2003 Mercedes-Benz CL Class Problems
- Complaints
- 5filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 12,000miles, 5 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 2campaigns on record
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz CL Class (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
NHTSA recorded 5 consumer complaints for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz CL Class. The part named most often is seat belts, with 3 complaints (60% of the total), followed by air bags (2) and seats (2). 5 of the complaints include a mileage, and 80% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 12,000 miles. Of all complaints, 3 involved a crash, 4 a fire, 3 an injury, 9 a death, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 1 technical service bulletin for this model year.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Seat belts3 60%
- Air bags2 40%
- Seats2 40%
- Equipment1 20%
- Steering1 20%
- Suspension1 20%
Example complaints
Seat belts: “1. Exiting a curve on a windy road at approx. 30mph, driver applied throttle causing an automatic downshift into a 516ftlb torque lunge. With no steering control in 1-second we were in the opposite lane. Driver fought to regain control during second no. 2. Then a limo blew through a stop sign on a merge landing right in front of us. Both driver's braced on their gas pedals. 2. The mercedes cl & sl classes have the same front seats with an integrated seat belt system. Since it was only connected to the seat, the seat failed without even a bruise to my right shoulder (by over 30-40 degrees). …”
NHTSA complaint #10261599, filed 2009-03, 9,000 milesAir bags: “2003 Mercedes-Benz cl55 low-speed (25-35mph) high-acceleration head-on impact with a limousine (approx. 45mph) where the cl55 dash mounted airbags deployed after the vehicle came to rest, and the cl55's integrated seatbelt worn by the passenger and sole survivor resulted in the displacement of the seat-back by 45-degrees without imposing a notable injury to the passenger's right shoulder. Due to the instantaneous nature of this incident the driver instinctively braced himself....on the accelerator before impact. …”
NHTSA complaint #10293508, filed 2009-11, 12,000 milesSeats: “The contact was a passenger in a 2003 mercedes cl55. The contact stated that on june 11,2006, they were involved in a head on collision with another vehicle( limousine) at 45 MPH. When the driver down shifted, the driver drove into oncoming traffic at approximately 35 MPH. The front end of the mercedes was destroyed and caught fire. The air bags did not deploy until the vehicle came to rest after the crash. The front of the limousine was sheered off. There were three fatalities and one injury. The contact was severely injured and taken to the hospital by ambulance and admitted to the icu. …”
NHTSA complaint #10332499, filed 2010-05, 15,000 milesElectronic stability control: “I have a 2003 mercedes benz cl55 amg. The abc or active body control system failed and with very little warning, the fluid started to leak , smoke was everywhere and I nearly caused a collision because of the thick smoke and poor visibility. I had to pull over immediately and have the cl55 towed to my mechanic my mechanic, who specializes in high end mercedes benz told me that this is a very common issue with the mercedes cl 55,65,600 models from 2003-2006. Mercedes knew about this particular problem and redesigned the later models. The original sticker price of the cl model is about $120,000. …”
NHTSA complaint #10350476, filed 2010-08, 81,200 milesMileage when problems were reported
80% of the 5 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 9,000 and 15,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Recalls and investigations
- 07V263000Jun 12, 2007SuspensionCovers: Mercedes-Benz CL Class 2000–2004, S Class 2000–2004
On certain 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 humidity causing deterioration of the hose.
- 04V285000Jun 9, 2004Latches/locks/linkages › Trunk lid › LockCovers: Mercedes-Benz CL Class 2003–2004, S Class 2003–2004
On certain vehicles, the trunk lid springs could fail in the closed trunk lid position.
Recall details for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz CL Class → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 1 on record; the latest 1 are shown.
- 10014583Mar 16, 2005Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors). Seal between exterior rear view mirror housing and door.
Other model years of the Mercedes-Benz CL Class
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 5 | 12,000 | 2 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2002 | 19 | 55,650 | 2 | — | — | — | Stable |
All Mercedes-Benz CL Class model years
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2003 Mercedes-Benz CL Class have?
NHTSA recorded 5 consumer complaints for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz CL Class as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2003 Mercedes-Benz CL Class is reported most often?
Seat belts is named most often, in 3 complaints (60% of the total), followed by air bags with 2.
Has the 2003 Mercedes-Benz CL Class been recalled?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
At what mileage are problems with the 2003 Mercedes-Benz CL Class reported?
Among the 5 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 12,000 miles and the middle half falls between 9,000 and 15,000 miles; 80% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.