2004 Mercedes Benz Clk320 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Seat Belts (5) · Power Train (2) · Electrical System (2)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Mercedes Benz Clk320 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (3)
Visibility:sun/Moon Roof Assembly 2024-11-19 · campaign 24V874000 · 33,456 vehicles
Defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models and model years. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and can detach.
Risk: A detached sunroof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall number 22V-954. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2024120001/2/3.
Visibility:sun/Moon Roof Assembly 2022-12-23 · campaign 22V954000 · 131,653 vehicles
Defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and may detach.
Risk: A detached sunroof panel may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 3, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall expands NHTSA recall number 19V-918. MBUSA's numbers for this recall are 2023010004, 2023010005, and 2023010006.
Visibility:sun/Moon Roof Assembly 2019-12-20 · campaign 19V918000 · 747,928 vehicles
Defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 vehicles. The bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame may deteriorate, possibly resulting in the glass panel detaching from the vehicle. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V918-4126.pdf
Risk: A detached glass panel can separate from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the glass panel bonding and replace the sliding roof, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 10, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2020040011.
Service bulletins (47)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Service Brakes 2026-09-22 · LI42.10-P-078779 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint repeat workshop visit for vehicle vibration while braking from 60mph. note: although the symptom is similar to a tire or wheel vibration, it is usually readily noticeable that it is distinctly different if it happens at all times or only while braking. cause although the cause of the vibra
Structure:body 2026-09-14 · LI82.62-P-078631 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors. cause under analysis. remedy to narrow down the cause, first of all remove the door trim. • if the noise continues to occur even with the door trim removed, then continue the diagnosis working towards the speaker and if necessary,
Structure:body 2026-08-06 · LI82.62-P-078631 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors. cause under analysis. remedy to narrow down the cause, first of all remove the door trim. • if the noise continues to occur even with the door trim removed, then continue the diagnosis working towards the speaker and if necessary,
Power Train 2026-07-14 · LI35.30-P-058566 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). the noise is heard once in each instance when changing direction of travel. note: sound file in attachment cause if the complaint is eliminated by experimentally loosening the outboard collar n
Visibility/Wiper 2026-05-19 · LI82.30-P-059239 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint there are several types of complaint about noises or poor windshield wiper wiping performance: a: wiper blades squeaking, chattering, shuddering b: the windshield is not wiped completely (streaking) c: during the downward movement water is pulled back onto the windshield from the a-pillar
Exterior Lighting 2026-04-16 · LI82.10-P-078301 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged. cause fogging of the headlamps is a natural phenomenon, which can occur under certain climatic conditions. it does not lead to any technical impairment of the headlamp. if a pressure compensation diaphragm is fitted in the housing cover, then the l
Showing the 6 most recent of 47 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2024-09-09 · Structure:body“about 3 years ago, the passenger side of my door started randomly swinging open while i was driving. it was extremely dangerous and almost caused a serious accident the first time it happened. i spent over $1000 to get it fixed. now, i am 7 months pregnant and it is happening again to the drivers side door. i cannot even drive the car now, because …”
2024-07-26 · Tires“i purchased 4 new tires, my car calls for a staggered fitment (225/45r17 dot# 1rb7rr9872922 and 1rb7rr9811521 up front and 245/40r17 dot# 1rb8nr981112 and 1rb8nr9811022 in the rear). upon returning home, i noticed the tires were installed backwards with the wider ones up front. this will cause the tires to rub the shock absorbers and will lead to t…”
2023-03-02 · Seat Belts · 💥 crash“the vehicle during a severe accident, in which the other drivers air bags were deployed, our vehicles airbags did not in fact deploy at any rate. which put all passengers in severe danger causing injuries that could have been avoided if they worked properly. also the drivers seat belt (which was worn at the time of the accident) due to the immense …”
2020-01-27 · Seat Belts · 217,000 mi“the airbags deployed on their own without a collision. i was driving 30 mph on a residential street with roads in excellent condition when all the sudden the steering wheel and passenger dash airbags went off out of n o where.…”
2017-01-10 · Visibility/Wiper“engine light came on , windshield wipers stopped working, drivers side window stopped working, multiple error lights, on multiple dates.…”
2016-09-25 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 69,000 mi“on o around september 14, 2016 i fueled this auto i recently purchased as a second car. my garage began to wreak heavily of gasoline. my home is totally electric and i have no gas powered items in there. my other vehicle never smells and i have had it 2 years. i removed the mb and the smell no longer existed, eliminating any other source. i resear…”
2016-04-26 · Power Train · 97,000 mi“the automatic transmission has developed a condition that causes the transmission to shift very roughly at low speeds. this shifting causes the vehicle to jerk and stutter when down shifting or shifting from 1st or 2nd gear. i have had a transmission service, replacement transmission, replacement radiator all installed to no avail. the condition…”
2014-08-10 · Power Train · 28,714 mi“we would like to submit a complaint. we own a 2004 clk320 which has presented with continuing problems. when we purchased the vehicle, the rear axle alignment was defective in which required realignment and rear tire replacement. at 21,937 miles the car presented with transmission shifting problems. the car would jerk/stall while being driven. it …”
2013-05-22 · Seat Belts · 38,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2004 mercedes benz clk320. the contact stated that while driving 65 mph, the driver's side seat belt failed while the srs panel warning light illuminated. the failure recurred on three separate occasions. the vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 38,000.…”
2011-05-19 · Seat Belts · 150,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2004 mercedes benz clk320. the contact stated that the front driver side automatic seat belt webbing would not retract. the vehicle was taken to an independent auto shop and an authorized dealer and they both stated that the seat beat assembly would need to be replaced to correct the problem. the manufacturer was not made awa…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.