Total Complaints
29 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ CLK320 · model year
1999 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK320
29 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1999MERCEDES-BENZCLK320 carries 29 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, 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 1999 CLK320 is unknown or other with 4 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (3) and fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly (2). 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 1999 CLK320. 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.
29
Complaints
1
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
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
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 3 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 2 |
| SEATS | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM | 1 |
| CHILD SEAT | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS | 1 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20160104VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ CLK320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE SUN ROOF SUDDENLY SHATTERED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 199,000.
Mileage: 199,000
20110530EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
REAR ROLL BAR WILL NOT RAISE OR LOWER, COULD BE FATAL TO REAR PASSENGERS IN A ROLL OVER SITUATION. ROLL BAR/ HEAD RESTRAINTS STUCK IN LOWER POSITION. THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM AT FIRST, NOW IT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. SWITCH WILL NOT RAISE OR LOWER ROLL BAR ALL THE WAY; AS A RESULT, CANNOT RAISE THE CONVERTIBLE TOP. THE TOP WILL NOT RAISE OR LOWER UNLESS THE ROLL BAR IS ALL THE WAY DOWN. WILL NOT RELEASE SO THAT I CAN MANUALLY RAISE THE TOP EITHER. THIS IS A DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *TR
Mileage: 97,235
20091125VISIBILITY
MERCEDES BENZ 1999 CLK320: THE OUTSIDE MIRROR ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR HAS TURNED SO DARK, IT IS VIRTUALLY BLACK AND THE DRIVER CANNOT SEE ANYTHING IN IT. THIS INABILITY TO SEE IN THIS EXTERIOR SIDE-VIEW MIRROR IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. IT PROBABLY IS CAUSED BY CHANGES IN THE COATING THAT IS SUPPOSED TO EITHER HEAT THE MIRROR OR DIM IT. *TR
Mileage: 60,000
20091125STRUCTURE:BODY
MERCEDES BENZ 1999 CLK320: THE OUTSIDE MIRROR ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR HAS TURNED SO DARK, IT IS VIRTUALLY BLACK AND THE DRIVER CANNOT SEE ANYTHING IN IT. THIS INABILITY TO SEE IN THIS EXTERIOR SIDE-VIEW MIRROR IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. IT PROBABLY IS CAUSED BY CHANGES IN THE COATING THAT IS SUPPOSED TO EITHER HEAT THE MIRROR OR DIM IT. *TR
Mileage: 60,000
20090813POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MASSIVE LOSS OF TRANSMISSION FLUID FROM SEALED TRANSMISSION UNIT. 1999 MERCEDES BENZ CLK 320 CAUSING TRANS TO STOP FUNCTIONING WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR
Mileage: 59,000
20060719ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT A FAULTY CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR IN MERCEDES BENZ VEHICLES THAT PREVENTS CARS FROM STARTING AND ALSO SHUTS THEM OFF WHILST ON THE ROAD AND IN MOTION. CAR DIED ON ME 6 TIMES. LUCKILY, I WASN'T TRAVELING VERY FAST BUT THIS IS VERY UNSAFE BUT I DID CAUSE A TRAFFIC DELAY AND BLOCKED THE ROAD SEVERAL TIMES WHILE STALLED. *NM
Mileage: 75,000
20050627ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DT: VEHICLE IS BURNING OIL. DEALER SAID THEY CAN'T FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BURNING EXCESSIVE OIL, AND RECOMMENDED THAT THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER LOOK INTO IT.*AK
Mileage: 76,000
20041002ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
(1) VIBRATIONS OF ENGINE AT IDLE WAS FELT 1 DAY PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. (2) HEARD LOUD/KNOCKING NOISE THE NEXT DAY WHILE DRIVING HOME. (3) HOME INSPECTIONS REVEALED DISENGAGEMENT OF THE OUTER BELT PULLEY FROM THE HARMONIC BALANCER.*AK (4) CALLED THE SAN DIEGO DEALER FOR A REPAIR/REPLACEMENT. (5) THE MODEL IS CLK 320, 1999, APPROXIMATELY 64,000 MILES WHEN THIS HAPPENED. (6) DIRECTED TO THIS SITE FROM AN INTERNET FORUM, WHOSE HUNDRED OF MEMBERS HAD STATED THE SAME PROBLEMS. (7) SURPRISED TO SEE THAT ODI DID NOT FIND THE DEFECT SERIOUS ENOUGH TO FORCE THE MANUFACTURER RECALL.
Mileage: 63,989
20030224TIRES
THE TIRES EXPERIENCED EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR, THE VEHICLE HAD A FRONT ALIGNMENT, AND THE TIRES WERE ROTATED, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED.*JB
Mileage: 3,000
20011115CrashUNKNOWN OR OTHER
MERCEDES-BENZ, DEVON, PA, SAYS FLOOR MAT JAMMED ACCELERATOR AS DRIVER BRAKED.*AK
20011031ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 10 MPH, POWER STEERING WENT OUT, DEALER REPLACED THE LOWER ENGINE PULLEY. *JB
20010228ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SINCE THE DATE OF OWNERSHIP CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *MJS
20010228POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
SINCE THE DATE OF OWNERSHIP CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED THE TRANSMISSION LEAKING. *MJS
20010228SUSPENSION:FRONT
SINCE THE DATE OF OWNERSHIP CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED FRONT END SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. *MJS
20010228SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
SINCE THE DATE OF OWNERSHIP CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED BRAKE PROBLEMS AND FAILURES. *MJS
20010228EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
SINCE THE DATE OF OWNERSHIP CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE LIGHTING SYSTEM, THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN UNABLE TO RECTIFY. *MJS
20010228STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
SINCE THE DATE OF OWNERSHIP CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING COLUMN, THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEMS. *MJS
20010228STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS 20 TIMES. 3 TIMES FOR CONVERTIBLE TOP NOT GOING DOWN. DRIVER'S WINDOW WOULD NOT SHUT, STOPPED 4 INCHES SHORT OF BEING CLOSED. STITCHING ON INTERIOR IS COMING APART, AND THERE WAS RATTLING IN FRONT AND REAR OF VEHICLE.*AK
20010228SUSPENSION
VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS 20 TIMES. 3 TIMES FOR CONVERTIBLE TOP NOT GOING DOWN. DRIVER'S WINDOW WOULD NOT SHUT, STOPPED 4 INCHES SHORT OF BEING CLOSED. STITCHING ON INTERIOR IS COMING APART, AND THERE WAS RATTLING IN FRONT AND REAR OF VEHICLE.*AK
20001120FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THE VEHICLE STARTED BACK FIRING AND STALLING, IT SUDDENTLY LOST ALL POWER, TRACTION LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH, WHILE THE CONSUMER PULLED TO THE SIDE THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE.*ET
Compare 1999MERCEDES-BENZCLK320 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1999 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK320 have?▼
The 1999 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK320 has 29 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1999 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK320?▼
The most-complained component for the 1999 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK320 is UNKNOWN OR OTHER with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE and FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY.
Is the 1999 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK320 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.