MERCEDES-BENZ CLK CLASS · model year

2003 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK CLASS

10 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2003MERCEDES-BENZCLK CLASS carries 10 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 1 fire, 2 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 CLASS is equipment:mechanical:accessory scissor/screw/bottle jack/lift with 1 filings, followed by exterior lighting:headlights (1) and vehicle speed control (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 2003 CLK CLASS. 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.

10
Complaints
1
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

10 filings

Crashes Reported

1 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
TIRES:SIDEWALL1
TIRES1
STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1
STEERING1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
SEAT BELTS1

Recent Complaints

20140106SEAT BELTS

I HAVE HAD SEAT BELT TROUBLE. WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR IT WAS WEAK TO RETRACT. THAN 9 MONTHS LATER IT GAVE OUT ON ME. I LOOKED INTO IT ONLINE AND IT TURNS OUT ALMOST ALL THESE VEHICLES HAVE THIS PROBLEM BEFORE 100,000 MILES. THERE ARE DOZENS OF FORUMS IN COMPLAINTS PLENTY OF PEOPLE SAYING THEY HAVE THE PROBLEM TO IN EACH. ITS A HAZARD THAT PEOPLE ARE DRIVING THESE CARS AND DECIDE THEY DON'T HAVE $500 TO BUY A SEAT BELT RETRACTOR PLUS $200 IN LABOR. ALSO IT OFTEN LEAVES NO WARNING THAT IT WON'T RETRACT. THERE WILL BE AN ACCIDENT ONE DAY AND SOMEONE WILL DIE AND ITS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX A SEATBELT THAT SHOULD BE WORKING. MINE GAVE OUT OF NO WHERE SO WHEN I WAS AWAY FROM HOME IF I WOULD OF GOTTEN INTO AN ACCIDENT THAT'S A PROBLEM WORTH FIXING. MY GIRLFRIEND IS AN EMT AND SHE SAYS THAT A SEAT BELT PLACED TO HIGH OR TOO LOW CAN CAUSE U TO BE CRUNCHED UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL OR FLY UP OVER INTO THE WINDSHIELD. SO ONE THAT GOES LOOSE ON YOU WHILE DRIVING WILL CAUSE

Mileage: 103,000

20110511ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ CLK430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER AND RADIO WERE DEFECTIVE. HE MENTIONED THAT THE PIXELS ON BOTH WERE MISSING. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,879.

Mileage: 32,879

20080829FireSTEERING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ CLK 500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED FLAMES UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND TWO OTHER VEHICLES WERE MODERATELY DAMAGED BY THE FLAMES. HE NOTICED EXCESSIVE POWER STEERING FLUID ON THE GROUND WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS LOCATED. A POLICE OFFICER STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP OR THE LINES/FITTINGS/HOSES WERE THE CAUSES OF THE FAILURE. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR "B" SERVICE, BUT NO FAILURE COULD BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES OF THE FAILURE AND A COPY OF THE REPORT FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 57,528.

Mileage: 57,528

20080630POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. RUSTED AND CORRODED TRANS AT 24,000 MILES CAUSED BY FAULTY MERCEDES VALEO RADIATOR. MERCEDES OWN STAR BULLETIN TELLS DEALERS ABOUT THIS ISSUE BUT MY DEALER DECIDED NOT TO CHECK IT OUT AND NOW MERCEDES AND DEALER ARE REFUSING TO HELP WHEN THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON MANY OF THEIR MODELS AND SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR

Mileage: 24,000

20070514STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ CLK 430. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRACKETS THAT HOLD THE FRONT BUMPER WERE FAILING. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS TO DETACH FROM THE BUMPER. THE DEALER DID NOT STATE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 34,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000.

Mileage: 29,000

20070302TIRES

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2003 MERCEDES CLK 500, HAD A BLOWOUT ON THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE. THIS HAPPENED ON A COLD CLEAR DAY WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH. HE TIRE DEALERSHIP INFORMED HER THAT THERE WAS NAIL IN THE TIRE, BUT NOT IN THE SECTION OF THE BLOWOUT. THE TIRE WAS A BRIDGESTONE POTENZA. THE TIRE WAS PURCHASED 21/2 MONTHS AGO. THIS BLOWOUT SPLIT ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE NAIL. THE CONTACT WILL SUBMIT THE TIRE SIZE WITH THE HARD COPY AND SHE STILL HAD THE OLD TIRE THAT BLEW OUT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO WARRANTY FOR THE TIRE. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAD 72000 MILES. *AK

Mileage: 72,000

20040824TIRES:SIDEWALL

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. NO IMPACT REPORTED. THEN, SIX MONTHS LATER THE SAME TIRE BLEW OUT AGAIN. *AK

Mileage: 8,000

20040519CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN TO PULL INTO THE GARAGE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT A HIGH SPEED. THE CONSUMER'S FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THE CONSUMER APPLIED EXCESSIVE FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING, BUT IT FAILED TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING WHEN IT SMASHED INTO THE GARAGE WALL. THE FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE CAME OUT TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE, BUT INDICATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A 3 FEET LONG BRAKE MARK ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. *AK *SC *JB

Mileage: 21,000

20031011EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

NEW HID CAR LIGHTS ARE TO BRIGHT. THESE NEW LIGHTS HAVE THE SAME EFFECT AS HAVING HIGH BEAMS ON ALL THE TIME. HID LIGHTS BLIND ONCOMING DRIVERS. *LA

20020913EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT

WHEN THE CONSUMER JACKED UP THE VEHICLE, THE JACK FAILED TO REMAIN STURDY AND THE VEHICLE HAD FELL TO THE GROUND. NLM SCC

Mileage: 1,100

Compare 2003MERCEDES-BENZCLK CLASS to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK CLASS have?
The 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK CLASS has 10 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 1 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK CLASS?
The most-complained component for the 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK CLASS is EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Is the 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK CLASS 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.