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2004 Mercedes Benz CL500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

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Owner complaints by model year

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

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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: 8 of 9 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 2 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 reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

9 reports
127,600 miles · Jul 2, 2020
Electrical SystemPower TrainService Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ CL500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE HESITATED MOMENTARILY TO SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS MOST EVIDENT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT SPEEDS UNDER 40 MPH. ADDITIONA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ CL500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE HESITATED MOMENTARILY TO SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS MOST EVIDENT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT SPEEDS UNDER 40 MPH. ADDITIONALLY, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND SEVERAL GAUGES FAILED TO PROVIDE ACCURATE INFORMATION OR READINGS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT TRUNK FAILED TO REMAIN UPRIGHT WHEN OPENED; THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL (ABC) WORKSHOP WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED; THERE WAS AN UNKNOWN GREEN FLUID LEAKING UNDERNEATH THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE; AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND ACTIVE BODY CONTROL (ABC) PUMP WERE DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THE LEAK OF THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL (ABC) AND POWER STEERING FLUID. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT PRESSURE BUILT UP IN THE VALVE BODY WAS THE CAUSE FOR THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CONTACTED MERCEDES BENZ OF WEST CALDWELL (1220 BLOOMFIELD AVE, WEST CALDWELL, NJ 07006, (973) 227-3600) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SUBJECTED TO ANY RECALLS RELATED TO THE FAILURES EXPERIENCED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,600.

NHTSA ODI #11337154

Mileage unknown · Jul 23, 2019
Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ CL500. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE SRS INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS TILTED AND LOW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUSPENSION WAS FAULTY. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ CL500. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE SRS INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS TILTED AND LOW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUSPENSION WAS FAULTY. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT LINE PUMP AND STRUT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PUMP AND THE STRUT WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *AS *TR

NHTSA ODI #11234248

93,000 miles · Sep 30, 2016
Electrical SystemExterior LightingSuspension

I PURCHASED THIS CAR JUNE 2016. ENROUTE TO VACATION, IN EARLY AUGUST, THE DRIVER SIDE ELECTRICAL PANEL STOPPED OPERATING. MID-WAY TO VACATION, WHILE STOPPING FOR GAS THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHEN COMPLETELY DARK. I WAS UNABLE TO GAUGE HOW MUCH GAS, SPEED, ETC., ALSO AT THAT TIME WHILE SITTING IN THE CAR, THE JUMPED AS IF SOMEONE…

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I PURCHASED THIS CAR JUNE 2016. ENROUTE TO VACATION, IN EARLY AUGUST, THE DRIVER SIDE ELECTRICAL PANEL STOPPED OPERATING. MID-WAY TO VACATION, WHILE STOPPING FOR GAS THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHEN COMPLETELY DARK. I WAS UNABLE TO GAUGE HOW MUCH GAS, SPEED, ETC., ALSO AT THAT TIME WHILE SITTING IN THE CAR, THE JUMPED AS IF SOMEONE HIT THE CAR. LATER I LEARNED THAT IT WAS THE SUSPENSION. THIS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN THROUGHOUT THE VACATION. UPON REACHING MY VACATION DESTINATION, THE NEXT DAY THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND I HAD TO CALL TO GET MY BATTERY JUMPED. TWO DAYS LATER THE BATTERY DIED AGAIN AND I HAD TO CALL FOR A JUMP. AFTER RETURNING FROM VACATION, A WEEK LATER, THE BATTERY DIED AGAIN AND I HAD TO CALL FOR A JUMP AGAIN. IN MY OPINION THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. I REACHED OUT TO THE RECALL REPRESENTATIVES AND WAS TOLD THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS NOT UNDER RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #10910748

128,762 miles · Apr 30, 2016
Electrical System

TAKATA RECALL I BOUGHT MY 04 CL500 BENZ IN APRIL OF 2015, AFTER A FEW MONTH I NOTICED THE CLUSTER FLICKERING THEN SOON AFTER THE BACK LIGHT WENT OUT BUT GAGES STILL WORKING THEN TODAY WHILE DRIVING IN THE CITY A POOF OF SMOKE HIT ME IN THE FACE I FIGURED SOMETHING WAS ON FIRE SO I PULLED OVER OPENED ALL MY DOORS AND HOOD BUT N…

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TAKATA RECALL I BOUGHT MY 04 CL500 BENZ IN APRIL OF 2015, AFTER A FEW MONTH I NOTICED THE CLUSTER FLICKERING THEN SOON AFTER THE BACK LIGHT WENT OUT BUT GAGES STILL WORKING THEN TODAY WHILE DRIVING IN THE CITY A POOF OF SMOKE HIT ME IN THE FACE I FIGURED SOMETHING WAS ON FIRE SO I PULLED OVER OPENED ALL MY DOORS AND HOOD BUT NO FLAMES JUST SMOKE WHEN SMOKE STOPPED I LOOKED TOWARD WHERE THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM WITCH WAS THE CLUSTER NOW IM STUCK WITH A HORRBLE SMELL AND NO GAGES

NHTSA ODI #10862317

67,000 miles · Mar 30, 2016
Electrical SystemSuspension

RECALL #1-ABC PUMP LEAK. AT 67,000 MILES IN MARCH 2013, THE ABC PUMP BROKE AND LEAKED FLUID ALL OVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND CAUSED THE SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE. HAD THE NECESSARY REPAIRS MADE AT THE COST OF $3500 WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE OF A SAFETY RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. RECALL #2-INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILURE-AT 87,000 MILES …

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RECALL #1-ABC PUMP LEAK. AT 67,000 MILES IN MARCH 2013, THE ABC PUMP BROKE AND LEAKED FLUID ALL OVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND CAUSED THE SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE. HAD THE NECESSARY REPAIRS MADE AT THE COST OF $3500 WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE OF A SAFETY RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. RECALL #2-INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILURE-AT 87,000 MILES IN MARCH 2016, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WENT BLACK WHILE TRAVELING AT 60 MPH ON I-10. DID SOME RESEARCH AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS ISSUE IS ALSO A SAFETY RECALL. I HAVE EXPERIENCED 2 OF THE 4 SAFETY RECALLS WITH THIS VEHICLE, BUT IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN EITHER RECALL. VEHICLES EXPERIENCING 1 OF THE 4 ISSUES HAVE BEEN COVERED BY RECALLS, BUT A VEHICLE THAT HAS EXPERIENCED 2 OF 4 ISSUES SO FAR IS NOT COVERED. WHERE IS THE COMMON SENSE IN THIS? ON AVERAGE, THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN ONLY 7500 MILES PER YEAR.

NHTSA ODI #10852491

65,000 miles · Mar 29, 2016
Electrical SystemSuspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ CL500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE LOWERED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER FAILED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 07V263000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING , SUSPENSION) AND 06V028000 (INTERIOR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ CL500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE LOWERED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER FAILED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 07V263000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING , SUSPENSION) AND 06V028000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM WAS REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE REOCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ODI #10852256

120,000 miles · Oct 20, 2015
Electrical System

I WAS DRIVING TO THE STORE GOING ABOUT 45MPH AND ALL THE SUDDEN MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER COMPLETELY WENT OUT AND THIS IS MY DAILY DRIVER SO NOW IM DRIVING WITH NO FUEL LEVEL SPEED OR HOW HOT MY ENGINE IS GETTING I CALLED MERCEDES AND THEY SAID MY VIN WAS NOT IN THE RECALL BUT IT SHOULD NOT MATTER!! IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE OT…

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I WAS DRIVING TO THE STORE GOING ABOUT 45MPH AND ALL THE SUDDEN MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER COMPLETELY WENT OUT AND THIS IS MY DAILY DRIVER SO NOW IM DRIVING WITH NO FUEL LEVEL SPEED OR HOW HOT MY ENGINE IS GETTING I CALLED MERCEDES AND THEY SAID MY VIN WAS NOT IN THE RECALL BUT IT SHOULD NOT MATTER!! IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE OTHER ONES. BUT THEY REFUSE TO FIX A SAFE MAULFUNCTION

NHTSA ODI #10783549

124,000 miles · Sep 8, 2015
EngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ CL500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE FRONT END CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THERE WAS A FIRE REPORT AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE STARTED FROM THE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ CL500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE FRONT END CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THERE WAS A FIRE REPORT AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE STARTED FROM THE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V263000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SUSPENSION). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000. UPDATED 01/06/16*LJ *CN

NHTSA ODI #10762189

154,930 miles · Mar 7, 2015
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

WHILE I WAS DRIVING HWY 1 TO MONTEREY CA. CLUSTER DASH LIGHTS BLACKED OUT. NOW DON'T KNOW HOW FAST I'M GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND CAN SEE INFORMATION FROM IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10692683

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.