Total Complaints
10 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ CLK350 · model year
10 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2009MERCEDES-BENZCLK350 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, 0 fires, 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 2009 CLK350 is fuel/propulsion system with 2 filings, followed by wheels (1) and air bags (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 2009 CLK350. 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.
Total Complaints
10 filings
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 2 |
| WHEELS | 1 |
| AIR BAGS | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 1 |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
| VISIBILITY | 1 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:AIR HANDLER/CHAMBER, DUCTS, AND VALVES | 1 |
The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes - Benz CLK350. The contact stated he turned on the air condition of his vehicle and an odor of mold came from the vents. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and stated that there was no recall for that failure. The manufacturer was contacted, and they also stated that there was no recall for the failure and advised the contact to call the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was 40,030.
Mileage: 40,030
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ CLK350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT HEADREST AIR BAG EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING, AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED LOSS OF HEARING IN HER LEFT EAR THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S SOS SYSTEM ALERTED HER OF A FAILURE AND A TOW TRUCK WAS SENT TO THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO RBM OF ALPHARETTA (345 MCFARLAND PKWY, ALPHARETTA, GA 30004) HOWEVER THE FAILURE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED AS THE DEALER WAS WAITING FOR THE MANUFACTURER TO ADVISE AND SEND A FIELD INSPECTOR TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 123,000.
Mileage: 123,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ CLK350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR STATE EMISSION TESTING AND SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V918000 (VISIBILITY) HOWEVER, PARTS TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
DRIVING STRAIGHT ABOUT 25MPH ALONG A AN OTHERWISE EMPTY RESIDENTIAL STREET. EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE MICRO-BURSTS OF SUDDEN, BRIEF, VIOLENT, UNINTENDED BRAKING. DRIVER'S FOOT WAS NOWHERE NEAR THE BRAKE PEDAL. BRAKING WAS SO VIOLENT THAT THE WHEELS LOCKED UP AND MADE SKIDDING SOUNDS AND OCCUPANTS WERE SHAKEN. EACH INCIDENCE OF BRAKING WAS VERY SHORT, PERHAPS A FRACTION OF A SECOND. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE (WHILE TRAVELING ~25MPH) THERE WERE ABOUT FOUR SEPARATE "BRAKES" WITHIN A FEW SECONDS. THIS OCCURRED ONLY TWO BLOCKS FROM HOME. I PROCEEDED HOME AT A MUCH SLOWER PACE WITH THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS FLASHING. EN ROUTE I EXPERIENCED SEVERAL MORE INCIDENTS OF SUDDEN, BRIEF, VIOLENT UNINTENDED BRAKING. NO WARNING LIGHTS (E.G. ESP) FLASHED DURING ANY OF THE BRAKING EPISODES. EVEN AT LOW SPEED ON A EMPTY ROAD THE UNINTENDED BRAKING WAS SO VIOLENT AS TO LEAVE ME SHAKEN. IF IT OCCURRED AT HIGH SPEED, ON A BUSY ROAD, AND/OR OF WITH AN INEXPERIENCED DRIVER THE CONSEQUENCES COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS.
Mileage: 75,739
DRIVING STRAIGHT ABOUT 25MPH ALONG A AN OTHERWISE EMPTY RESIDENTIAL STREET. EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE MICRO-BURSTS OF SUDDEN, BRIEF, VIOLENT, UNINTENDED BRAKING. DRIVER'S FOOT WAS NOWHERE NEAR THE BRAKE PEDAL. BRAKING WAS SO VIOLENT THAT THE WHEELS LOCKED UP AND MADE SKIDDING SOUNDS AND OCCUPANTS WERE SHAKEN. EACH INCIDENCE OF BRAKING WAS VERY SHORT, PERHAPS A FRACTION OF A SECOND. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE (WHILE TRAVELING ~25MPH) THERE WERE ABOUT FOUR SEPARATE "BRAKES" WITHIN A FEW SECONDS. THIS OCCURRED ONLY TWO BLOCKS FROM HOME. I PROCEEDED HOME AT A MUCH SLOWER PACE WITH THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS FLASHING. EN ROUTE I EXPERIENCED SEVERAL MORE INCIDENTS OF SUDDEN, BRIEF, VIOLENT UNINTENDED BRAKING. NO WARNING LIGHTS (E.G. ESP) FLASHED DURING ANY OF THE BRAKING EPISODES. EVEN AT LOW SPEED ON A EMPTY ROAD THE UNINTENDED BRAKING WAS SO VIOLENT AS TO LEAVE ME SHAKEN. IF IT OCCURRED AT HIGH SPEED, ON A BUSY ROAD, AND/OR OF WITH AN INEXPERIENCED DRIVER THE CONSEQUENCES COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS.
Mileage: 75,739
DRIVING STRAIGHT ABOUT 25MPH ALONG A AN OTHERWISE EMPTY RESIDENTIAL STREET. EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE MICRO-BURSTS OF SUDDEN, BRIEF, VIOLENT, UNINTENDED BRAKING. DRIVER'S FOOT WAS NOWHERE NEAR THE BRAKE PEDAL. BRAKING WAS SO VIOLENT THAT THE WHEELS LOCKED UP AND MADE SKIDDING SOUNDS AND OCCUPANTS WERE SHAKEN. EACH INCIDENCE OF BRAKING WAS VERY SHORT, PERHAPS A FRACTION OF A SECOND. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE (WHILE TRAVELING ~25MPH) THERE WERE ABOUT FOUR SEPARATE "BRAKES" WITHIN A FEW SECONDS. THIS OCCURRED ONLY TWO BLOCKS FROM HOME. I PROCEEDED HOME AT A MUCH SLOWER PACE WITH THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS FLASHING. EN ROUTE I EXPERIENCED SEVERAL MORE INCIDENTS OF SUDDEN, BRIEF, VIOLENT UNINTENDED BRAKING. NO WARNING LIGHTS (E.G. ESP) FLASHED DURING ANY OF THE BRAKING EPISODES. EVEN AT LOW SPEED ON A EMPTY ROAD THE UNINTENDED BRAKING WAS SO VIOLENT AS TO LEAVE ME SHAKEN. IF IT OCCURRED AT HIGH SPEED, ON A BUSY ROAD, AND/OR OF WITH AN INEXPERIENCED DRIVER THE CONSEQUENCES COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS.
Mileage: 75,739
I WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT LAST FEBRUARY, MY AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY AS COMPARED TO THE OTHER VEHICLE (TOYOTA) WHERE HER AIRBAG WORKED. MY CAR AND THE OTHER PERSON'S CAR WERE TOTALED. I WAS DRIVING ON THE MIDDLE LANE OF A 3 LANE ROAD WHEN THE DRIVER ON THE RIGHT SIDE LANE HIT A PARKED VEHICLE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD, SPUN AROUND, AND CROSS OVER TO MY LANE AND HIT ME HEAD ON. A ROAD DUE TO MY ACCIDENT, I SUSTAINED A FRACTURE OF MY NECK AND STILL HAVE ONGOING PHYSICAL THERAPY TREATMENTS. *TT *TR
Mileage: 100,000
THE TPMS CONSTANTLY DISPLAYS FALSE WARNING MESSAGES ABOUT THE TIRES BEING LOW ON PRESSURE. THIS BEGAN ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, WHEN THE CAR WAS 7 YEARS OLD, 100K MILES. NUMEROUS TRIPS TO THE DEALER AND OTHER REPAIR SHOPS HAS NOT ALLEVIATED THE PROBLEM. TPMS CONSTANTLY GIVING A FALSE WARNING ABOUT LOW TIRE PRESSURE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. MUCH LIKE SMOKE ALARMS WHICH GIVE FALSE NOTICE, FALSE TIRE PRESSURE WARNINGS WILL BE IGNORED. THE VEHICLE IS TYPICALLY IN A MOVING CONDITION WHEN THE TPMS ISSUES A FALSE ALERT.
Mileage: 100,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK350. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE ODOR OF FUEL WAS PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAL CONNECTED TO THE FUEL PUMP WAS FAULTY AND THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.
Mileage: 38,000
STRONG FUEL ODOR OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE FOLLOWING FILL UP. MILEAGE 59590.JUST PURCHASED USED WITHOUT EXTENDED WARRANTY.. HAVE NOT TAKEN FOR SERVICE. WILL SEEK INFO PRIOR TO TAKING TO MB SERVICE.
Mileage: 59,590
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.