Transmission slips out of gear while driving when you accelerate.
The worst 2005 Mercedes Benz CLK320 problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Electrical3
- Tires3
- Airbags2
- Seat belts2
- Seats2
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Electrical3
- Tires3
- Airbags2
- Seat belts2
- Seats2
- Brakes1
Recalls 3
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly
- What is wrong
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models and model years. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and can detach.
- Risk
- A detached sunroof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1‑800‑367‑6372. This recall is an expansion of previous the federal safety agency recall number 22V‑954. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2024120001/2/3.
Recall number 24V874000 · Recall details
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly
- What is wrong
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and may detach.
- Risk
- A detached sunroof panel may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 3, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1‑800‑367‑6372. This recall expands the federal safety agency recall number 19V‑918. MBUSA's numbers for this recall are 2023010004, 2023010005, and 2023010006.
Recall number 22V954000 · Recall details
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly
- What is wrong
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 vehicles. The bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame may deteriorate, possibly resulting in the glass panel detaching from the vehicle. For a full list of the affected models visit:
- Risk
- A detached glass panel can separate from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the glass panel bonding and replace the sliding roof, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 10, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1‑800‑367‑6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2020040011.
Recall number 19V918000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2005 Mercedes Benz CLK320 59
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Repeat workshop visit for vehicle vibration while braking from 60MPH. NOTE: Although the symptom is...
- Clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors
- Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end)
- There are several types of complaint about noises or poor windshield wiper wiping performance: A: Wiper...
- Headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged
- Headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged
- Headlamps leaking or fogged
- Noises/ squealing from the service brake in various driving situations and ambient conditions
- Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end)
- Headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged
2005 Mercedes Benz CLK320 fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.2L 6‑cyl | RWD | 18 | 24-26 | 20-21 |
What 2005 Mercedes Benz CLK320 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
My 2005 mercedes clk320 caught fire due to an electrical short while I was driving on the freeway. I pulled over, the entire car was engulfed in flames and totaled. It started with smoke coming out of the AC vents. When I turned the AC off the smoke got worse and fire proceeded.
At approximately 74,000 miles the front drivers side seat belt electric extender went in and out 6 six times uncontrollably, then in the retracted position failed all together, while the seat belt itself remained in the slack position and would not retract. This malfunction left the front drivers seat belt useless, a huge safety risk and violates colorado seat belt law. There are thousands of documented complaints in multiple model and years of the same issue with mercedes benz seat belts as published online. The local mercedes benz dealer states this is not a consumer serviceable item, and mercedes benz service bulletin passes off their manufacturer defect as the consumers fault for "soiling the seat belt and not keeping it clean" which is rubbish. Mercedes benz dealer quote to replace the entire seat belt system front driver side only, $900.00. Front passenger side starting to malfunction, rear passenger side not fully retracting when exiting the vehicle. The local dealer did not offer a loaner car as I had to wait two weeks for them to "schedule me in" for the repair, thus driving an unsafe vehicle during the two week waiting period.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mercedes benz clk320. The contact stated that while driving at 70 MPH, the brake pedal was applied but the brakes failed to respond. In addition, the ABS warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the sensotronic brake control needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 133,680.
Srs light on diagnosis faulty front seat sensor and control unit. Srs therefore no longer working. This is the third one of these I have had that has had this fault all on mercedes. Extreme safety issue that is repetitive and continuous. Issue needs to be looked into immediately!
Seat belt extended without tension and continued to release. So the driver side seat belt was of no functional use. Brought to mercedes service, replaced entire seat-belt and retraction system. Was told the wheel that retracts the belt is defective. Seems like a real safety issue, maybe when someone needs there belt, this will occur, and the result will not be a service call, this should be fixed by mercedes...
Srs light appeared and we took vehicle into dealership and were told the passenger side airbag was defective and had to be replaced. We had the repair done on 10/03/14. We thought the manufacturer should be responsible for this safety issue since the vehicle is less than 10 years old. The dealership said it was not and the repair charges were paid by us. Wondering if this vehicle should be included in the national recall for defective airbags.
The SRS light came on once before like 6 months back, and the mechanic cleared the code. This light came back on sept 5, 2012. The mercedes dealer told me that there are 2 fault codes: 1. 900b - passenger side seat belt buckle 2. 9243 - passenger side airbag ignition squib this car has only close to 37,000 miles. And this is a safety issue with airbags will not deploy in accidents. This car has never been in any accidents and is in pristine condition. I very strongly feel this is poor workmanship by mercedes and they should have a recall to fix this as this relates to safety.
Tl*the contact owns a 2005 mercedes clk320. The contact stated that the vehicle would not start. Once the vehicle was jump started all of the service lights and sensors on the instrument panel would turn on and off. The automatic seat belts would also engage and disengage on their own. The vehicle was shut off but the failures continued to occur. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where they were unable to diagnose the failure; however, they suspect that it could be the electrical system. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 62,000.
Dt*: the contact stated the automatic driver seat in the vehicle moved forward on its own, pushing the contact into the steering wheel. The vehicle was not recording the correct seat position of each driver. The vehicle was taken to a service dealer who was unable to duplicate the problem. Also, both front tires made a thumping noise while driving at any speed. A service dealer determined that the wear on the tread was uneven. Due to the vehicle having staggered wheels, the tires could not be rotated.
Compare the 2005 Mercedes Benz CLK320
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Questions about the 2005 Mercedes Benz CLK320
Is the 2005 Mercedes Benz CLK320 reliable?
Owners have filed 12 complaints about the 2005 Mercedes Benz CLK320, fewer than a typical CLK320 model year.
What is the 2005 Mercedes Benz CLK320 year score?
The 2005 Mercedes Benz CLK320 scores 78 out of 100 (average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Mercedes Benz CLK320: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2005 Mercedes Benz CLK320?
Electrical system, with 3 complaints. Next is tires (3).
How many recalls does the 2005 Mercedes Benz CLK320 have?
3 recalls, covering visibility.
What gas mileage does the 2005 Mercedes Benz CLK320 get?
Official estimates for the 2005 Mercedes Benz CLK320 range from 20 to 21 mpg combined. The most efficient version (3.2L 6-cyl, RWD) gets 18 city and 24-26 highway.
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