2002 Mercedes-Benz CL500 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 2002 Mercedes-Benz CL500, 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
- Electrical743.8%
- Suspension318.8%
- Engine212.5%
- Brakes16.3%
- Exterior lighting16.3%
- Powertrain (other)16.3%
- Driver assistance16.3%
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
The Main Information center they notifies you of 99% of what is going on with the car stopped working completely. Can’t tell how Fast the car is moving or the RPM this also included the entire instrument cluster, In addition to that the battery and electric system just quits even Though the connections are tight. The battery Also drains quickly as A Result Even though the alternator works and the battery is new. I had the entire car shut off for no obvious cause. While I was driving. But because The entire dash is dead I can’t see if there is something else happening. Looked at fuses and they all ring Okay with a meter. I have read about recalls From mercedes for this seemingly exact cause for other year Mercedes but nothing about My car based off the VIN # and year specifically. Recently I Also had the Sun roof glass shatter from Heat. That now Needs to be replaced. Nothing touched the glass it Just popped one Day when it was hot In CA, don’t know of the cold Air from the AC caused it to do that. My car has low miles. The car does run and it drives good when it does Run except For the issues mentioned Thank You Rusty A
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ CL500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
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
I HAVE A MERCEDES CL500 WHILE DRIVING THE CAR THE LIGHTS IN THE SPEEDOMETER EVERYTHING WENT OUT I HAD TO CHECK IT WHEN I GOT HOME I WAS ABLE TO GET SPEEDOMETER WORKING AGAIN GAS GAUGE BY REPLACING FUSE THE LIGHTS IN THE BACKGROUND ARE STILL NOT WORKING ALSO I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL I HAVE A LEAK SUSPENSION GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS A RECALL TO GET THIS FIXED AND HOW I GO ABOUT THIS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ CL500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS ABNORMALLY LOWERING TO THE GROUND. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ CL500. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, SMOKE APPEARED NEAR THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE AND THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL (ABC) WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABC HIGH PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V263000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SUSPENSION). THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.
WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 MERCEDES CL500, I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE BAY AND THE SMELL OF SOMETHING BURNING. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT A HYDRAULIC SUSPENSION HOSE RUPTURED AND SPRAYED FLUID ONTO A CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THIS RESULTED IN A LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE AND SMALL FLAMES STARTING TO APPEAR RIGHT BEFORE THE PASSENGER SIDE ENGINE BAY WAS HOSED DOWN WITH WATER. THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP ADVISED THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE AND A RECALL WAS ISSUED/PERFORMED BACK IN 2005/2007. MERCEDES ADVISED ME NO FURTHER WORK WOULD BE DONE UNDER THE RECALL. I AM REPORTING THIS TO NHTSA AS THIS IS A DANGEROUS SAFETY RELATED RECURRING DEFECT REPORTED ON MANY WEBSITES/FORUMS, YET MERCEDES REFUSES TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO PERMANENTLY RESOLVE IT. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 MERCEDES CL500, I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE BAY AND THE SMELL OF SOMETHING BURNING. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT A HYDRAULIC SUSPENSION HOSE RUPTURED AND SPRAYED FLUID ONTO A CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THIS RESULTED IN A LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE AND SMALL FLAMES STARTING TO APPEAR RIGHT BEFORE THE PASSENGER SIDE ENGINE BAY WAS HOSED DOWN WITH WATER. THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP ADVISED THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE AND A RECALL WAS ISSUED/PERFORMED BACK IN 2005/2007. MERCEDES ADVISED ME NO FURTHER WORK WOULD BE DONE UNDER THE RECALL. I AM REPORTING THIS TO NHTSA AS THIS IS A DANGEROUS SAFETY RELATED RECURRING DEFECT REPORTED ON MANY WEBSITES/FORUMS, YET MERCEDES REFUSES TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO PERMANENTLY RESOLVE IT. *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 WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT AND IT WAS RAINING HAD THE WIPERS AND THE HIGH BEAMS ON. THEN ALL OF SUDDEN THE HIGH BEANS WENT OUT AND THE DASH WENT BLACK BLACK CAUSING LIMITED VISIBILITY. THIS IS THE REASON I'M FILING A COMPLAINT BECAUSE IT ALMOST CAUSED A ACCIDENT WITH THE LIGHT DIMMING AND THE CLUSTER GOING BLANK.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ CL500. THE CONTACT TURNED THE IGNITION TO THE ON POSITION, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. AFTER NUMEROUS FAILED ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 77,000.
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
The Main Information center they notifies you of 99% of what is going on with the car stopped working completely. Can’t tell how Fast the car is moving or the RPM this also included the entire instrument cluster, In addition to that the battery and electric system just quits even Though the connections are tight. The battery Also drains quickly as A Result Even though the alternator works and the battery is new. I had the entire car shut off for no obvious cause. While I was driving. But because The entire dash is dead I can’t see if there is something else happening. Looked at fuses and they all ring Okay with a meter. I have read about recalls From mercedes for this seemingly exact cause for other year Mercedes but nothing about My car based off the VIN # and year specifically. Recently I Also had the Sun roof glass shatter from Heat. That now Needs to be replaced. Nothing touched the glass it Just popped one Day when it was hot In CA, don’t know of the cold Air from the AC caused it to do that. My car has low miles. The car does run and it drives good when it does Run except For the issues mentioned Thank You Rusty A
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 .