR PROBLEMS. SO, I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE W/ AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. HOWEVER, 2 WEEKS AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR, I EXPERIENCED MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, TIRE PROBLEMS, & PROBLEMS WITH MY AIR CONDITIONER/ HEAT. OVER A 1 YEARS LATER, MY CAR HAS BEEN BACK & FORTH AT THE HBL TYSONS CORNER, VA & MB ANNAPOLIS, MD SVC CNTR OVER 40 TIMES FOR THE SAME REOCCURRING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ARE BECOMING WORSE B/C THE CAR FREEZES; THE STEERING WHEEL MALFUNCTIONS & LOCKS UPON STARTING THE CAR & SOMETIMES, WHILE IN MOTION; IN ADDITION TO OTHER MALFUNCTIONS INVOLVING: SEAT BELT, SEAT HEAD REST, HEADLIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS, REAR FOG LIGHTS, LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS; HEAT/AIR CONDITIONER, SRS, & AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. I'M PAYING A CAR NOTE & I BARELY HAVE MY CAR B/C THE SVC. CNTRS HAVE MY CAR FOR 2-3 WEEKS AT A TIME B/C THEY CAN'T FIX IT. I'VE EVEN BEEN TOLD BY THEM THAT MY PARTICULAR CAR IS TOO INTRICATE TO FIX. I'VE CONTACTED MB CORPORATE IN MONTVALE, NJ VIA TELEPHONICALLY & CORRESPONDENCE, TO ELEVATE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS, BUT, MY LAST 2 COMPLAINTS WERE TO NO AVAIL B/C I HEARD NOTHING FROM THEM AS OF YET. I KEEP ALL OF MY RECEIPTS FROM EACH TIME I'VE DROPPED MY CAR OFF & I'M READY TO PURSUE A LAWSUIT. IN FACT, I'VE CONTACTED BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU, YOUR AGENCY, & SEVERAL LAWYERS B/C I'VE RECENTLY DISCOVERED VIA A CLASS ACTION SUIT, THAT THE YEAR, MAKE, & MODEL OF MY CAR IS INVOLVED IN A NAT'L RECALL WHERE A FAULTY VALVE W/I THE HEAT/AIR CONDITIONER, CAUSES A BUILD-UP OF DEBRIS & WATER, WHICH LEAKS INTO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, CAUSING IT TO MALFUNCTION & SHUT DOWN. HELP ME B/C IT'S OBVIOUS THE CAR IS UNFIXABLE AND TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. ACCORDING TO THE CLASS ACTION, THESE PROBLEMS PRE-EXISTED BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR AND MB WAS AWARE OF THEM PRIOR TO SELLING THE CAR. *TR
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 .