2003 Mercedes Benz CLK320 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other CLK320 years
- About as many complaints as other years 1st of 10 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 19 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Mercedes Benz CLK320. That is the most of any CLK320 model year in the database (10 years). The most reported problem area is electrical system (6 complaints, 32%), typically at around 69,500 miles. Complaints mention 4 crashes, 1 fire, 3 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 19owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 4complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2003 Mercedes Benz CLK320 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 6 | 32% | 69,500 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 5 | 26% | 40,816 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 3 | 16% | 9,507 | — | — |
| Structure | 3 | 16% | 45,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 1 | 5% | 143,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 5% | 9,507 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 5% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2003 Mercedes Benz CLK320 recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Visibility:sun/moon roof assembly
Problem: 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.
Fix: 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 NHTSA recall number 22V-954. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2024120001/2/3.
Visibility:sun/moon roof assembly
Problem: 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.
Fix: 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 NHTSA recall number 19V-918. MBUSA's numbers for this recall are 2023010004, 2023010005, and 2023010006.
Visibility:sun/moon roof assembly
Problem: 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: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V918-4126.pdf
Risk: A detached glass panel can separate from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
2003 mercedes benz clk. Consumer writes in regards to sunroof glass bonding safety recall. *ld the consumer stated the sunroof was rusted. The consumer was advised that the rust was leading to structural instability of the entire vehicle. The consumer stated the vehicle's was serial number was not…
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 mercedes benz clk320. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 19v918000 (visibility) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair…
My 2003 mercedes benz clk 320 that i have owned for less than 1 year caught on fire on june 9, 2017. The engine is melted and destroyed luckily no one was injured despite it happened around a busy area. I am completely in shock still, not knowing what actually happened until i came across a website…
On mar. 18, 2017 i was in a parking lot preparing to leave. When i started the car the mechanism that brings the seat belt forward so i can grab it began to move back and forward erratically. When it stopped the seatbelt failed to come all the way out. I turned the car off and started it again and…
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 mercedes-benz clk320. While driving 30 mph, the contact rear ended another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The vin…
Other Mercedes Benz CLK320 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 CLK320 | 1 | 0 |
| 2008 CLK320 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 CLK320 | 1 | 0 |
| 2005 CLK320 | 12 | 3 |
| 2004 CLK320 | 16 | 3 |
| 2003 | 19 | 3 |
| 2002 CLK320 | 16 | 0 |
| 2001 CLK320 | 15 | 0 |
| 2000 CLK320 | 17 | 0 |
| 1999 CLK320 | 18 | 1 |
See all Mercedes Benz CLK320 problems by year, every Mercedes Benz model, or the Mercedes Benz VIN decoder.
Similar Mercedes Benz models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Mercedes Benz CLK320?
Owners most often report electrical system, air bags, seat belts problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 6 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Mercedes Benz CLK320?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2003 Mercedes Benz CLK320 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other CLK320 model years, the 2003 has about as many complaints as a typical year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.