AI Damage2002 Mercedes-Benz CL500: common problems
Owners of the 2002 Mercedes-Benz CL500 filed 12 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and suspension. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 12
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 58% of all complaints
- 2 Suspension 25% of all complaints
- 3 Engine 8% of all complaints
- 4 Engine and cooling 8% of all complaints
- 5 Exterior lighting 8% of all complaints
- 6 Forward collision avoidance 8% of all complaints
- 7 Lane departure 8% of all complaints
- 8 Powertrain 8% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 7 complaints (58% of all).
- Suspension: 3 complaints (25% of all).
- Engine: 1 complaints (8% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 1 complaints (8% of all).
- Exterior lighting: 1 complaints (8% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 12 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Lane departure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 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.
Recently I Also had the Sun roof glass shatter from Heat. That now Needs to be replaced. Nothing touched the glass it Just popped one Day when it was hot In CA, donât know of the cold Air from the AC caused it to do that. My car has low miles.
The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the hydraulic power steering needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 122,000.
This is the reason I'm filing a complaint because it almost caused a accident with the light dimming and the cluster going blank.
While driving highway speeds, the instrument panel lights dimmed until they completely failed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was made aware of nhtsa campaign number: 06v028000 (interior lighting).
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 mercedes benz cl500. The contact turned the ignition to the on position, but the vehicle failed to shift out of park. After numerous failed attempts, the vehicle shifted out of the park position. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure.
While driving 50 mph, smoke appeared near the rear of the vehicle. The contact continued to drive and the active body control (abc) warning light illuminated. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer.
The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 mph, smoke started to emit from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that there was fluid leaking from the active body control module. The contact was a certified mechanic who replaced an o-ring.
While driving my 2002 mercedes cl500, I noticed smoke coming from the engine bay and the smell of something burning. Upon inspection it was discovered that a hydraulic suspension hose ruptured and sprayed fluid onto a catalytic converter.
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 10,162 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 28% most complained about).
On average one model year of the CL500 has 6 complaints (8 years in the data). This year has 12, above average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Mercedes-Benz CL500?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, suspension, engine. Total complaints: 12. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (25%), headlights and tail lights (17%), warning lights, check engine (17%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2002 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 2002 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 2002 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.