← New search

2000 Mercedes Benz CL500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all CL500 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 5 of 6 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Suspension. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports2 fire reports0 injury reports

Suspension complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
116,000 miles · Nov 25, 2015
SuspensionFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ CL500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM NEARLY CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF T…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ CL500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM NEARLY CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.

NHTSA ODI #10806786

74,000 miles · Sep 23, 2014
Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES CL500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE DROPPED TO THE GROUND. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL IS TOO LOW PLEASE STOP VEHICLE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WH…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES CL500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE DROPPED TO THE GROUND. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL IS TOO LOW PLEASE STOP VEHICLE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT FLUIDS WAS LEAKING THROUGH SEALS OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE ABC HIGH PRESSURE HOSE AND THE HYDRAULIC PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000. THE VIN NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10638560

15,000 miles · Jun 25, 2010
SuspensionFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ CL500 (N/A). WHILE TRAVELING AT 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD, UNUSUAL POP COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. WITHIN SECONDS, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE REAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUSPENSION HOSE HAD FAILED. …

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ CL500 (N/A). WHILE TRAVELING AT 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD, UNUSUAL POP COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. WITHIN SECONDS, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE REAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUSPENSION HOSE HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SECOND MECHANIC WHERE THE SUSPENSION HOSE WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ODI #10340151

Official recalls

1

01V247000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch

Aug 1, 2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." WHEN THE LOW BEAM HEADLAMPS ARE ACTIVATED, THE XENON LAMPS ARE AIMED TO ILLUMINATE THE ROAD SURFACE. IN THE HIGH BEAM MODE THE LIGHT FROM THE XENON BULBS ARE REDIRECTED AND ADDITIONAL HALOGEN BULBS ALSO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE HIGH BEAMS ARE ACTIVATED. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE COMBINATION OF XENON BULB AND HALOGEN BULB EXCEED THE PERMITTED LIGHT OUTPUT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: DRIVERS IN INCOMING VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE INCREASED GLARE FROM THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTING WHICH COULD RESULT IN THE POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE AIM OF THE HALOGEN HEADLAMP BULBS IN THE HIGH BEAM MODE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 15, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE03058 · Engine Crankshaft Pulley Failure

Opened Dec 17, 2003 · Closed Apr 22, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline:belts And Associated Pulleys

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HARMONIC BALANCER FAILURE THAT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER-STEERING ASSIST.ODI HAS RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 546 NON-DUPLICATIVE REPORTS THAT ALLEGE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HARMONIC BALANCER FAILURE ON ALL MERCEDES-BENZ VEHICLES USING THE SUBJECT COMPONENT.THE SUBJECT COMPONENT FAILURES ARE PROGRESSIVE IN NATURE AND ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINTS AND WARRANT CLAIMS INVOLVED A FAILURE THAT HAD PROGRESSED FAR ENOUGH TO EFFECT POWER STEERING PERFORMANCE (6 OF 55 ODI COMPLAINTS REFERENCE INCREASED STEERING EFFORT).THERE HAVE BEEN NO CRASHES OR INJURIES RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE SUMMARY REPORT ATTACHED FOR FURTHER DETAIL.