AI Damage2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK Class: common problems
Owners of the 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK Class filed 7 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and seat belts. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 7
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 29% of all complaints
- 2 Seat belts 29% of all complaints
- 3 Tires 29% of all complaints
- 4 Air bags 14% of all complaints
- 5 Equipment 14% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 2 complaints (29% of all).
- Seat belts: 2 complaints (29% of all).
- Tires: 2 complaints (29% of all).
- Air bags: 1 complaints (14% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Equipment: 1 complaints (14% 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
- 5 L · petrol · 8 cyl
- 5.4 L · petrol · 8 cyl
- automatic, 5-speed
Drive: RWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 7 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Equipment | 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 vehicle was involved in an accident. The impact was so severe that the entire front grill and bumper were ripped off. There was damage on every side of the vehicle. Only the right rear air bag deployed.
The contact stated the front driver's side shoulder seat belt retractor failed to operate. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer who informed the seat belt assembly would need to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 111,000.
Keyes mercedes benz sold me a vehicle ,clk 320, with defective tires , and was unwilling to correct the problem.
While using the cup holder on my 2004 mercedez benz clk vin [xxx] coffee spilled and caused the radio and a/c unit to malfunction. This resulted in almost $2,000 in repair costs. The cup holder in the vehicle is placed directly above the radio and a/c controls.
Spare tire folds over when installed in a turn under 55 mph leaving car extremly unstable.
On monday, april 4th, I was driving my 2004 clk55 convertible to my office, going 55 mph and lost all power. I attempted to put the car into neutral and the car going again, with no success. I was able to pull over on the side of the road, and then drive a few miles per hour to get to a safe place off of the highway.
The seat belt retractor was replaced twice. The seat belt mechanism arm malfunctioned. Also, transmission was serviced for leaking fluid, and not changing gears.
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 12,539 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 34% most complained about).
On average one model year of the CLK Class has 7 complaints (5 years in the data). This year has 7, about average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
- Tires. Tire age by DOT code, bulges, wear pattern.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK Class?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, seat belts, tires. Total complaints: 7. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: seat belts (29%), A/C or heater (14%), infotainment or screen glitches (14%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2004 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 2004 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 2004 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.