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FaultScore report

1999 Mercedes Benz CLK320 problems

Owners have filed 29 complaints about the 1999 Mercedes Benz CLK320 with NHTSA between 1999 and 2016. The largest single group is the engine & cooling. Across this model's run it ranks 6 of 7 worst.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the Mercedes Benz CLK320 All 1999 cars
C

FaultScore 47/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Mercedes Benz CLK320.

How this is worked out

The numbers

29

Complaints

1

Crashes reported

1

Fires reported

0

Injuries reported

63,989 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

11%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

What kind of bad

The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.

Complaint volume 64 vs 50 Severity 36 vs 50 Early failure 19 vs 50
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 64
Against the median year of the Mercedes Benz CLK320. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 36
6.9% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — 19
11% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.

How 1999 compares with every other Mercedes Benz CLK320

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 1999 Mercedes Benz CLK320

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Engine & Cooling 5 17.2%

0 crashes, 1 fires · median 75,000 mi

Other & Unspecified 4 13.8%

1 crashes, 0 fires

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 3 10.3%

Median failure at 129,500 miles

Fuel & Propulsion 3 10.3%
Suspension 2 6.9%
Body & Structure 2 6.9%

Median failure at 60,000 miles

Transmission & Drivetrain 2 6.9%

Median failure at 59,000 miles

Child Seats 1 3.4%
Equipment & Accessories 1 3.4%

Median failure at 97,235 miles

Seats 1 3.4%
Tires 1 3.4%

Median failure at 3,000 miles

Lights 1 3.4%
Brakes 1 3.4%
Steering 1 3.4%
Electrical System 1 3.4%

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

1,000 – 9,999 miles 1 11.1%
50,000 – 74,999 miles 4 44.4%
75,000 – 99,999 miles 3 33.3%
150,000+ miles 1 11.1%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Apr 1999 peak 8 Jan 2016

NHTSA investigations into the 1999 Mercedes Benz CLK320

An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.

PE03058 Opened 17 Dec 2003 Closed 22 Apr 2004 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY FAILURE

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HARMONIC BALANCER FAILURE THAT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER-STEERING ASSIST.ODI HAS RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 546 NON-DUPLICATIVE REPORTS THAT ALLEGE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HARMONIC BALANCER FAILURE ON ALL MERCEDES-BENZ VEHICLES USING THE SUBJECT COMPONENT.THE SUBJECT COMPONENT FAILURES ARE PROGRESSIVE IN NATURE AND ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINTS AND WARRANT CLAIMS INVOLVED A FAILURE THAT HAD PROGRESSED FAR ENOUGH TO EFFECT POWER STEERING PERFORMANCE (6 OF...

Recalls on the 1999 Mercedes Benz CLK320

A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous enough to fix for free — however old the car is.

United States — NHTSA

99V030000

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A DEFECTIVE WELD WAS DISCOVERED ON THE WELD NUT FOR THE BOLT USED TO SECURE THE FRONT SHOULDER SEAT BELT GUIDES.

Risk: DUE TO THIS DEFECTIVE WELD, THE ANCHORAGES MAY NOT ADEQUATELY SECURE THE FRONT SEAT BELTS IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

Merion Station, PA Crash

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

MERCEDES-BENZ, DEVON, PA, SAYS FLOOR MAT JAMMED ACCELERATOR AS DRIVER BRAKED.

NHTSA complaint #754326 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Unknown, UN Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

THE VEHICLE STARTED BACK FIRING AND STALLING, IT SUDDENTLY LOST ALL POWER, TRACTION LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH, WHILE THE CONSUMER PULLED TO THE SIDE THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #784130 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

at 199,000 miles Sacramento, CA

VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ CLK320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE SUN ROOF SUDDENLY SHATTERED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 199,000.

NHTSA complaint #10817589 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 97,235 miles Rowlett, TX

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

REAR ROLL BAR WILL NOT RAISE OR LOWER, COULD BE FATAL TO REAR PASSENGERS IN A ROLL OVER SITUATION. ROLL BAR/ HEAD RESTRAINTS STUCK IN LOWER POSITION. THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM AT FIRST, NOW IT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. SWITCH WILL NOT RAISE OR LOWER ROLL BAR ALL THE WAY; AS A RESULT, CANNOT RAISE THE CONVERTIBLE TOP. THE TOP WILL NOT RAISE OR LOWER UNLESS THE ROLL BAR IS ALL THE WAY DOWN. WILL NOT RELEASE SO THAT I CAN MANUALLY RAISE THE TOP EITHER. THIS IS A DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED.

NHTSA complaint #10403731 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 60,000 miles NEW Rochelle, NY

STRUCTURE:BODY

MERCEDES BENZ 1999 CLK320: THE OUTSIDE MIRROR ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR HAS TURNED SO DARK, IT IS VIRTUALLY BLACK AND THE DRIVER CANNOT SEE ANYTHING IN IT. THIS INABILITY TO SEE IN THIS EXTERIOR SIDE-VIEW MIRROR IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. IT PROBABLY IS CAUSED BY CHANGES IN THE COATING THAT IS SUPPOSED TO EITHER HEAT THE MIRROR OR DIM IT.

NHTSA complaint #10293531 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 60,000 miles NEW Rochelle, NY

VISIBILITY

MERCEDES BENZ 1999 CLK320: THE OUTSIDE MIRROR ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR HAS TURNED SO DARK, IT IS VIRTUALLY BLACK AND THE DRIVER CANNOT SEE ANYTHING IN IT. THIS INABILITY TO SEE IN THIS EXTERIOR SIDE-VIEW MIRROR IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. IT PROBABLY IS CAUSED BY CHANGES IN THE COATING THAT IS SUPPOSED TO EITHER HEAT THE MIRROR OR DIM IT.

NHTSA complaint #10293531 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 59,000 miles Joliet, IL

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

MASSIVE LOSS OF TRANSMISSION FLUID FROM SEALED TRANSMISSION UNIT. 1999 MERCEDES BENZ CLK 320 CAUSING TRANS TO STOP FUNCTIONING WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA complaint #10280370 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 75,000 miles Jackson Heights, NY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT A FAULTY CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR IN MERCEDES BENZ VEHICLES THAT PREVENTS CARS FROM STARTING AND ALSO SHUTS THEM OFF WHILST ON THE ROAD AND IN MOTION. CAR DIED ON ME 6 TIMES. LUCKILY, I WASN'T TRAVELING VERY FAST BUT THIS IS VERY UNSAFE BUT I DID CAUSE A TRAFFIC DELAY AND BLOCKED THE ROAD SEVERAL TIMES WHILE STALLED.

NHTSA complaint #10162880 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 76,000 miles Kettering, MD

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

DT: VEHICLE IS BURNING OIL. DEALER SAID THEY CAN'T FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BURNING EXCESSIVE OIL, AND RECOMMENDED THAT THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER LOOK INTO IT.

NHTSA complaint #10126667 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 63,989 miles SAN Diego, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

(1) VIBRATIONS OF ENGINE AT IDLE WAS FELT 1 DAY PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. (2) HEARD LOUD/KNOCKING NOISE THE NEXT DAY WHILE DRIVING HOME. (3) HOME INSPECTIONS REVEALED DISENGAGEMENT OF THE OUTER BELT PULLEY FROM THE HARMONIC BALANCER.*AK (4) CALLED THE SAN DIEGO DEALER FOR A REPAIR/REPLACEMENT. (5) THE MODEL IS CLK 320, 1999, APPROXIMATELY 64,000 MILES WHEN THIS HAPPENED. (6) DIRECTED TO THIS SITE FROM AN INTERNET FORUM, WHOSE HUNDRED OF MEMBERS HAD STATED THE SAME PROBLEMS. (7) SURPRISED TO SEE THAT ODI DID NOT FIND THE DEFECT SERIOUS ENOUGH TO FORCE THE MANUFACTURER RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #10093459 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 3,000 miles Estero, FL

TIRES

THE TIRES EXPERIENCED EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR, THE VEHICLE HAD A FRONT ALIGNMENT, AND THE TIRES WERE ROTATED, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED.

NHTSA complaint #10009089 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Merion Station, PA Crash

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

MERCEDES-BENZ, DEVON, PA, SAYS FLOOR MAT JAMMED ACCELERATOR AS DRIVER BRAKED.

NHTSA complaint #754326 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

West Palm Beach, FL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 10 MPH, POWER STEERING WENT OUT, DEALER REPLACED THE LOWER ENGINE PULLEY.

NHTSA complaint #898610 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Atlanta, GA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

SINCE THE DATE OF OWNERSHIP CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED THE TRANSMISSION LEAKING. *MJS

NHTSA complaint #559650 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Atlanta, GA

SUSPENSION:FRONT

SINCE THE DATE OF OWNERSHIP CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED FRONT END SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. *MJS

NHTSA complaint #559650 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Atlanta, GA

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

SINCE THE DATE OF OWNERSHIP CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING COLUMN, THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEMS. *MJS

NHTSA complaint #559650 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Atlanta, GA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

SINCE THE DATE OF OWNERSHIP CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED BRAKE PROBLEMS AND FAILURES. *MJS

NHTSA complaint #559650 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Aventura, FL

SUSPENSION

VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS 20 TIMES. 3 TIMES FOR CONVERTIBLE TOP NOT GOING DOWN. DRIVER'S WINDOW WOULD NOT SHUT, STOPPED 4 INCHES SHORT OF BEING CLOSED. STITCHING ON INTERIOR IS COMING APART, AND THERE WAS RATTLING IN FRONT AND REAR OF VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #881756 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Atlanta, GA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SINCE THE DATE OF OWNERSHIP CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *MJS

NHTSA complaint #559650 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Atlanta, GA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

SINCE THE DATE OF OWNERSHIP CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE LIGHTING SYSTEM, THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN UNABLE TO RECTIFY. *MJS

NHTSA complaint #559650 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Aventura, FL

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS 20 TIMES. 3 TIMES FOR CONVERTIBLE TOP NOT GOING DOWN. DRIVER'S WINDOW WOULD NOT SHUT, STOPPED 4 INCHES SHORT OF BEING CLOSED. STITCHING ON INTERIOR IS COMING APART, AND THERE WAS RATTLING IN FRONT AND REAR OF VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #881756 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Unknown, UN Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

THE VEHICLE STARTED BACK FIRING AND STALLING, IT SUDDENTLY LOST ALL POWER, TRACTION LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH, WHILE THE CONSUMER PULLED TO THE SIDE THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #784130 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Merion Station, PA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA complaint #727170 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LOS Angeles, CA

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

WINDOW ADJUSTMENTS WERE REPAIRED. YH

NHTSA complaint #606358 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Longwood, FL

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

FUEL SENDING UNIT WAS DEFECTIVE FROM THE FACTORY, CAUSING FUEL GAUGE TO WANDER AND ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON. 2. NO REPLACEMENT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR RECALL OF BOOSTER . CONSUMER HAS BEEN WAITING 3 MONTHS .

NHTSA complaint #850828 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Longwood, FL

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

FUEL SENDING UNIT WAS DEFECTIVE FROM THE FACTORY, CAUSING FUEL GAUGE TO WANDER AND ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON. 2. NO REPLACEMENT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR RECALL OF BOOSTER . CONSUMER HAS BEEN WAITING 3 MONTHS .

NHTSA complaint #850828 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Longwood, FL

CHILD SEAT

FUEL SENDING UNIT WAS DEFECTIVE FROM THE FACTORY, CAUSING FUEL GAUGE TO WANDER AND ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON. 2. NO REPLACEMENT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR RECALL OF BOOSTER . CONSUMER HAS BEEN WAITING 3 MONTHS .

NHTSA complaint #850828 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.