2005 Mercedes Benz Clk320 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Tires (2) · Seat Belts (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 (59)
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 59 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2023-08-21 · Unknown Or Other“transmission slips out of gear while driving when you accelerate.…”
2018-05-08 · Electrical System · 130,000 mi · 🔥 fire“my 2005 mercedes clk320 caught fire due to an electrical short while i was driving on the freeway. i pulled over, the entire car was engulfed in flames and totaled. it started with smoke coming out of the ac vents. when i turned the ac off the smoke got worse and fire proceeded.…”
2016-06-05 · Seat Belts · 74,000 mi“at approximately 74,000 miles the front drivers side seat belt electric extender went in and out 6 six times uncontrollably, then in the retracted position failed all together, while the seat belt itself remained in the slack position and would not retract. this malfunction left the front drivers seat belt useless, a huge safety risk and violates …”
2015-02-20 · Service Brakes · 133,680 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2005 mercedes benz clk320. the contact stated that while driving at 70 mph, the brake pedal was applied but the brakes failed to respond. in addition, the abs warning light illuminated. the vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the sensotronic brake control needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repai…”
2015-02-03 · Seats · 72,000 mi“srs light on diagnosis faulty front seat sensor and control unit. srs therefore no longer working. this is the third one of these i have had that has had this fault all on mercedes. extreme safety issue that is repetitive and continuous. issue needs to be looked into immediately! *tr…”
2014-10-29 · Seat Belts · 217,000 mi“seat belt extended without tension and continued to release. so the driver side seat belt was of no functional use. brought to mercedes service, replaced entire seat-belt and retraction system. was told the wheel that retracts the belt is defective. seems like a real safety issue, maybe when someone needs there belt, this will occur, and the …”
2014-10-23 · Air Bags · 69,896 mi“srs light appeared and we took vehicle into dealership and were told the passenger side airbag was defective and had to be replaced. we had the repair done on 10/03/14. we thought the manufacturer should be responsible for this safety issue since the vehicle is less than 10 years old. the dealership said it was not and the repair charges were paid …”
2012-09-11 · Air Bags · 36,800 mi“the srs light came on once before like 6 months back, and the mechanic cleared the code. this light came back on sept 5, 2012. the mercedes dealer told me that there are 2 fault codes: 1. 900b - passenger side seat belt buckle 2. 9243 - passenger side airbag ignition squib this car has only close to 37,000 miles. and this is a safety issue …”
2010-07-07 · Electrical System · 62,000 mi“tl*the contact owns a 2005 mercedes clk320. the contact stated that the vehicle would not start. once the vehicle was jump started all of the service lights and sensors on the instrument panel would turn on and off. the automatic seat belts would also engage and disengage on their own. the vehicle was shut off but the failures continued to occur.…”
2006-08-16 · Tires:tread/Belt · 20,000 mi“dt*: the contact stated the automatic driver seat in the vehicle moved forward on its own, pushing the contact into the steering wheel. the vehicle was not recording the correct seat position of each driver. the vehicle was taken to a service dealer who was unable to duplicate the problem. also, both front tires made a thumping noise while driving …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.