IllustrationSMALL FIRE STARTED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WHEN GETTING OFF THE EXPRESSWAY AFTER TRAVELING ABOUT 12 MILES. STARTED TO SEE SMOKE WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT. SAW SMALL FLAMES WHEN I STOPPED TO LOOK FOR SOURCE OF SMOKE. RECENT REPAIRS MADE HEATER CORE REPLACED. ALSO WATER PUMP REPLACED. ALSO UPPER RADIATOR HOSE REPLACED. *TR
2001 Mercedes Benz CL600
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
Compare all CL600 years →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: 14 of 14 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 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. 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 reports4 fire reports0 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
2 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ CL-600. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE ABC WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN DETECTED THAT THE ABC HYDRAULIC HOSE AND HYDRAULIC PUMP W…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ CL-600. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE ABC WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN DETECTED THAT THE ABC HYDRAULIC HOSE AND HYDRAULIC PUMP WERE LEAKING A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF FLUID ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE HAD ALSO BEEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V263000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE YEARS AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000. ..UPDATED 09/21/11 *BF
Official recalls
104V228000 · Suspension
May 13, 2004
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, CORROSION MAY OCCUR IN THE INNER STEEL PORTIONS OF THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL'S (ABC) HIGH-PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION HOSE DUE TO EXTENSIVE EXPOSURE TO HEAT AND HUMIDITY. OVER TIME, CORROSION MAY DETERIORATE THE INNER STEEL PORTIONS OF THE HOSE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS MAY RESULT IN ABC HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAKAGE. UNDER SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, LEAKING HYDRAULIC FLUID MAY COME IN CONTACT WITH HOT ENGINE COMPONENTS AND LEAD TO A POSSIBILITY OF FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW, CORROSION RESISTANT ABC HIGH-PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION HOSES. THE RECALL BEGAN AUGUST 31, 2004. OWNERS 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.