Total Complaints
4 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ CLK · model year
2001 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK
4 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2001MERCEDES-BENZCLK carries 4 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2001 CLK is service brakes, electric with 1 filings, followed by electronic stability control (esc) (1) and service brakes, air (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 15 investigation files overlapping the 2001 CLK. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
4
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC | 1 |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, AIR | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20130627POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ CLK 430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO THIRD OR FOURTH GEAR. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND PROGRESSED TO A PERMANENT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 230,000. RETURNED BY USPS ON 8/9/2013. 2ND ATTEMPT FAILED ON 8/9/2013. *KB
Mileage: 230,000
20100708SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
AFTER THE 2001 CLK 430 DISPLAYED SEVERAL TIMES THE ABS ALERT AND ESC ALERT THE CAR BEGAN TO JERK AND COMPLETELY STOP. WE HAVE HAD THE COMPLETE BRAKE AND TIRE SYSTEM REPLACE FROM CALIPERS TO RIMS. WE ARE NOW BEING TOLD THE PROBLEM IS THE YAW RATE SENSOR WHICH HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS. *TR
Mileage: 126,768
20100708ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
AFTER THE 2001 CLK 430 DISPLAYED SEVERAL TIMES THE ABS ALERT AND ESC ALERT THE CAR BEGAN TO JERK AND COMPLETELY STOP. WE HAVE HAD THE COMPLETE BRAKE AND TIRE SYSTEM REPLACE FROM CALIPERS TO RIMS. WE ARE NOW BEING TOLD THE PROBLEM IS THE YAW RATE SENSOR WHICH HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS. *TR
Mileage: 126,768
20100708SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
AFTER THE 2001 CLK 430 DISPLAYED SEVERAL TIMES THE ABS ALERT AND ESC ALERT THE CAR BEGAN TO JERK AND COMPLETELY STOP. WE HAVE HAD THE COMPLETE BRAKE AND TIRE SYSTEM REPLACE FROM CALIPERS TO RIMS. WE ARE NOW BEING TOLD THE PROBLEM IS THE YAW RATE SENSOR WHICH HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS. *TR
Mileage: 126,768
Compare 2001MERCEDES-BENZCLK to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK have?▼
The 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK has 4 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK?▼
The most-complained component for the 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK is SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) and SERVICE BRAKES, AIR.
Is the 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.