VERY STRONG GASOLINE SMELL COMING FROM UNDER THE DRIVER SIDE REAR SEAT ESPECIALLY AFTER FILLING GAS TANK. MERCEDES AGREED TO WARRANTY THIS ISSUE FOR 15 YEARS ON THE E-CLASS AND CLS-CLASS. WHY DIDN'T MERCEDES AND NHTSA INCLUDE THIS MODEL (CLK) THAT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME COMPONENTS?
2007 Mercedes Benz CLK350
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 CLK350 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
36 reports with mileage · 6 unknown
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.
- Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
42 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK350. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL VALVE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.
FUEL IS LEAKING FROM BOTH SENDER UNITS WHEN TANK IS MORE THAN 3/4 FULL. EXTREME FUMES WHEN CAR IS PARKED IN CLOSED GARAGE WITH A FULL TANK. SMELLS LIKE A LARGE QUANTITY OF FUEL IS LEAKING. PAID FOR THE SAME REPAIR 20K MILES AGO, NOW SAME PROBLEM HAS RETURNED. MB DEALER WILL NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY, COST FOR REPAIR IS $1800 (PLU…
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FUEL IS LEAKING FROM BOTH SENDER UNITS WHEN TANK IS MORE THAN 3/4 FULL. EXTREME FUMES WHEN CAR IS PARKED IN CLOSED GARAGE WITH A FULL TANK. SMELLS LIKE A LARGE QUANTITY OF FUEL IS LEAKING. PAID FOR THE SAME REPAIR 20K MILES AGO, NOW SAME PROBLEM HAS RETURNED. MB DEALER WILL NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY, COST FOR REPAIR IS $1800 (PLUS ORIGINAL REPAIR). THE SYMPTOMS ARE IDENTICAL TO INVESTIGATION EA 13-003. ARE SIMILAR PARTS INVOLVED? GIVEN THE VAST NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS HERE AND ONLINE FORUMS, AN INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE DONE. THERE IS NO WAY THIS AMOUNT OF FUEL LEAKING IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. THIS IS LITERALLY A "TICKING TIME BOMB".
THERE IS A STRONG GAS SMELL COMING FROM THE VEHICLE ESPECIALLY AFTER FILLING UP THE TANK. IT WAS INSPECTED AT FLETCHER JONES MERCEDES BENZ DEALER AND THE LEAK WAS FOUND AT THE FUEL TANK FILTER, LEVEL SENSOR, AND 2 SEAL RINGS. DUE TO THE COST, I DID NOT HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT THE DEALER BUT AT A LOCAL SHOP SPECIALIZING IN…
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THERE IS A STRONG GAS SMELL COMING FROM THE VEHICLE ESPECIALLY AFTER FILLING UP THE TANK. IT WAS INSPECTED AT FLETCHER JONES MERCEDES BENZ DEALER AND THE LEAK WAS FOUND AT THE FUEL TANK FILTER, LEVEL SENSOR, AND 2 SEAL RINGS. DUE TO THE COST, I DID NOT HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT THE DEALER BUT AT A LOCAL SHOP SPECIALIZING IN MB. COST FOR THE REPAIR WAS $836.70. I AM REPORTING THIS LATE FOR PURPOSES OF SAFETY AND TRENDING.
WHEN THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM LIGHT (SRS) CAME ON I WAS TOLD THE HARNESS UNDER THE SEAT HAD TO BE REPLACED AT CONSIDERABLE COST. I HAD IT REPAIRED AN A SHORT TIME LATER IT CAME ON AGAIN. I AM TOLD AGAIN I HAVE A FAULTY HARNESS AND AGAIN I MUST DO THE SAME REPAIR AT MY EXPENSE. THIS IS NOT SAFE AND MERCEDES TAKES NO RES…
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WHEN THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM LIGHT (SRS) CAME ON I WAS TOLD THE HARNESS UNDER THE SEAT HAD TO BE REPLACED AT CONSIDERABLE COST. I HAD IT REPAIRED AN A SHORT TIME LATER IT CAME ON AGAIN. I AM TOLD AGAIN I HAVE A FAULTY HARNESS AND AGAIN I MUST DO THE SAME REPAIR AT MY EXPENSE. THIS IS NOT SAFE AND MERCEDES TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY.
A VERY STONG GASOLINE SMELL IN THE GARAGE AFTER HAVING CAR FILLED. THE STRONG SMELL HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SOMETIME BUT DIDN'T THINK TOO MUCH ABOUT IT. LAST WEEK A PLUMBER CAME TO MY HOUSE FOR A LEAKY PIPE SITUATION AND NOTICED THE SMELL AND SAID THAT WAS NOT NORMAL AND COU LD PRESENT A FIRE HAZARD! I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR TO …
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A VERY STONG GASOLINE SMELL IN THE GARAGE AFTER HAVING CAR FILLED. THE STRONG SMELL HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SOMETIME BUT DIDN'T THINK TOO MUCH ABOUT IT. LAST WEEK A PLUMBER CAME TO MY HOUSE FOR A LEAKY PIPE SITUATION AND NOTICED THE SMELL AND SAID THAT WAS NOT NORMAL AND COU LD PRESENT A FIRE HAZARD! I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR TO GREENWAY MERCEDES LATE ON TUESDAY, 9-29-15. I SAID I WON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS BECAUSE IT MUST BE A DEFECT. THEY SAID INDEED I WOULD HAVE TO PAY. THE DIAGNOSTIC SHOWED THAT IT WAS THE SEALS IN THE FUEL SENDING UNIT, AND I PAID $1400 TO BE REPAIRED. I TOLD THEM I WAS GOING TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH YOU BECAUSE I HAD RESEARCHED AND FOUND OTHER COMPLAINTS FILED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM WITH YOU.
I SLOWED DOWN TO MAKE A TURN AND THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. IT APPEARED TO BE STUCK IN HIGH GEAR AND DID NOT SHIFT BACK DOWN TO A LOW GEAR. THIS HAPPENED TWICE OVER A 3 WEEK PERIOD. BOTH TIMES I ALMOST CAUSED A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT BY BEING STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE MB DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE C…
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I SLOWED DOWN TO MAKE A TURN AND THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. IT APPEARED TO BE STUCK IN HIGH GEAR AND DID NOT SHIFT BACK DOWN TO A LOW GEAR. THIS HAPPENED TWICE OVER A 3 WEEK PERIOD. BOTH TIMES I ALMOST CAUSED A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT BY BEING STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE MB DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE CONDUCTOR PLATE SENSOR BOARD THAT CONTROLS THE TRANSMISSION. THE FIX WAS $1300 TO REPLACE THE UNIT.
THE SRS (SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM) LIGHT CAME ON AND A MESSAGE SAYING THERE WAS A FAULT AND THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE TAKEN TO THE WORKSHOP. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE WIRING HARNESS IN THE DRIVER SEAT NEEDS REPLACED. THIS HARNESS IS CONNECTED TO THE SIDE AIR BAG LOCATED IN THE DRIVER SEAT. THE ESTIMATE TO REPLA…
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THE SRS (SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM) LIGHT CAME ON AND A MESSAGE SAYING THERE WAS A FAULT AND THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE TAKEN TO THE WORKSHOP. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE WIRING HARNESS IN THE DRIVER SEAT NEEDS REPLACED. THIS HARNESS IS CONNECTED TO THE SIDE AIR BAG LOCATED IN THE DRIVER SEAT. THE ESTIMATE TO REPLACE THE HARNESS IS $850. THE MECHANIC AT THE MB DEALER SAID THE WIRES WEAR AWAY FROM SEAT MOVEMENT OVER THE YEARS AND NOW NEED REPLACED. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. THE AIR BAGS ARE INSTALLED AS A SAFETY DEVICE AND SHOULD NOT FAIL BECAUSE THE SEAT IS MOVED BACK AND FORTH WHEN SETTING THE SEAT POSITION.
I OWN A 2007 MERCEDES CLK 350, I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY SON, WHEN MY CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING WHILE IN MOTION. I WAS TERRIFIED! I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC WITH BIG RIGS AND ALL. WHEN I REALIZED THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, NOR COULD I CHANGE GEARS, I TURNED THE WHEEL TO HEAD TOWARDS THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE…
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I OWN A 2007 MERCEDES CLK 350, I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY SON, WHEN MY CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING WHILE IN MOTION. I WAS TERRIFIED! I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC WITH BIG RIGS AND ALL. WHEN I REALIZED THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, NOR COULD I CHANGE GEARS, I TURNED THE WHEEL TO HEAD TOWARDS THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE CAR SHUTDOWN BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR COMPLETELY IN THE LANE. I WAITED AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE CAR RESTARTED AND I MOVED OFF THE EXIT. AS SOON AS I EXITED, THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING AGAIN, AND SHUTDOWN IN MOTION. MY CAR DIAGNOSTIC WAS THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE/SPEED SENSOR. UPON INVESTIGATING I DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED TO MERCEDES ON NUMEROUS OF OCCASSIONS. I DISCOVERED COMPLAINTS AT NHTSA, CONSUMER AFFAIRS, ALL THE WAY TO THE BBB. EVEN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENTS SAID THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THESE MODELS. I WAS SO UPSET! TO FIND OUT THAT, THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT BUT THE CONSUMERS HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. MY SON AND I WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE AND WE COULD HAVE BEEN DIRECTLY HIT AND KILLED! THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE! A CAR SHOULD NOT STOP IN MOTION AT ANYTIME, ANYWHERE! MERCEDES NEEDS TO REPLACE THIS PART THAT IS REQUIRED TO FIX THIS KNOWN DEFECT, BEFORE A SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH OCCURS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ CLK350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO LOSE ACCELERATION UNTIL IT STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TURNED OFF AND THEN RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THREE INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CONTROL SPEED SENSOR NEEDED RE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ CLK350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO LOSE ACCELERATION UNTIL IT STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TURNED OFF AND THEN RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THREE INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CONTROL SPEED SENSOR NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Official recalls
424V874000 · Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly
Nov 19, 2024
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A detached sunroof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
22V954000 · Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly
Dec 23, 2022
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A detached sunroof panel may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
21V196000 · Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly
Mar 19, 2021
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2006-2007 C350, C230, C280, CLK350, E320CDI, E350 Wagon, E350, 2006 C55 AMG, CLK500, CLS500, CLS55 AMG, E500 Wagon, E500, E55 AMG, 2007 CLK550, CLS550, CLS63 AMG, E550, E63 AMG, and E63 Wagon AMG vehicles. The bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame may deteriorate, possibly causing the glass panel to detach from the vehicle.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A detached glass panel can separate from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the glass panel bonding and replace the sliding roof, as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 7, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of recall number 19V-918. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021040012.
19V918000 · Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly
Dec 20, 2019
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
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A detached glass panel can separate from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
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.
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