AI Damage2001 Mercedes-Benz CLK Class: common problems
Owners of the 2001 Mercedes-Benz CLK Class filed 14 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 14
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 36% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 29% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 29% of all complaints
- 4 Fuel system 7% of all complaints
- 5 Structure 7% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 5 complaints (36% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 4 complaints (29% of all).
- Powertrain: 4 complaints (29% of all).
- Fuel system: 1 complaints (7% of all).
- Structure: 1 complaints (7% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.2 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- 4.3 L · petrol · 8 cyl
- 5.4 L · petrol · 8 cyl
- automatic, 5-speed
Drive: RWD
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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 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 pixels on the instrument cluster went out and you can no longer tell what gear you are in. I've brought the car to my local dealer for their inspection and I was quoted $1500 for the repair because it is not cover under warranty.
Fuel gauge not reading correct fuel. After filling tank, fuel gauge reads empty. After approx 20 miles of driving fuel gauge moves to full. Fuel gauge then continues to read inaccurate measurements. I am using the mileage to know when to refuel.
Engine stalling and failure to start due to crankshaft position sensor (cps) failure. Car is a 2001 clk430 with approx 60,000 miles.
Instrument cluster of my 2001 mercedes benz clk430 is faulty. I cannot read the gear indicator since the led lights have gone out. Not knowing what gear I am in can cause an error while driving that can lead to an accident. Instrument cluster was working fine until a couple of weeks ago where led started to fail.
The instrument cluster in my 2001 mercedes-benz clk430 does not function properly. The pixels in the gear selector, temperature and clock section do not light up. This makes it impossible to tell what gear the car is in, and poses a safety hazard. The "p" and "r" are difficult to distinguish.
The automatic transmission in my 2001 mercedes-benz clk430 will frequently become stuck in only one gear. Most often 3rd gear, but sometimes 2nd. This is a terrifying situation for me, especially in traffic, as the automobile does not accelerate from a stop in 3rd gear and abruptly slows when letting off the…
Dt*: the contact stated water was spilled on the console causing the transmission to be inoperable. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The dealer replaced the electronic control unit in the console which corrected the problem. Updated 8/14/2006 -
I remove my foot off the brake pedal, the car running back out of the parking stall as if it was in the reverse gear. I placed my foot back on the brake pedal to stop the car movement. I place the shifter back in the drive location and drive the car back to the original place.
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 CLK Class has 7 complaints (5 years in the data). This year has 14, above average.
What to check before buying
- 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.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2001 Mercedes-Benz CLK Class?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, engine and cooling, powertrain. Total complaints: 14. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: stalls while driving (29%), fuel system, fuel smell (7%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2001 Mercedes-Benz CLK Class?
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 CLK Class 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.