IllustrationLEAKING ABC FLUID. THE ABC SISTEM WAS BROKEN
2002 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: 11 of 13 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 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. 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 reports0 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
13 reportsABC HYDRAULIC SYSTEM HIGH PRESSURE HOSE CORROSION AND FAILURE OF FITTINGS. CAUSED DAMAGE TO VEHICLE, SMOKE POURED FROM UNDER VEHICLE, AND POSSIBLE FIRE. THE FLUID SPRAYED ALL OVER EXHAUST. VEHICLE RIDE HEIGHT WAS THROWN QUICKLY TO GROUND.
THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE TO MERCEDES, THIS IS A MAJOR FIRE HAZARD, THESE CARS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR THIS PROBLEM. OIL WILL SPRAY ALL OVER THE EXHAUST, AND PLASTIC CREATING A VACUUM. LUCKY MY FAMILY HASN'T DIED FROM THIS FIRE HAZARD. ITS ALL OVER THE MB FORUMS, EVERYONE ON REPAIR PAL, EVERYONE KNOWS THAT THIS IS COMMON AND LIFE THREATEN…
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THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE TO MERCEDES, THIS IS A MAJOR FIRE HAZARD, THESE CARS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR THIS PROBLEM. OIL WILL SPRAY ALL OVER THE EXHAUST, AND PLASTIC CREATING A VACUUM. LUCKY MY FAMILY HASN'T DIED FROM THIS FIRE HAZARD. ITS ALL OVER THE MB FORUMS, EVERYONE ON REPAIR PAL, EVERYONE KNOWS THAT THIS IS COMMON AND LIFE THREATENING HAZARD THAT SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH THE REDESIGNED OIL COOLER. I HAVE CONTACTED MERCEDES BENZ ON THIS ISSUE. *TR
OEM REPLACED HIGH PRESSURE HYDRAULIC HOSE DEFECTIVE AND LEAKING AGAIN, CAN CAUSE HYDRAULIC FLUID TO LEAK ONTO HOT EXHAUST AND START A COMPLETE FIRE.. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ CL600. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH, THE CONTROL PANEL FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN FAILED TO QUALIFY FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:06V028000 (INTERIOR LIGHTIN…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ CL600. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH, THE CONTROL PANEL FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN FAILED TO QUALIFY FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:06V028000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 32,000.
ABC HOSE LEAKED HYDRAULIC FLUID IN HUGE PUDDLE AS THE VEHICLE WAS BEING BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. NOT LONG AFTER THE WHEELS WERE SITTING ON TOP OF THE WHEEL WELL. MERCEDES SERVICE DIAGNOSED AS HOSE THAT REQUIRES TRANSMISSION TO BE REMOVED TO FIX. WAS TOLD RECALL WORK WAS DONE IN 2004 SO I HAD TO PAY FULL REPAIR PRICE ($4,7…
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ABC HOSE LEAKED HYDRAULIC FLUID IN HUGE PUDDLE AS THE VEHICLE WAS BEING BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. NOT LONG AFTER THE WHEELS WERE SITTING ON TOP OF THE WHEEL WELL. MERCEDES SERVICE DIAGNOSED AS HOSE THAT REQUIRES TRANSMISSION TO BE REMOVED TO FIX. WAS TOLD RECALL WORK WAS DONE IN 2004 SO I HAD TO PAY FULL REPAIR PRICE ($4,700). *TR
I OWN A 2002 CL-600 THAT HAS A TERRIBLE ENGINE OIL LEAK. THE DEALER WANTS $5,800 TO REPAIR THE OIL COOLER. SEARCHING THE WEB SHOWS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MERCEDES 12 CYLINDER ENGINES. BECAUSE LEAKING MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL ONTO A HOT MOTOR IS A SERIOUS FIRE SAFETY ISSUE, MERCEDES SHOULD RECALL ALL 12 CYLINDER CARS…
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I OWN A 2002 CL-600 THAT HAS A TERRIBLE ENGINE OIL LEAK. THE DEALER WANTS $5,800 TO REPAIR THE OIL COOLER. SEARCHING THE WEB SHOWS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MERCEDES 12 CYLINDER ENGINES. BECAUSE LEAKING MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL ONTO A HOT MOTOR IS A SERIOUS FIRE SAFETY ISSUE, MERCEDES SHOULD RECALL ALL 12 CYLINDER CARS AND INSTALL A BETTER DESIGNED OIL COOLER. *KB
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THEN THE CARS SUSPENSION STARTED ACTING ERRATIC, I COULD NOT MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE TILL A SHORT TIME LATER. MY CARS SUSPENSION RAISED AND LOWERED IN A VIOLENT WAY. MY HEAD WAS THROWN FORWARD INTO THE STEERING WHEEL, AND BACK IN THE HEAD REST. I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT. I CONTACTED MERCEDES,…
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I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THEN THE CARS SUSPENSION STARTED ACTING ERRATIC, I COULD NOT MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE TILL A SHORT TIME LATER. MY CARS SUSPENSION RAISED AND LOWERED IN A VIOLENT WAY. MY HEAD WAS THROWN FORWARD INTO THE STEERING WHEEL, AND BACK IN THE HEAD REST. I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT. I CONTACTED MERCEDES, AND THEY TOLD ME IN SO MANY WORDS, TOO BAD FOR ME. *TR
THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM SUSPENSION GOES ERRATIC, RAISING AND LOWERING AS IT PLEASES. DANGEROUS. *TR
I HAVE A 2002 MERCEDES CL600 AND IT HAS A ENGINE OIL LEAK. I WAS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC THAT THE LEAK MIGHT CAUSE THE FIRE IN ENGINE. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT BUT THIS IS THE ONLY CAR I HAVE IT. THE MERCEDES IS ASKING 5500 USD TO FIX IT. I CANT CAUSE I DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH MONEY. AS I FOUND OUT THIS IS A COMMON OF A PROBLEM FOR CL6…
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I HAVE A 2002 MERCEDES CL600 AND IT HAS A ENGINE OIL LEAK. I WAS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC THAT THE LEAK MIGHT CAUSE THE FIRE IN ENGINE. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT BUT THIS IS THE ONLY CAR I HAVE IT. THE MERCEDES IS ASKING 5500 USD TO FIX IT. I CANT CAUSE I DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH MONEY. AS I FOUND OUT THIS IS A COMMON OF A PROBLEM FOR CL600. *TR
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.