Total Complaints
23 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ CLK430 · model year
23 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2000MERCEDES-BENZCLK430 carries 23 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 2000 CLK430 is electrical system with 5 filings, followed by electrical system: instrument cluster/panel (4) and power train (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 2000 CLK430. 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
23 filings
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 5 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL | 4 |
| POWER TRAIN | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 1 |
| STRUCTURE | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | 1 |
THE INTERIOR OF THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY WAS MELTED AND BURNT. UPON CLOSE EXAMINATION ALL OF THE WIRING INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE HEADLAMP ENCLOSURE WAS DETERIORATED. THE PROTECTIVE PLASTIC COVERING OVER THE WIRES WERE CRUMBLING AND HAD FALLEN APART, BARE WIRES HAD BEEN TOUCHING INSIDE OF THE HOUSING. THE WIRING ON THE INTERIOR OF THE HOUSING IS NOT EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS. THE WIRING ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE HOUSING EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS EXHIBITS THE SAME FAILURE, IN THAT THE PROTECTIVE INSULATING PLASTIC COATING IS DETERIORATED AND EXPOSED COPPER WIRES ARE TOUCHING EACH OTHER. *TR
Mileage: 156,000
WE JUST PURCHASED A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ CLK 430. FOR BARELY TWO WEEKS AND CAN'T DRIVE IT. WE ARE HAVING MAJOR ISSUE WITH THE TRUNK TO OPEN BECAUSE OUR BATTERY IS TOTALLY DEAD. WE CANNOT JUMP CABLE THE CAR BECAUSE THE BATERY IS IN THE TRUNK AND THE TRUNK WILL NOT EVEN OPEN WITH THE MANUAL KEY THAT IT COMES WITH. I HAVE CALLED MERCEDES BENZ AND DO EXACTLY WHAT I WAS ASK TO DO BUT STILL DIDNT WORK. I WENT ON YOU TUBE, GOOGLE, AND SEARCH THE INTERNET FOR ANSWERS BUT NOTHING. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR CLK'S CONVERTIBLE. IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A MANUFACTURER AND A DEFECTIVE MERCHANDISE. THIS IS A BIG DISAPPOINTMENT FROM THE MAKER AND THAT WAS UNEXPECTED. *TR
WE JUST PURCHASED A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ CLK 430. FOR BARELY TWO WEEKS AND CAN'T DRIVE IT. WE ARE HAVING MAJOR ISSUE WITH THE TRUNK TO OPEN BECAUSE OUR BATTERY IS TOTALLY DEAD. WE CANNOT JUMP CABLE THE CAR BECAUSE THE BATERY IS IN THE TRUNK AND THE TRUNK WILL NOT EVEN OPEN WITH THE MANUAL KEY THAT IT COMES WITH. I HAVE CALLED MERCEDES BENZ AND DO EXACTLY WHAT I WAS ASK TO DO BUT STILL DIDNT WORK. I WENT ON YOU TUBE, GOOGLE, AND SEARCH THE INTERNET FOR ANSWERS BUT NOTHING. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR CLK'S CONVERTIBLE. IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A MANUFACTURER AND A DEFECTIVE MERCHANDISE. THIS IS A BIG DISAPPOINTMENT FROM THE MAKER AND THAT WAS UNEXPECTED. *TR
I OWN A 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK430. I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT SPORADIC FAILURE OF THE ABS, BAS, ESP SYSTEMS WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKE. ON OCCASIONS THE GAS PEDAL STICKS AND THE CAR SPEEDS UP TO DANGEROUS SPEED. THE CAR HAS TO BE PUT IN NEUTRAL AND ONCE STOP AND RESTART, IT WOULD RUN NORMAL AGAIN, AND THE CAR SHOWS "NO MALFUNCTION". RECENTLY ON JULY OF 2013, WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND THE CAR SPED UP ON IT OWN AND ALMOST WENT OUT OF CONTROL. WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKE ABS/BAS/ESP REPORTED AS FAILED, BUT THE CAR DID STOP WHEN I PUT IN NEUTRAL AND APPLY THE BRAKE. I TOOK TO MERCEDES-BENZ AND THEY SAID THEY DON'T SEE ANY PROBLEM. I TOLD THEM I WANT THEM TO RUN THE "COMPUTER DIAGNOSIS" AND I WANT THEM TO GIVE ME THE REPORT. BELOW ARE A FEW OF THE SAFETY SYSTEM FAILURES THAT ARE ON THE REPORT: ETC - ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION CONTROL CODE 120 THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL SPEED OF THE TRACTION SYSTEM IS SPORADICALLY IMPLAUSIBLE CODE 121 THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL SPEED OF THE TRAC
Mileage: 12,500
I OWN A 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK430. I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT SPORADIC FAILURE OF THE ABS, BAS, ESP SYSTEMS WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKE. ON OCCASIONS THE GAS PEDAL STICKS AND THE CAR SPEEDS UP TO DANGEROUS SPEED. THE CAR HAS TO BE PUT IN NEUTRAL AND ONCE STOP AND RESTART, IT WOULD RUN NORMAL AGAIN, AND THE CAR SHOWS "NO MALFUNCTION". RECENTLY ON JULY OF 2013, WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND THE CAR SPED UP ON IT OWN AND ALMOST WENT OUT OF CONTROL. WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKE ABS/BAS/ESP REPORTED AS FAILED, BUT THE CAR DID STOP WHEN I PUT IN NEUTRAL AND APPLY THE BRAKE. I TOOK TO MERCEDES-BENZ AND THEY SAID THEY DON'T SEE ANY PROBLEM. I TOLD THEM I WANT THEM TO RUN THE "COMPUTER DIAGNOSIS" AND I WANT THEM TO GIVE ME THE REPORT. BELOW ARE A FEW OF THE SAFETY SYSTEM FAILURES THAT ARE ON THE REPORT: ETC - ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION CONTROL CODE 120 THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL SPEED OF THE TRACTION SYSTEM IS SPORADICALLY IMPLAUSIBLE CODE 121 THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL SPEED OF THE TRAC
Mileage: 12,500
I OWN A 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK430. I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT SPORADIC FAILURE OF THE ABS, BAS, ESP SYSTEMS WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKE. ON OCCASIONS THE GAS PEDAL STICKS AND THE CAR SPEEDS UP TO DANGEROUS SPEED. THE CAR HAS TO BE PUT IN NEUTRAL AND ONCE STOP AND RESTART, IT WOULD RUN NORMAL AGAIN, AND THE CAR SHOWS "NO MALFUNCTION". RECENTLY ON JULY OF 2013, WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND THE CAR SPED UP ON IT OWN AND ALMOST WENT OUT OF CONTROL. WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKE ABS/BAS/ESP REPORTED AS FAILED, BUT THE CAR DID STOP WHEN I PUT IN NEUTRAL AND APPLY THE BRAKE. I TOOK TO MERCEDES-BENZ AND THEY SAID THEY DON'T SEE ANY PROBLEM. I TOLD THEM I WANT THEM TO RUN THE "COMPUTER DIAGNOSIS" AND I WANT THEM TO GIVE ME THE REPORT. BELOW ARE A FEW OF THE SAFETY SYSTEM FAILURES THAT ARE ON THE REPORT: ETC - ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION CONTROL CODE 120 THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL SPEED OF THE TRACTION SYSTEM IS SPORADICALLY IMPLAUSIBLE CODE 121 THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL SPEED OF THE TRAC
Mileage: 12,500
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ CLK430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND SHUT OFF WHEN A CHILD WAS ABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL OR REVERSE, WITHOUT THE PRESENCE OF THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS DOWN A HILL AS A RESULT. THE CHILD THEN TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A FENCE. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED, BUT IT WAS REPAIRED FOR BODY DAMAGES. A COMPLAINT WAS ALSO FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RECENTLY REKEYED, WHICH MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Mileage: 70,000
THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LED PROBLEM WITH MY 2000 MERCEDES CLK 430 HAS BECOME MORE OF A PROBLEM WITHIN THE PAST MONTH. IT HAPPENS QUITE FREQUENTLY NOW. WHENEVER I START THE VEHICLE, THE GEAR INDICATOR DOES NOT INDICATE WHICH GEAR I'M IN AND THE CAR PROCEEDS IN LOW MODE UNTIL I PULL OVER AND RESTART IT. THE SAFETY HAZARD LIES IN THE FACT THAT I DON'T CHECK MY GEAR INDICATOR CONSTANTLY, SO IF IT FAILS AND I DON'T NOTICE, THE LOW/SLOW MODE THAT THE CAR AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTS INTO COULD GET ME KILLED ON ANY STREET WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT IS AT LEAST 35. THIS CAR HAS GIVEN ME NUMEROUS PROBLEMS THE PAST YEAR AND MY SAFETY SEEMS TO BE IN JEOPARDY MORE AND MORE AS THE THESE ISSUES INCREASE IN SEVERITY. I MADE THE FINANCIAL SACRIFICE FOR THIS CAR BECAUSE MERCEDES ARE SUPPOSE TO BE SOME OF THE SAFEST VEHICLES ON THE ROAD......IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT CONSUMERS IN MY SITUATION DON'T HAVE A VOICE WHEN WE'RE SIMPLY INNOCENT VICTIMS IN THE MAKING. *TR
Mileage: 165,456
SHIFT LEVER INOPERATIVE/ ERRATIC: 2000 CLK430 BEING DRIVEN WHEN TRANSMISSION REFUSED TO SHIFT FROM LOW GEAR, THEN SECOND GEAR, AND FINALLY NOT AT ALL! HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO SHOP, SHOP FOUND SHIFTER HAD GONE BAD. I DIDN'T KNOW THE TRANSMISSION WAS ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED. $1500 LATER IT NOW RUNS OUT FINE. MILEAGE WAS 77K. *TR
Mileage: 77,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ CLK430. THE CONTACT STATED THE PIXELS IN THE DIGITAL DASHBOARD WERE SCRAMBLED AND FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN IN TO BE EXAMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,099.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ CLK430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR DISPLAY LIGHTS NO LONGER ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AS A RESULT, HE HAS DIFFICULTY SEEING WHAT GEAR IS BEING USED. THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.
Mileage: 25,000
FRONT BUMPER COVER / AIR DAM BROKE ON ORDINARY WHEEL STOP IN PUBLIC PARKING LOT. CAR HAS INADEQUATE CLEARANCE AND FRONT BUMPER COVER / AIR DAM IS CONSTRUCTED SO THAT IT HOOKS ON WHEEL STOPS AND BREAKS. IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME YOU PARK IF YOU BRING THE FRONT TIRES TO WITHIN A FOOT OF THE WHEEL STOPS. ACCORDING TO MBUSA, THE FRONT BUMPER COVER IS AN AIR FOIL / SAFETY DEVICE PROVIDING STABILITY TO THE CAR. ONCE IT IS BROKEN, THE ENTIRE FRONT BUMPER COVER HAS TO BE REPLACED, BUT OF COURSE IT WILL ONLY HAPPEN AGAIN AND AGAIN. *TR
Mileage: 3,000
CAR ENGINE SHUT OFF AT TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH TRAFFIC BUILD UP BEHIND ME. AFTER AN HOUR OF WAITING FOR TOW TRUCK, IT SUDDENLY STARTED AGAIN. TOOK IT TO GARAGE WHICH CHANGED THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR FOR $308.55. APPARENTLY, FAULTY CRANKSHAFT SENSOR IS A KNOWN COMMON PROBLEM WITH MERCEDES CLK CARS!! *TR
Mileage: 76,000
THE FRONT PLASTIC BUMPER HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO BE TOO LOW TO THE GROUND AND PARKING LOT WHEEL BUMPERS ARE HIGHER. WHEN PARKING THE 2000 CLK MODEL 430, THIS MISMATCH CAUSES THE PLASTIC BUMPER TO DRAG ALONG THE CONCRETE BUMPER STOP, AND BECAUSE OF VERY WEAK DESIGN OF THE BUMPER, IT WILL CRACK THE BUMPER AT ITS WEAKEST POINTS, CAUSING THE BUMPER TO HANG LOOSE AND BECOME A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. THE BUMPER SHOULD BE RECALLED TO BE REPLACED WITH ONE THAT IS HIGHER FROM THE GROUND. *TR
Mileage: 48,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ CLK430. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL LED CLUSTER DISPLAY LIGHTS ARE NOT VISIBLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE IS NO RECALL AND THE COST TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS $1200.00. SHE STATED TEN TO FIFTEEN PEOPLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE AND THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AT NO CHARGE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80,000.
Mileage: 80,000
LED ON INSTRUMENT PANEL DOES NOT FUNCTION. CANNOT SEE GEAR I AM IN OR TIME, OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE ETC.
Mileage: 60,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ CLK430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PIXELS ON THE CLUSTER ARE DEFECTIVE. HE STATED THAT HE CAN ONLY SEE HALF OF THE PIXELS ON THE SCREEN. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 150,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
Mileage: 75,000
CLUSTER DEFECT. SCREEN IS SCRAMBLED. *JB
CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR (CPS) FAILED ON MY 2000 CLK 430. WAS REPLACED BY DEALER FOR $296. FAILED NUMEROUS TIMES, INCLUDING ONCE ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ENGINE SHUTS OFF OR REFUSES TO TURN OVER WHEN HOT (ALTHOUGH BATTERY KEEPS CRANKING), THEN AFTER 20-30 MINUTES IT TURNS ON FINE WHEN COOLED DOWN. *NM
Mileage: 59,000
I HAD A MICHELIN LOW PROFILE TIRE LOSE PRESSURE AND IT FAILED AT 30 MPH. THE ENTIRE SIDEWALL SEPARATED IN ONE PIECE FROM THE REST OF THE TIRE. I HAD JUST EXITED I-10 AND IF THE TIRE HAD FAILED AT 60 MPH IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS AND LIFE THREATENING. I HAVE THE TIRE (7600 MILES) AND PICTURES. THESE TIRES ARE DANGEROUS. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO LOOK AT ONE AND DETECT A LOSS OF AIR PRESSURE. THERE IS NO WAY TO TELL FROM THE CARS INSTRUMENTATION IF A TIRE IS LOSING PRESSURE UNTIL IT FAILS AND COMES APART. *NM
Mileage: 7,678
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.