Total Complaints
2 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ CLK · model year
2003 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK
2 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2003MERCEDES-BENZCLK carries 2 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 2003 CLK is exterior lighting with 2 filings. 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 2003 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.
2
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 |
|---|---|
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 2 |
Recent Complaints
20130325EXTERIOR LIGHTING
BOTH LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHTS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS. HAD BULBS AND IGNITERS REPLACED AND THE HEAD LIGHTS STILL WENT OUT. BOTH LIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT AT THE SAME TIME WHICH POSES A DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITION AT NIGHT. HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO MULTIPLE MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIPS WITH NO PERMANENT SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. *TR
Mileage: 40,000
20111201EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES CLK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR HEADLIGHTS WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT BULB BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000.
Mileage: 104,000
Compare 2003MERCEDES-BENZCLK to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK have?▼
The 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK has 2 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK?▼
The most-complained component for the 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK is EXTERIOR LIGHTING with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include various components.
Is the 2003 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.