IllustrationAfter evaluation by garage it is concluded that there’s subframe damage to the vehicle
2004 Mercedes Benz CLK500
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 CLK500 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: 12 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.
- Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. 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 reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
14 reportsSTRONG GAS SMELL FROM REAR SEAT WHENEVER GAS FILLED UP.
MY CAR AFTER FUELING LEAKS A VERY STRONG FUEL SMELL ENTERS MY CAR. THE STRONG FUEL VAPOR WILL REMAIN UNTIL THE TANK GETS BELOW 3/4. IT WILL BE THERE WHETHER IT IS IN MOTION, STATIONARY, OR AT IDLE. MY ENTIRE GARAGE WILL SMELL OF FUEL DURING THIS TIME WHEN THE TANK IS FULL. I KNOW MERCEDES RECALLED THE E CLASS FUEL TANK BECAUSE O…
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MY CAR AFTER FUELING LEAKS A VERY STRONG FUEL SMELL ENTERS MY CAR. THE STRONG FUEL VAPOR WILL REMAIN UNTIL THE TANK GETS BELOW 3/4. IT WILL BE THERE WHETHER IT IS IN MOTION, STATIONARY, OR AT IDLE. MY ENTIRE GARAGE WILL SMELL OF FUEL DURING THIS TIME WHEN THE TANK IS FULL. I KNOW MERCEDES RECALLED THE E CLASS FUEL TANK BECAUSE OF THIS SAME ISSUE. MY CLK500 IS THE SAME AS THE E CLASS BUT THE CONVERTIBLE VERSION. THESE ARE DANGEROUS FAULTY TANKS THAT NEED TO BE RECALLED IN EVERY VEHICLE THEY INSTALLED THEM IN.
AFTER FILLING FUEL TANK STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE. OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS NATURE IN YOUR SYSTEM. RECALL ALREADY ISSUED FOR OTHER MODEL MERCEDES BENZ WITH SAME ISSUE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ CLK500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED AND THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILUR…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ CLK500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED AND THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,000.
VEHICLE SHOW AN SRS LIGHT ISSUE ON THE DASHBOARD, I TOOK THE VEHICLE MANY TIMES TO TYSON'S CORNER, VA MERCEDEZ BENZ DEALERSHIP TO FIGURE WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM, AND THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE ISSUE. AFTER A LOT OF INVESTIGATION I FOUND OUT IT MAY BE THE SEATBELT BUCKLES, OR THE CHILD RECOGNITION EMULATOR WHICH ARE GIVIN…
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VEHICLE SHOW AN SRS LIGHT ISSUE ON THE DASHBOARD, I TOOK THE VEHICLE MANY TIMES TO TYSON'S CORNER, VA MERCEDEZ BENZ DEALERSHIP TO FIGURE WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM, AND THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE ISSUE. AFTER A LOT OF INVESTIGATION I FOUND OUT IT MAY BE THE SEATBELT BUCKLES, OR THE CHILD RECOGNITION EMULATOR WHICH ARE GIVING AND ISSUE. IF HE SRS LIGHT IS ON THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ CLK500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER HE WOULD REFUEL, THERE WAS A STRONG OVERWHELMING FUEL ODOR COMING FROM INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN DEALER WHERE TIT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ CLK500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER HE WOULD REFUEL, THERE WAS A STRONG OVERWHELMING FUEL ODOR COMING FROM INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN DEALER WHERE TIT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.
BOUGHT CAR IN SEPT. 2012. STARTED TO NOTICE FUEL SMELL AFTER FILL UPS. GETTING WORSE, AND CHECKED FUEL SENDING UNIT ON TOP OF TANK. PUDDLE OF FUEL ON TOP OF SENDING UNIT. *TR
I SMELLED GASOLINE WHEN MY TWO CARS WERE PARKED IN THE GARAGE. THIS OCCURRED ONLY AFTER FILLING THE GAS TANKS (NO TOPPING OFF.) I THOUGHT IT WAS MY 2010 MBZ BUT THE DEALER CHECKED AND FOUND NO PROBLEM. I HAD MY 2004 MBZ CHECKED. THE DEALER TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW GAS TANK, BECAUSE IT WAS LEAKING. MY CAR HAS 80K MILES AND LOO…
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I SMELLED GASOLINE WHEN MY TWO CARS WERE PARKED IN THE GARAGE. THIS OCCURRED ONLY AFTER FILLING THE GAS TANKS (NO TOPPING OFF.) I THOUGHT IT WAS MY 2010 MBZ BUT THE DEALER CHECKED AND FOUND NO PROBLEM. I HAD MY 2004 MBZ CHECKED. THE DEALER TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW GAS TANK, BECAUSE IT WAS LEAKING. MY CAR HAS 80K MILES AND LOOKS NEW; GARAGED, SERVICED AND NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT AND HAS NO LEAKS. A NEW GAS CAP DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. OVER THREE QUARTERS OF A TANK DOES NOT EMIT ANY ODOR, SO I DON'T FILL THE TANK COMPLETELY. I FEEL THE FUMES COULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD INSIDE A GARAGE CONTAINING A HOT WATER HEATER. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES CLK500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
Official recalls
324V874000 · 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.
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.