AI Damage2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK Class: common problems
Owners of the 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK Class filed 3 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 3
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 33% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 33% of all complaints
- 3 Engine and cooling 33% of all complaints
- 4 Exterior lighting 33% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel/propulsion system 33% of all complaints
- 6 Service brakes 33% of all complaints
- Air bags: 1 complaints (33% of all).
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (33% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 1 complaints (33% of all).
- Exterior lighting: 1 complaints (33% of all).
- Fuel/propulsion system: 1 complaints (33% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.5 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- 5 L · petrol · 8 cyl
- 5.4 L · petrol · 8 cyl
- automatic, 5-speed
- automatic, 7-speed
Drive: RWD
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 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.
Bought the car in oct.of 2013. Third brake warning comes on from time to time. Have checked my brake lights with someone pushing the brake pedal while I observed more than once and they work fine. Two of my co-workers have told me recently while following me that my third brake light does not always work.
We smelled the odor of gasoline in our garage, so took our vehicle to mercedes of henderson. We were informed that the fuel tank was cracked around the top mounting bolt and needed to be replaced. Upon further investigation, we noted that this is an ongoing problem with the mercedes e and clk class vehicles.
My complaint is against mercedes-benz, usa for their failure to inform me of the substantive defects and recalls at the time of my purchase of the 2006 mercedes c280; vin [xxx]. On april 24, 2009, I engaged in a contract with mercedes benz financial services for the purchase of the above 2006 c-280.
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 17,152 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 47% most complained about).
On average one model year of the CLK Class has 7 complaints (5 years in the data). This year has 3, below average.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- 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 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK Class?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, electrical system, engine and cooling. Total complaints: 3.
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2006 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 2006 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 2006 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.