Dartmouth, MA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
After evaluation by garage it is concluded that there’s subframe damage to the vehicle
NHTSA complaint #11657100 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FaultScore report
2004 Mercedes Benz CLK500 problems
Owners have filed 15 complaints about the 2004 Mercedes Benz CLK500 with NHTSA between 2009 and 2025. The largest single group is the fuel & propulsion.
—
The numbers
15
Complaints
0
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
78,000 mi
Median mileage at failure
Half of reported failures happened before this
0%
Failed under 36,000 miles
Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty
How 2004 compares with every other Mercedes Benz CLK500
Click any bar to open that year's report.
What breaks on a 2004 Mercedes Benz CLK500
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Fuel & Propulsion
8
53.3%
Median failure at 70,000 miles
Seat Belts
3
20.0%
Median failure at 102,666 miles
Other & Unspecified
1
6.7%
Stability & Traction Control
1
6.7%
Median failure at 48,380 miles
Airbags
1
6.7%
Median failure at 102,666 miles
Transmission & Drivetrain
1
6.7%
Median failure at 76,000 miles
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.
25,000 – 49,999 miles
1
7.7%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
4
30.8%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
5
38.5%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
3
23.1%
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.
May 2009
peak 2
Apr 2025
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Ellicott City, MD
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
STRONG GAS SMELL FROM REAR SEAT WHENEVER GAS FILLED UP.
NHTSA complaint #11064321 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 84,000 miles
Papillion, NE
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
MY CAR AFTER FUELING LEAKS A VERY STRONG FUEL SMELL ENTERS MY CAR. THE STRONG FUEL VAPOR WILL REMAIN UNTIL THE TANK GETS BELOW 3/4. IT WILL BE THERE WHETHER IT IS IN MOTION, STATIONARY, OR AT IDLE. MY ENTIRE GARAGE WILL SMELL OF FUEL DURING THIS TIME WHEN THE TANK IS FULL. I KNOW MERCEDES RECALLED THE E CLASS FUEL TANK BECAUSE OF THIS SAME ISSUE. MY CLK500 IS THE SAME AS THE E CLASS BUT THE CONVERTIBLE VERSION. THESE ARE DANGEROUS FAULTY TANKS THAT NEED TO BE RECALLED IN EVERY VEHICLE THEY INSTALLED THEM IN.
NHTSA complaint #11057004 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 83,000 miles
Davie, FL
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
AFTER FILLING FUEL TANK STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE. OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS NATURE IN YOUR SYSTEM. RECALL ALREADY ISSUED FOR OTHER MODEL MERCEDES BENZ WITH SAME ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10885068 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 121,000 miles
Lancaster, PA
SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ CLK500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED AND THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,000.
NHTSA complaint #10794424 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 102,666 miles
Arlington, VA
SEAT BELTS
VEHICLE SHOW AN SRS LIGHT ISSUE ON THE DASHBOARD, I TOOK THE VEHICLE MANY TIMES TO TYSON'S CORNER, VA MERCEDEZ BENZ DEALERSHIP TO FIGURE WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM, AND THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE ISSUE. AFTER A LOT OF INVESTIGATION I FOUND OUT IT MAY BE THE SEATBELT BUCKLES, OR THE CHILD RECOGNITION EMULATOR WHICH ARE GIVING AND ISSUE. IF HE SRS LIGHT IS ON THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10734393 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 102,666 miles
Arlington, VA
AIR BAGS
VEHICLE SHOW AN SRS LIGHT ISSUE ON THE DASHBOARD, I TOOK THE VEHICLE MANY TIMES TO TYSON'S CORNER, VA MERCEDEZ BENZ DEALERSHIP TO FIGURE WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM, AND THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE ISSUE. AFTER A LOT OF INVESTIGATION I FOUND OUT IT MAY BE THE SEATBELT BUCKLES, OR THE CHILD RECOGNITION EMULATOR WHICH ARE GIVING AND ISSUE. IF HE SRS LIGHT IS ON THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10734393 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 82,000 miles
Johns Creek, GA
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ CLK500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER HE WOULD REFUEL, THERE WAS A STRONG OVERWHELMING FUEL ODOR COMING FROM INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN DEALER WHERE TIT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.
NHTSA complaint #10561301 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 68,000 miles
Myrtle Beach, SC
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
BOUGHT CAR IN SEPT. 2012. STARTED TO NOTICE FUEL SMELL AFTER FILL UPS. GETTING WORSE, AND CHECKED FUEL SENDING UNIT ON TOP OF TANK. PUDDLE OF FUEL ON TOP OF SENDING UNIT.
NHTSA complaint #10509220 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 70,000 miles
Henderson, NV
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I SMELLED GASOLINE WHEN MY TWO CARS WERE PARKED IN THE GARAGE. THIS OCCURRED ONLY AFTER FILLING THE GAS TANKS (NO TOPPING OFF.) I THOUGHT IT WAS MY 2010 MBZ BUT THE DEALER CHECKED AND FOUND NO PROBLEM. I HAD MY 2004 MBZ CHECKED. THE DEALER TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW GAS TANK, BECAUSE IT WAS LEAKING. MY CAR HAS 80K MILES AND LOOKS NEW; GARAGED, SERVICED AND NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT AND HAS NO LEAKS. A NEW GAS CAP DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. OVER THREE QUARTERS OF A TANK DOES NOT EMIT ANY ODOR, SO I DON'T FILL THE TANK COMPLETELY. I FEEL THE FUMES COULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD INSIDE A GARAGE CONTAINING A HOT WATER HEATER.
NHTSA complaint #10503648 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 78,000 miles
Lutz, FL
SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES CLK500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
NHTSA complaint #10475169 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 53,900 miles
Fort Wayne, IN
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
STRONG SMELL OF GAS FUMES AT REAR WHEEL WELL AREA WHEN FUEL TANK IS FILLED. DEALER FOUND FUEL LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL SENDING UNIT AND WAS FILLING THE RECESSED AREA ON TOP OF FUEL TANK WITH GAS. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE PLASTIC SENDING UNIT HAS A SMALL CRACK OR PIN HOLE AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. I FOUND ON THE MERCEDES BENZ USER BLOG THAT OTHER CLK OWNERS HAD SIMILAR ISSUES. I CONTACTED MERCEDES BENZ USA AND FILED A COMPLAINT STATING THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD. THEY SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST ME WITH THIS PROBLEM SINCE THE VEHICLE OUT OF WARRANTY. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF BY MERCEDES BENZ.
NHTSA complaint #10445717 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 76,000 miles
Schaumburg, IL
POWER TRAIN
I WAS DRIVING ON A BUSY STREET WHEN THE MERCEDES BENZ STARTED JERKING. AFTER STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT, I COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO ACCELERATE PAST 2ND GEAR; THUS, I WAS DRIVING ON A STREET WITH A 45 MPH SPEED LIMIT AT LESS THAN 20 MPH. THEN, AS I WAS CROSSING AN INTERSECTION, THE CAR FINALLY STALLED. LUCKILY, BECAUSE IT WAS AN INTERSECTION, THE ONCOMING CARS MANEUVERED AROUND ME. AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION, IT STARTED UP AGAIN, AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT INTO A PARKING LOT (ONCE AGAIN, NOT PAST 2ND GEAR). I TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY HAVE INFORMED ME THAT THE RADIATOR LEAKED FLUID INTO THE TRANSMISSION; AS A RESULT, THE TRANSMISSION, THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT, AND THE TORQUE CONVERTER ARE ALL DAMAGED AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT. I BELIEVE THAT THE FAULT LIES ON MERCEDES TO REPLACE THE DAMAGED PARTS DUE TO THEIR KNOWLEDGE THAT THERE WAS A POTENTIALLY FAULTY RADIATOR INSTALLED IN THEIR VEHICLES. IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ON A BUSY STREET OR HIGHWAY ONLY TO HAVE THE CAR SUDDENLY STOP OPERATING. I HAD NO IDEA THAT THERE WAS POTENTIALLY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE CAR UNTIL THIS INCIDENT. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE SINCE THE INCIDENT AND HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO NUMEROUS PEOPLE. PLEASE HELP US.
NHTSA complaint #10381946 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 70,000 miles
Phoenix, AZ
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ CLK500. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A GARAGE WHEN THE CONTACT SMELLED FUEL AND NOTICED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS LEAKING FUEL. THE FUEL PUMP WAS LEAKING UNDERNEATH THE REAR SEAT WHICH WAS WHERE ITS LOCATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP ON BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 70,000.
NHTSA complaint #10327902 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 48,380 miles
Irvine, CA
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
MY 2004 MBZ 500 CABRIOLET STOPPED RUNNING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT WARNING. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY AND THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS. IT WAS IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC IN IRVINE CA. TOWED TO AUTHORIZED REPAIR SHOP- CRANKSHAFT ELECTRONIC SENSOR SHUT VEHICLE DOWN. COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. LESS THAN 48K MILES ON CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10268261 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.