2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 Owner Complaints

About 3 years ago, the passenger side of my door started randomly swinging open while I was driving. It was extremely dangerous and almost caused a serious accident the first time it happened. I spent over $1000 to get it fixed. Now, I am 7 months pregnant and it is happening again to the drivers side door. I cannot even drive the car now, because it doesn’t latch at all when I shut the door. I have to figure out a way to keep it shut so I can take it to get fixed again. It was completely unwarranted both times, almost causing serious accidents. I have seen blog posts online of this same incident happening with the same car. This needs to be recalled immediately, and drivers shouldn’t have to pay top dollar (or their life) to fix an issue Mercedes bad door locking mechanism created.

NHTSA ID

11613587

Incident

Sep 6, 2024

I purchased 4 new tires, my car calls for a staggered fitment (225/45R17 DOT# 1RB7RR9872922 and 1RB7RR9811521 up front and 245/40R17 DOT# 1RB8NR981112 and 1RB8NR9811022 in the rear). Upon returning home, I noticed the tires were installed backwards with the wider ones up front. This will cause the tires to rub the shock absorbers and will lead to tire blowouts and likely much more damage to my vehicle or injury to myself and or others. I called Firestone when realizing this and they said to bring it back and they would fix it. Had I trusted the professionals to do their job correctly and not double checked their work I would have blown out the two front tires within a few thousand miles; fortunately for me, I do not trust anyone to work on my vehicles but myself. Coincidentally, Firestone has an advertisement in their lobby that says "Fixed right or its free guarantee. Ask for details." When I asked the store manager about the sign, I was literally laughed at and told I am not getting free tires. They need to be held accountable for their advertisements and either refund me the purchase amount or they need to remove / edit their signs likely at all 22,000+ locations nationwide.

NHTSA ID

11604697

Incident

May 24, 2024

The vehicle during a severe accident, in which the other drivers air bags were deployed, our vehicles airbags did not in fact deploy at any rate. Which put all passengers in severe danger causing injuries that could have been avoided if they worked properly. Also the drivers seat belt (which was worn at the time of the accident) due to the immense collision at one point clicks unhinged and would no longer actively snap back causing multiple injuries as well. This incident will call for suit.

NHTSA ID

11509943

Incident

Feb 10, 2023

THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED ON THEIR OWN WITHOUT A COLLISION. I WAS DRIVING 30 MPH ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET WITH ROADS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION WHEN ALL THE SUDDEN THE STEERING WHEEL AND PASSENGER DASH AIRBAGS WENT OFF OUT OF N O WHERE.

NHTSA ID

11302271

Incident

Jan 25, 2020

Mileage

217,000 mi

ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON , WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING, DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW STOPPED WORKING, MULTIPLE ERROR LIGHTS, ON MULTIPLE DATES.

NHTSA ID

10944180

Incident

Jan 9, 2017

ON O AROUND SEPTEMBER 14, 2016 I FUELED THIS AUTO I RECENTLY PURCHASED AS A SECOND CAR. MY GARAGE BEGAN TO WREAK HEAVILY OF GASOLINE. MY HOME IS TOTALLY ELECTRIC AND I HAVE NO GAS POWERED ITEMS IN THERE. MY OTHER VEHICLE NEVER SMELLS AND I HAVE HAD IT 2 YEARS. I REMOVED THE MB AND THE SMELL NO LONGER EXISTED, ELIMINATING ANY OTHER SOURCE. I RESEARCHED THIS COMPLAINT ON THE INTERNET AND WAS SHOCKED AT THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS IGNORED AND THE OBVIOUS IMPENDING DANGERS. THIS CAR HAD ONLY 68000 MILES AND SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN SERVICED FREQUENTLY PER CAR FAX. PER INTERNET COMPLAINTS THIS TRAVESTY WAS NEVER RECOGNIZED B MBUSA AND OWNERS WERE LEFT HOLDING THE LEMON AND DEALERS GOT AWAY AS WELL. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE I DO NOT KNOW WHAT ELSE IS CONNECTED TO THIS FUEL DILEMMA! I KNOW THE DANGERS AND I DO NOT WANT IT TO ERUPT IN FIRE AND DESTROY ME, MY HOUSE NOR MY NEW PORSCHE! THIS SEEMS COSTLY AND AN ACCIDENT AWAITING TO HAPPEN. I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY OTHERS WITH DOCUMENTED PROBLEMS ON THE INTERNET HAVE NOT REGISTERED A COMPLAINT WITH YOU. I AM APPALLED AND CHAGRINED AT MBUSA FOR ALLOWING THIS PROBLEM TO EXIST. I WILL BE CONTACTING EVERY ONE I AM ABLE TO REGARDING THE SERIOUS AND EMINENT DANGER OF THIS FUEL LINE MALADY.

NHTSA ID

10909539

Incident

Sep 14, 2016

Mileage

69,000 mi

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS DEVELOPED A CONDITION THAT CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT VERY ROUGHLY AT LOW SPEEDS. THIS SHIFTING CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO JERK AND STUTTER WHEN DOWN SHIFTING OR SHIFTING FROM 1ST OR 2ND GEAR. I HAVE HAD A TRANSMISSION SERVICE, REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION, REPLACEMENT RADIATOR ALL INSTALLED TO NO AVAIL. THE CONDITION IS AT BEST A NUISANCE, AND AT ITS WORST A SAFETY CONCERN. THIS ROUGH SHIFTING OCCURS IN THE LOWER GEARS, AND AT LOWER SPEEDS.

NHTSA ID

10861476

Incident

Jul 9, 2013

Mileage

97,000 mi

WE WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT A COMPLAINT. WE OWN A 2004 CLK320 WHICH HAS PRESENTED WITH CONTINUING PROBLEMS. WHEN WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, THE REAR AXLE ALIGNMENT WAS DEFECTIVE IN WHICH REQUIRED REALIGNMENT AND REAR TIRE REPLACEMENT. AT 21,937 MILES THE CAR PRESENTED WITH TRANSMISSION SHIFTING PROBLEMS. THE CAR WOULD JERK/STALL WHILE BEING DRIVEN. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS AS IT WAS DIFFICULT TO MERGE WITH TRAFFIC, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE FELT WE WERE GOING TO GET REAR-ENDED AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE MERCEDES-BENZ DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM WHICH REQUIRED THE TRANSMISSION TO BE FLUSHED. THEN AGAIN AT 28,714 MILES THE VEHICLE PRESENTED WITH RECURRING TRANSMISSION SHIFTING PROBLEMS, JERKING & STALLING.. WE SCHEDULED A MERCEDES-BENZ DEPARTMENT SERVICE AND THE DIAGNOSES WAS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION REPLACE AT OVER $9,000. WE REQUESTED THAT MERCEDES-BENZ OF AMERICA REPLACE OR ASSIST US WITH THE REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE AT NO COST TO US THE CUSTOMER SINCE THE VEHICLE IS A "LEMON". THE MERCEDES BENZ REPRESENTATIVE SAID THAT HE WOULD CONTACT THE DEALER AND GET BACK TO US WITHIN 24 HOURS. WE NEVER HEARD BACK FROM HIM EVEN AFTER LEAVING NUMEROUS VOICE MAIL MESSAGES. WE HAVE SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND NUMEROUS SIMILAR TRANSMISSION COMPLAINTS. THIS PROBLEM IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND MERCEDES-BENZ SHOULD RECALL THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10621264

Incident

Jul 25, 2014

Mileage

28,714 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ CLK320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED WHILE THE SRS PANEL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10513150

Incident

May 15, 2013

Mileage

38,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ CLK320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT WEBBING WOULD NOT RETRACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO SHOP AND AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY BOTH STATED THAT THE SEAT BEAT ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000. UPDATED 07/13/11*LJ

NHTSA ID

10402076

Incident

Apr 12, 2011

Mileage

150,000 mi

AFTER STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT, I WENT THRU THE STREET AND GOING LESS THAN 25 MPH AND IN LESS THAN 100 YARDS DROVE DIRECTLY INTO AN OVERHEAD LIGHT STANDARD IN A MEDIAN STRIP. I DON'T KNOW TO THIS DAY WHAT HAPPENED. I TOLD MY AUTO INSURANCE COMPANY (HARTFORD- AARP) THAT I MUST HAVE COUGHED AND MY EYES CLOSED CAUSING ME TO RUN INTO THE LIGHT. TO THIS DAY I AM NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED, .DID I RUN INTO THE LIGHT STANDARD AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED OF DID THE AIRBAGS DEPLOY AND CAUSE ME TO RUN INTO THE LIGHT STANDARD? MY WIFE THINKS THAT THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHICH CAUSED ME TO RUN INTO THE LIGHT STANDARD.MY WIFE NOR I FELT NO IMPACT OF ANY TYPE PRIOR TO THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYING, EG DID NOT NOTICE RUNNING INTO A CURB OR ANYTHING ELSE. THIS HAPPENED IN MAY OF 2009 BUT THERE JUST WAS AN ARTICLE IN OUR LOCAL PAPER WHERE THE READER WAS WRITING ABOUT AN UNEXPLAINED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WITHOUT ANY IMPACT IN THEIR MERCEDES I AM SURE MERCEDES BENZ WOULD DENY ANY BLAME FOR MY QUESTIONABLE DEPLOYMENT OF MY AIRBAG. I WOULD LIKE THIS INCIDENT ON RECORD. MY CLK 320 WITH LESS THAN 25,000 MILES AND GOING LESS THAN 25 MPH WAS TOTALED AND WE HAD TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10351843

Incident

May 14, 2009

Mileage

25,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ CLK320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. WHEN SHE HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, IT FAILED INSPECTION SINCE THE LIGHT WAS ON. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SECONDARY AIR INJECTION SYSTEM WAS THE CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. A MECHANIC INFORMED HER OF RECALL 08V303000, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BUT WHEN SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER; SHE WAS TOLD THAT HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 87,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

NHTSA ID

10307825

Incident

Sep 20, 2009

Mileage

80,000 mi

MY VOLTAGE REGULATOR WENT OUT IN MY BENZ. IT SURGED AND DESTROYED OTHER COMPONENTS OF MY VEHICLE. NOT TOO MENTION THAT THIS IS HIGHLY IN SAFE. I RESEARCHED ON LINE, AND MERCEDES BENZ HAD DONE A VOLUNTARY RECALL, BUT THEY ARE NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THE ISSUE NOW, AND ARE DENYING IT. THEY SAY MY VIN DOESN'T MATCH, AND I QUESTIONED THERE INTEGRITY. THIS IS SUCH A DANGEROUS ISSUE, AND I HAVE A TWO YEAR OLD SON THAT MUST RIDE IN THIS CARE. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME. THEY KNOW THE PROBLEM EXISTS, AND IT IS DANGEROUS, BUT REFUSE TO FIX IT- NOW THAT IS UNDER OWNERSHIP. (AP) DAIMLERCHRYSLER AG SAID THURSDAY IT IS RECALLING SOME 1.3 MILLION MERCEDES-BENZ CARS WORLDWIDE TO FIX PROBLEMS WITH THEIR ALTERNATORS AND BATTERIES. THE GERMAN-U.S. AUTO MAKER SAID IT WILL CHECK THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR IN THE ALTERNATOR ON SIX- AND EIGHT-CYLINDER MODELS AND REPLACE THE REGULATOR IF NEEDED. IT SAID IT WOULD INSTALL BATTERY CONTROL SOFTWARE ON THE E-CLASS AND CLS-CLASS MODELS BUILT FROM JANUARY 2002-JANUARY 2005. THE COMPANY ALSO SAID THE BRAKING SYSTEM ON THE E, SL AND CLS-CLASS MADE SINCE JUNE 2001 WOULD BE UPDATED. THE COMPANY SAID THE RECALL WAS PART OF ITS EFFORT TO IMPROVE ITS RENEWED EMPHASIS ON ITS CARS AND IS NOTIFYING ITS CUSTOMERS IN WRITING OF THE RECALL. THE COMPANY HAS SET UP A HOT LINE FOR EUROPEAN CUSTOMERS AT 800-1-777-7777. IN THE UNITED STATES, CUSTOMERS CAN CALL 1-800-FOR-MERC. *TR

NHTSA ID

10276470

Incident

Jun 15, 2004

Mileage

70,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ CLK320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT INDICATOR IS ILLUMINATED, WHICH MEANS THE SRS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE PREVENTS THE SEAT BELT FROM LOCKING PROPERLY. THERE IS ALSO A TELE-AIDE INDICATOR FLASHING IN THE CENTER OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 03V534000 (SEAT BELTS) AND 08V303000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE REPAIR SHOP FOR THE PAST TWO DAYS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000. UPDATED 05/06/09. *LJ UPDATED 05/07/09.*JB

NHTSA ID

10265466

Incident

Apr 9, 2009

Mileage

23,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ CLK320. WHEN THE CONTACT SAT DOWN AND STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE ARM EXTENDERS CAME FORWARD AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT MOVE AS A RESULT. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT NEW ARM EXTENDERS WERE NEEDED. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF, THE ARM EXTENDERS STAY IN ONE PLACE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE MAY BE ELECTRICAL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 30,155. UPDATED 01/08/09 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED AT A REPAIR SHOP. THE REPAIRMAN HAD TO PULL THE SEAT BELT RETRACTORS APART TO GET IT TO OPERATE. UPDATED 01/09/09. *JB

NHTSA ID

10251423

Incident

Nov 26, 2008

Mileage

30,155 mi

PASSENGER LATCH BROKE AND DOOR WOULD NOT HOLD CLOSED . MB FIXED THIS. NOW THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO THE DRIVERS SIDE. WHILE DRIVING THE DOOR CAME OPEN AND WOULD NOT LATCH SHUT. COULD HAVE CAUSED SEVERE INJURY. I HAD TO DRIVE THE CAR TO MB WHILE HOLDING DOOR CLOSED. THEY WOULD NOT COVER THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10211829

Incident

Dec 7, 2007