AI Damage2001 Mercedes-Benz CL600: common problems
Owners of the 2001 Mercedes-Benz CL600 filed 14 complaints with NHTSA, most often about suspension and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 14
What fails most often
- 1 Suspension 50% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 29% of all complaints
- 3 Engine and cooling 14% of all complaints
- 4 Exterior lighting 14% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel/propulsion system 14% of all complaints
- 6 Structure 14% of all complaints
- 7 Visibility 14% of all complaints
- 8 Air bags 7% of all complaints
- Suspension: 7 complaints (50% of all).
- Electrical system: 4 complaints (29% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 2 complaints (14% of all).
- Exterior lighting: 2 complaints (14% of all).
- Fuel/propulsion system: 2 complaints (14% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 14 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 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 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.
R headlight turn signal will not work (rest of headlight works) randomly flash check different lights and all work. Random issues with front windows. Abc light. Car has less than 54,000 miles on it.
The vehicle ran out of fuel due to the fuel gauge failure. The contact was able to refuel the vehicle. While traveling over unleveled land or a bumpy road, the instrument panel flickered. The vehicle was taken to a repair shop and the mechanic repaired the vehicle with a hose kit; however, the failure recurred.
The contact stated that flames appeared from the hood of the vehicle without warning. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic who stated that the power booster line, evaporation hose, and hydraulic hose needed to be replaced.
Small fire started underneath the vehicle when getting off the expressway after traveling about 12 miles. Started to see smoke while stopped at a light. Saw small flames when I stopped to look for source of smoke. Recent repairs made heater core replaced. Also water pump replaced. Also upper radiator hose replaced.
The contact stated that at engine startup, the srs warning light illuminated. The contact also stated that while traveling 25-30 mph, the abc warning light and both turning signals illuminated.
The contact stated that while the vehicle was turned off, a fire erupted from the dash board area. The fire was extinguished. A fire report was not filed. The manufacturer was contacted but denied any assistance with repairs to the failure. The contact did not confirm the cause of the fire.
While the contact was driving approximately 50 mph, the abc warning light illuminated and remained illuminated until the engine was turned off. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis.
The mercedes dealership repair facility of chicago informed me that it was caused by an oil leak in the active body control high pressure line. Since the repair on june 1, 2009, for which a recall was never mentioned, the active body control system caused the body to touch the tires again on june 20, 2009 and I towed…
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 9,552 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 26% most complained about).
On average one model year of the CL600 has 5 complaints (6 years in the data). This year has 14, above 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 and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- 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 CL600?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: suspension, electrical system, engine and cooling. Total complaints: 14. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (36%), windows, sunroof (29%), warning lights, check engine (14%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2001 Mercedes-Benz CL600?
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 CL600 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.