2005 Mercedes Benz Clk500 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Tires (3) · Fuel/Propulsion System (3) · Electrical System (2)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Mercedes Benz Clk500 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 (52)
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 52 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2025-09-11 · Electrical System:instrument Panel:speedometer/Odometer · 147,000 mi“odometer fraud. the contact purchased a 2005 mercedes-benz clk500. the contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after the vehicle was purchased. the vehicle was a private sale. at the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 127,000. it was later discovered that the mileage on the title was 147,000.…”
2024-01-28 · Seat Belts“the driver side seat belt. the seat belt won't retract. yes, the seat belt is available for inspection upon request. the driver side seat belt is useless, because there is no tension in restrain your body from moving. no, the dealer will not fix the issue. the vehicle has been inspected by the dealership. no warning lamps, messages, etc... …”
2023-09-29 · Tires“tire size: 245/40/17 had a blowout without any warning, causing me to hit the center console and mirror receiving cuts and bruises. immediately was pulled to the side of the road. when i got out to see what had happened, the rubber separated from the tire, which knocked off the back end of my car, scraped the entire passenger side of the car, knock…”
2023-07-03 · Tires“while driving at 60mph on the a highway, without warning the passenger rear tire had a blowout. i immediately pulled off the road and when looking to see what happened, clearly seen was the rubber from the tire completely separated from the tire, causing major damage to my car. the rubber that came unattached ripped the passenger door handle off, s…”
2020-10-05 · Exterior Lighting · 123,000 mi“low beam is out, discovered that on both sides all the headlight wires have lost all the insulation. pictures can be texted.…”
2018-10-03 · Fuel/Propulsion System“gas tank leaks, car in moton in the street…”
2018-06-13 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 95,000 mi“when the gas tank is full there is a very strong gas smell all around the automobile. the vehicle is parked with the ignition off. this should not be the case. the cel will come on with code p0456. a smoke test of the fuel filler neck showed there was a leak. part no: w0133-2075480. this part is the same design as what is on the cls. this same fue…”
2017-02-09 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 134,000 mi“i've started noticing a very strong smell of gasoline coming from the driver's side rear wheel well after filling up the car. the gas fill door is on passenger side. in doing some research on the web, it's come to my attention that there are many other people with my make and model with the same problem. also, a class action suit was filed for th…”
2015-05-29 · Air Bags · 46,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2005 mercedes benz clk500. when the ignition was turned to the on position, a message reading "there is a problem with the srs, see a mechanic soon" illuminated on the instrument panel continuously. the failure recurred numerous times. the vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the front passenger side air …”
2015-01-03 · Fuel System, Gasoline · 48,000 mi“pulled into the driveway one evening and noticed a strong fuel smell. using a flashlight, found a drip coming from under the passenger side rear of the car. the next morning a large gas stain was apparent under the car, but the drip had stopped. started the car and the gas leak began again. dropped the panels under the car and the leak is coming fr…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.