2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class

2003 MERCEDES BENZ CLK. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SUNROOF GLASS BONDING SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE SUNROOF WAS RUSTED. THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THAT THE RUST WAS LEADING TO STRUCTURAL INSTABILITY OF THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE'S WAS SERIAL NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 19V918.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ CLK320. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V918000 (VISIBILITY) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

MY 2003 MERCEDES BENZ CLK 320 THAT I HAVE OWNED FOR LESS THAN 1 YEAR CAUGHT ON FIRE ON JUNE 9, 2017. THE ENGINE IS MELTED AND DESTROYED LUCKILY NO ONE WAS INJURED DESPITE IT HAPPENED AROUND A BUSY AREA. I AM COMPLETELY IN SHOCK STILL, NOT KNOWING WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED UNTIL I CAME ACROSS A WEBSITE STATING THAT OTHER MERCEDES BENZ MODELS HAVE HAD THEIR ENGINES CATCH ON FIRE DUE TO TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE MORE THAN ONCE IN CONSECUTIVE ATTEMPTS. (WHILE READING THAT LAST PARAGRAPH, I DO RECALL TRYING TO DO JUST THAT SINCE THE CAR DECIDED TO STALL ON ME). I REMEMBER I WAS WAITING AT AN INTERSECTION TO MAKE A TURN INTO A U.S. POST OFFICE PARKING LOT AREA. HOWEVER, BEFORE I COULD EVEN MAKE THE TURN, IT STALLED ON ME IN THE INTERSECTION. I IMMEDIATELY TRIED TO START IT AS PEOPLE BEGAN HONKING THEIR HORNS AT ME WITHOUT ANY LUCK. ON THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE TRY I GOT THE CAR STARTED AND DROVE AND PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT. I DID NOT GIVE A THOUGHT OF WHY THE MERCEDES GAVE ME STARTING PROBLEMS JUST A MINUTE AGO AS I GRABBED MY PURSE AND HEADED TO THE POST OFFICE. WHILE I GOT IN LINE,I STARTED TO HEAR PEOPLE YELL ABOUT A FIRE-A CAR FIRE. WE ALL WENT OUTSIDE TO SEE THIS AND AS I GOT A GOOD LOOK AT IT, I REALIZED THAT WAS MY CAR ON FIRE. I CALLED 911 WHILE I WAS SHAKING.

ON MAR. 18, 2017 I WAS IN A PARKING LOT PREPARING TO LEAVE. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR THE MECHANISM THAT BRINGS THE SEAT BELT FORWARD SO I CAN GRAB IT BEGAN TO MOVE BACK AND FORWARD ERRATICALLY. WHEN IT STOPPED THE SEATBELT FAILED TO COME ALL THE WAY OUT. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND STARTED IT AGAIN AND THE MECHANISM CAME OUT LIKE IT SHOULD BUT THE SEATBELT WOULDN'T COME OUT. I PLAYED WITH SEATBELT UNTIL I GOT IT TO COME OUT, HOWEVER, IT WOULDN'T RETRACT TO FIT SNUG AGAINST MY BODY. I SHUT OFF THE CAR AGAIN AND TURNED IT ON AGAIN AND THE MECHANISM CAME OUT AS IT SHOULD BUT THE SEATBELT DIDN'T DO ANYTHING. I TRIED TO MANUALLY RETRACT THE SEATBELT BUT IT DIDN'T WORK SO I HAD TO DRIVE HOME WITHOUT A SEATBELT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK320. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ S430. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 8/11/14*CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ CLK320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS APPLIED. THE CONTACT APPLIED FORCE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE RESUMED TO NORMAL. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WERE FUMES THAT OMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TEN DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRE HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

I HAVE HAD SEAT BELT TROUBLE. WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR IT WAS WEAK TO RETRACT. THAN 9 MONTHS LATER IT GAVE OUT ON ME. I LOOKED INTO IT ONLINE AND IT TURNS OUT ALMOST ALL THESE VEHICLES HAVE THIS PROBLEM BEFORE 100,000 MILES. THERE ARE DOZENS OF FORUMS IN COMPLAINTS PLENTY OF PEOPLE SAYING THEY HAVE THE PROBLEM TO IN EACH. ITS A HAZARD THAT PEOPLE ARE DRIVING THESE CARS AND DECIDE THEY DON'T HAVE $500 TO BUY A SEAT BELT RETRACTOR PLUS $200 IN LABOR. ALSO IT OFTEN LEAVES NO WARNING THAT IT WON'T RETRACT. THERE WILL BE AN ACCIDENT ONE DAY AND SOMEONE WILL DIE AND ITS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX A SEATBELT THAT SHOULD BE WORKING. MINE GAVE OUT OF NO WHERE SO WHEN I WAS AWAY FROM HOME IF I WOULD OF GOTTEN INTO AN ACCIDENT THAT'S A PROBLEM WORTH FIXING. MY GIRLFRIEND IS AN EMT AND SHE SAYS THAT A SEAT BELT PLACED TO HIGH OR TOO LOW CAN CAUSE U TO BE CRUNCHED UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL OR FLY UP OVER INTO THE WINDSHIELD. SO ONE THAT GOES LOOSE ON YOU WHILE DRIVING WILL CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY BECAUSE JUST THE FACT THAT THERE IS MOVING SPACE WILL CAUSE YOU TO WIGGLE LOOSE FROM YOUR SEAT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES- BENZ CLK 430. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BECAME RESISTANT TO ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE ACCELERATOR CABLE HAD BECOME DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,430.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES CLK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR HEADLIGHTS WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT BULB BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ CLK430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER AND RADIO WERE DEFECTIVE. HE MENTIONED THAT THE PIXELS ON BOTH WERE MISSING. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,879.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ CLK 320. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS FAILED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,050. UPDATED 10/27/10. *LJ UPDATED 11/12/10 *CN UPDATED 11/26/10*JB

2003 MERCEDES (CONVERTIBLE) 350 CLK TRAVELING APPROX 35 MPH ON 2-LANE ROAD VEERED RIGHT AND STRUCK A PARKED CAR, CAUSING APPROXIMATELY $20,000 DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE MERCEDES (TOTAL LOSS). NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, ALTHOUGH THE REAR SEAT ROLL BARS DID DEPLOY. DRIVER HIT HER HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL, SUFFERING CONCUSSION. APPARENTLY THE AIR BAGS WERE DEFECTIVE. *TR

BOTH LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHTS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS. HAD BULBS AND IGNITERS REPLACED AND THE HEAD LIGHTS STILL WENT OUT. BOTH LIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT AT THE SAME TIME WHICH POSES A DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITION AT NIGHT. HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO MULTIPLE MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIPS WITH NO PERMANENT SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. *TR

ONCOMING CAR SLID SIDEWAYS INTO THE FRONT OF MY CAR ON A COUNTY HIGHWAY. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY EVEN THOUGH DAMAGE WAS EXTENSIVE (CAR WAS TOTAL LOSS), AND INJURIES TO THE DRIVER WERE SUSTAINED. SEATBELT WAS ON BUT INJURIES RESULTED FROM CRASH. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH MERCEDES BENZ, EVEN SENT A PICTURE OF THE DAMAGE, BUT I HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THEM. *TR

I AM FILING A COMPLAINT BECAUSE RECALL ID# 08V303000-ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS AFFECTING MY CAR AND MERCEDES REFUSES TO FIX IT. IT IS A SOFTWARE CALIBRATION THAT MADE MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON. WHEN I TOOK IT TO MB THEY SAID THAT THE RECALL DID NOT EXIST. THEN THEY SAID THAT IT EXISTED AND APPLIED TO THE 2003 CLK (WHICH IS WHAT I HAVE) BUT NOT TO MY VIN. THEY ARE TRYING TO CHARGE ME TO GET THIS SOFTWARE CALIBRATED WHEN IT'S UNDER A RECALL FOR OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME YEAR AND CLASS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ CLK 500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED FLAMES UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND TWO OTHER VEHICLES WERE MODERATELY DAMAGED BY THE FLAMES. HE NOTICED EXCESSIVE POWER STEERING FLUID ON THE GROUND WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS LOCATED. A POLICE OFFICER STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP OR THE LINES/FITTINGS/HOSES WERE THE CAUSES OF THE FAILURE. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR "B" SERVICE, BUT NO FAILURE COULD BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES OF THE FAILURE AND A COPY OF THE REPORT FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 57,528.

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. RUSTED AND CORRODED TRANS AT 24,000 MILES CAUSED BY FAULTY MERCEDES VALEO RADIATOR. MERCEDES OWN STAR BULLETIN TELLS DEALERS ABOUT THIS ISSUE BUT MY DEALER DECIDED NOT TO CHECK IT OUT AND NOW MERCEDES AND DEALER ARE REFUSING TO HELP WHEN THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON MANY OF THEIR MODELS AND SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR

I A 2003 CLK 320 MERCEDES-BENZ WITH ONLY HAS 46,054 MILES ON IT. THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE STOPPED WORKING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ON 5/4/2008. I GET A DIGITAL READ-OUT, BUT NOTHING FROM THE NEEDLE THAT MONITOR THE SPEED. *TR

I HAVE A 203 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK320 WITH ONLY 32,300 MILES ON IT. THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE DOESN'T WORK ON MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. I GET A DIGITAL READOUT , BUT NOTHING FROM THE NEEDLE. ALL OTHER GAUGES WORK FINE. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH OTHER MB VEHICLES, BUT I WAS UNABLE TO FIND MY PARTICULAR MODEL LISTED AS QUALIFYING FOR THE RECALL. I HAVE BEEN QUOTED $1,000 TO REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND FEEL THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS SINCE IT IS A KNOWN AND SOMEWHAT WIDESPREAD ISSUE. *TR