2005 Mercedes Benz CLK500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other CLK500 years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 7 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 18 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Mercedes Benz CLK500. That is the most of any CLK500 model year in the database (7 years). The most reported problem area is electrical system (3 complaints, 17%), typically at around 113,760 miles. Complaints mention 2 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 18owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2005 Mercedes Benz CLK500 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 | 3 | 17% | 113,760 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 3 | 17% | 114,500 | — | — |
| Tires | 3 | 17% | 22,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 2 | 11% | 36,500 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 11% | 120,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 11% | 58,894 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 6% | 3,500 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 6% | 48,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 6% | 117,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 6% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 6% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2005 Mercedes Benz CLK500 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.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK500. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after the vehicle was purchased. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 127,000. It was later discovered that the mileage on the Title was…
The driver side seat belt. The seat belt won't retract. Yes, the seat belt is available for inspection upon request. The driver side seat belt is useless, because there is no tension in restrain your body from moving. No, the dealer will not fix the issue. The vehicle has been inspected by the…
Tire size: 245/40/17 Had a blowout without any warning, causing me to hit the center console and mirror receiving cuts and bruises. Immediately was pulled to the side of the road. When I got out to see what had happened, the rubber separated from the tire, which knocked off the back end of my car…
While driving at 60mph on the a highway, without warning the passenger rear tire had a blowout. I immediately pulled off the road and when looking to see what happened, clearly seen was the rubber from the tire completely separated from the tire, causing major damage to my car. The rubber that came…
Low beam is out, discovered that on both sides all the headlight wires have lost all the insulation. Pictures can be texted.
Other Mercedes Benz CLK500 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 CLK500 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 CLK500 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 CLK500 | 0 | 1 |
| 2006 CLK500 | 5 | 4 |
| 2005 | 18 | 3 |
| 2004 CLK500 | 14 | 3 |
| 2003 CLK500 | 1 | 3 |
See all Mercedes Benz CLK500 problems by year, every Mercedes Benz model, or the Mercedes Benz VIN decoder.
Similar Mercedes Benz models
Embed this 2005 Mercedes Benz CLK500 badge on your site
Copy this code into your blog or forum post. It shows live complaint and recall counts and links back here.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Mercedes Benz CLK500?
Owners most often report electrical system, fuel/propulsion system, tires problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 3 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2005 Mercedes Benz CLK500?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2005 Mercedes Benz CLK500 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other CLK500 model years, the 2005 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.