AI DamageMercedes-Benz CLK320: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Mercedes-Benz CLK320 across 9 model years: 115 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 27% of all complaints
- 2 Air bags 17% of all complaints
- 3 Seat belts 11% of all complaints
- 4 Structure 10% of all complaints
- 5 Tires 9% of all complaints
- 6 Powertrain 7% of all complaints
- 7 Vehicle speed control 7% of all complaints
- 8 Engine and cooling 6% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 31 complaints (27% of all).
- Air bags: 19 complaints (17% of all), 13 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Seat belts: 13 complaints (11% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Structure: 11 complaints (10% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Tires: 10 complaints (9% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 115 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 | 31 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 19 | 13 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 13 | 2 | 0 |
| Structure | 11 | 1 | 0 |
| Tires | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 8 | 4 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 3 | 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.
Gear slipping and misfires as well to the ecm unit. As well as sensor issues causing emissions failures and false reads.
Also the drivers seat belt (which was worn at the time of the accident) due to the immense collision at one point clicks unhinged and would no longer actively snap back causing multiple injuries as well. This incident will call for suit.
I could move my hands, feet without numbness or tingling neck didn't hurt, chest had sharp pinpoint pain, there was smoke, engine was damaged I was worried about fire. Reached for seatbelt a guy wanted me to stay. Then firefighter said to leave to spray. Ems on scene.
The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The vin was unknown. The failure mileage was 133,000.
The mechanic noted that the control arm was hollow and seemed to be rusting. He was able to detect that the driver side control arm had a similar problem in the making and that the stabilizer bar had stress crack. All were replaced over the next few weeks while I was on vacation.
After stopping at a red light, I went thru the street and going less than 25 mph and in less than 100 yards drove directly into an overhead light standard in a median strip. I don't know to this day what happened.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
Other models of this make
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 2026-11-05.