2003 Mercedes-Benz Clk Class Owner Complaints

I HAVE HAD SEAT BELT TROUBLE. WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR IT WAS WEAK TO RETRACT. THAN 9 MONTHS LATER IT GAVE OUT ON ME. I LOOKED INTO IT ONLINE AND IT TURNS OUT ALMOST ALL THESE VEHICLES HAVE THIS PROBLEM BEFORE 100,000 MILES. THERE ARE DOZENS OF FORUMS IN COMPLAINTS PLENTY OF PEOPLE SAYING THEY HAVE THE PROBLEM TO IN EACH. ITS A HAZARD THAT PEOPLE ARE DRIVING THESE CARS AND DECIDE THEY DON'T HAVE $500 TO BUY A SEAT BELT RETRACTOR PLUS $200 IN LABOR. ALSO IT OFTEN LEAVES NO WARNING THAT IT WON'T RETRACT. THERE WILL BE AN ACCIDENT ONE DAY AND SOMEONE WILL DIE AND ITS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX A SEATBELT THAT SHOULD BE WORKING. MINE GAVE OUT OF NO WHERE SO WHEN I WAS AWAY FROM HOME IF I WOULD OF GOTTEN INTO AN ACCIDENT THAT'S A PROBLEM WORTH FIXING. MY GIRLFRIEND IS AN EMT AND SHE SAYS THAT A SEAT BELT PLACED TO HIGH OR TOO LOW CAN CAUSE U TO BE CRUNCHED UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL OR FLY UP OVER INTO THE WINDSHIELD. SO ONE THAT GOES LOOSE ON YOU WHILE DRIVING WILL CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY BECAUSE JUST THE FACT THAT THERE IS MOVING SPACE WILL CAUSE YOU TO WIGGLE LOOSE FROM YOUR SEAT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10558710

Incident

Dec 19, 2013

Mileage

103,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ CLK430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER AND RADIO WERE DEFECTIVE. HE MENTIONED THAT THE PIXELS ON BOTH WERE MISSING. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,879.

NHTSA ID

10400021

Incident

Jan 1, 2011

Mileage

32,879 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ CLK 500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED FLAMES UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND TWO OTHER VEHICLES WERE MODERATELY DAMAGED BY THE FLAMES. HE NOTICED EXCESSIVE POWER STEERING FLUID ON THE GROUND WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS LOCATED. A POLICE OFFICER STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP OR THE LINES/FITTINGS/HOSES WERE THE CAUSES OF THE FAILURE. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR "B" SERVICE, BUT NO FAILURE COULD BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES OF THE FAILURE AND A COPY OF THE REPORT FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 57,528.

NHTSA ID

10240228

Incident

Aug 27, 2008

Mileage

57,528 mi

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. RUSTED AND CORRODED TRANS AT 24,000 MILES CAUSED BY FAULTY MERCEDES VALEO RADIATOR. MERCEDES OWN STAR BULLETIN TELLS DEALERS ABOUT THIS ISSUE BUT MY DEALER DECIDED NOT TO CHECK IT OUT AND NOW MERCEDES AND DEALER ARE REFUSING TO HELP WHEN THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON MANY OF THEIR MODELS AND SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10232784

Incident

Jun 29, 2008

Mileage

24,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ CLK 430. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRACKETS THAT HOLD THE FRONT BUMPER WERE FAILING. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS TO DETACH FROM THE BUMPER. THE DEALER DID NOT STATE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 34,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000.

NHTSA ID

10190664

Incident

Feb 1, 2007

Mileage

29,000 mi

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2003 MERCEDES CLK 500, HAD A BLOWOUT ON THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE. THIS HAPPENED ON A COLD CLEAR DAY WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH. HE TIRE DEALERSHIP INFORMED HER THAT THERE WAS NAIL IN THE TIRE, BUT NOT IN THE SECTION OF THE BLOWOUT. THE TIRE WAS A BRIDGESTONE POTENZA. THE TIRE WAS PURCHASED 21/2 MONTHS AGO. THIS BLOWOUT SPLIT ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE NAIL. THE CONTACT WILL SUBMIT THE TIRE SIZE WITH THE HARD COPY AND SHE STILL HAD THE OLD TIRE THAT BLEW OUT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO WARRANTY FOR THE TIRE. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAD 72000 MILES. *AK

NHTSA ID

10184003

Incident

Feb 19, 2007

Mileage

72,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. NO IMPACT REPORTED. THEN, SIX MONTHS LATER THE SAME TIRE BLEW OUT AGAIN. *AK

NHTSA ID

10089624

Incident

Aug 22, 2004

Mileage

8,000 mi

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN TO PULL INTO THE GARAGE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT A HIGH SPEED. THE CONSUMER'S FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THE CONSUMER APPLIED EXCESSIVE FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING, BUT IT FAILED TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING WHEN IT SMASHED INTO THE GARAGE WALL. THE FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE CAME OUT TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE, BUT INDICATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A 3 FEET LONG BRAKE MARK ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. *AK *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10073868

Incident

Apr 21, 2004

Mileage

21,000 mi

NEW HID CAR LIGHTS ARE TO BRIGHT. THESE NEW LIGHTS HAVE THE SAME EFFECT AS HAVING HIGH BEAMS ON ALL THE TIME. HID LIGHTS BLIND ONCOMING DRIVERS. *LA

NHTSA ID

10041631

Incident

Oct 9, 2003

WHEN THE CONSUMER JACKED UP THE VEHICLE, THE JACK FAILED TO REMAIN STURDY AND THE VEHICLE HAD FELL TO THE GROUND. NLM SCC

NHTSA ID

8018653

Incident

Sep 12, 2002

Mileage

1,100 mi