2003 Mercedes-Benz CL55 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 2003 Mercedes-Benz CL55, 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
- Electrical233.3%
- Airbags116.7%
- Engine116.7%
- Interior & seats116.7%
- Suspension116.7%
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 Instrument cluster has no light so I cannot see the speed. The dealer refuses the recall. RECALL - #06V028000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 (NA) MERCEDES BENZ CL55. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS SUDDENLY SHUT OFF AND THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO READ THE INSTRUMENT GAUGES. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
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
The seat occupancy sensor on the passenger seat of this car is malfunctioning. This is a RECOGNIZED PROBLEM for Mercedes cars. There are numerous websites and YouTube videos describing this problem, offering replacement sensors, offering bypass kits and describing how to make this repair. (Please see attached for small sample). But Mercedes does not acknowledge this problem and has not responded to correspondence about the problem. Instead, the local dealer has said that it will cost >$1,000 to diagnose the problem and that they will probably have to replace the entire bottom section of the seat, which would cost at least $5,000 for parts and labor. This problem WILL cause the child safety seat feature to malfunction and may keep the passenger side airbag from deploying in a collision. The consumer stated the seat occupancy is defective and the parts are not available for his vehicle.
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 2003 MERCEDES BENZ CL55. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HYDRAULIC FLUID AND RESET THE LIGHT HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE BODY CONTROL SYSTEM, WHICH WAS FOUND TO BE CORRODED AND CAUSED THE STEEL LINING OF THE HOSES TO CORRODE AND LEAK HYDRAULIC FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000.
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
The seat occupancy sensor on the passenger seat of this car is malfunctioning. This is a RECOGNIZED PROBLEM for Mercedes cars. There are numerous websites and YouTube videos describing this problem, offering replacement sensors, offering bypass kits and describing how to make this repair. (Please see attached for small sample). But Mercedes does not acknowledge this problem and has not responded to correspondence about the problem. Instead, the local dealer has said that it will cost >$1,000 to diagnose the problem and that they will probably have to replace the entire bottom section of the seat, which would cost at least $5,000 for parts and labor. This problem WILL cause the child safety seat feature to malfunction and may keep the passenger side airbag from deploying in a collision. The consumer stated the seat occupancy is defective and the parts are not available for his vehicle.
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ CL55 AMG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, HE NOTICED THAT THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL (ABC) WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE DROPPED TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE ABC SYSTEM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,471. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *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 .