AI Damage2001 Mercedes-Benz CL500: common problems
Owners of the 2001 Mercedes-Benz CL500 filed 5 complaints with NHTSA, most often about suspension and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 5
What fails most often
- 1 Suspension 60% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 40% of all complaints
- 3 Engine 20% of all complaints
- 4 Exterior lighting 20% of all complaints
- 5 Vehicle speed control 20% of all complaints
- Suspension: 3 complaints (60% of all).
- Electrical system: 2 complaints (40% of all).
- Engine: 1 complaints (20% of all).
- Exterior lighting: 1 complaints (20% of all).
- Vehicle speed control: 1 complaints (20% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 5 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 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 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 instrument cluster caught on fire and almost choked me and my cousin to death smh. It says there was a recall for this but I guess my car is to old. It only has a 130,000 miles on it this shouldnt have been an issue.
This includes the speedometer, the fuel gauge and all the other engine gauges. The cruise control does not work. Searching online, this appears to be a prevalent problem and that was confirmed by my mechanic. I don't understand why this is not a safety recall for this vehicle and the many others affected.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 mercedes-benz cl500. While driving 30 mph, the airmatic warning indicator illuminated. Upon inspecting the vehicle, the contact noticed fluid leaking from under the hood on the driver's side.
The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the hydraulic line was corroded and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the hydraulic fuse system pump needed to be replaced.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 mercedes benz cl500. The contact stated that the active body control sensor illuminated intermittently and then remained lit. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 137,000.
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 14,283 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 39% most complained about).
On average one model year of the CL500 has 6 complaints (8 years in the data). This year has 5, 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.
- Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2001 Mercedes-Benz CL500?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: suspension, electrical system, engine. Total complaints: 5. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: fuel system, fuel smell (20%), rust, corrosion (20%), smoke, burning smell, fire (20%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2001 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 2001 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 2001 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.