AI Damage2000 Mercedes-Benz CL500: common problems
Owners of the 2000 Mercedes-Benz CL500 filed 6 complaints with NHTSA, most often about suspension and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 6
What fails most often
- 1 Suspension 50% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 33% of all complaints
- 3 Engine 17% of all complaints
- Suspension: 3 complaints (50% of all).
- Electrical system: 2 complaints (33% of all).
- Engine: 1 complaints (17% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 6 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The contact stated that while driving at 60 mph, the suspension system nearly caught fire. The contact stated that there was a considerable amount of smoke coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed and repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 mercedes benz cl500. While traveling approximately 40 mph, the instrument cluster failed to work and went completely blank several times. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where it was diagnosed that the instrument cluster needed to be replaced.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 mercedes cl500. The contact stated that while driving at 30 mph, the vehicle dropped to the ground. In addition, the contact stated that the active body control is too low please stop vehicle warning indicator illuminated. The failure occurred on several occasions.
The contact stated that while driving 80 mph, the vehicle overheated. The contact stopped and restarted the vehicle however, the vehicle later stalled. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic, who stated that the vehicle overheated and the crank shaft position sensor was damaged. The vehicle was not repaired.
Within seconds, there was smoke coming from the vehicle rear. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic where the contact was informed that the suspension hose had failed. The vehicle was taken to a second mechanic where the suspension hose was replaced.
Dt*: the contact stated the instrument cluster did not illuminate properly on two occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined the instrument cluster needed to be replaced. There was a nhtsa recall #06v028000 regarding interior lighting. The vehicle was not included in the recall due to the vin.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 13,281 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 36% most complained about).
On average one model year of the CL500 has 6 complaints (8 years in the data). This year has 6, about average.
What to check before buying
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2000 Mercedes-Benz CL500?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: suspension, electrical system, engine. Total complaints: 6. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (33%), overheating, coolant loss (17%), stalls while driving (17%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2000 Mercedes-Benz CL500?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2000 Mercedes-Benz CL500 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2000 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.