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Mercedes-Benz CLK320Model year report

2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 Problems

Complaints
16filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
69,000miles, 11 complaints with mileage
Recalls
3campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
20 mpgcombined, 3.2L 6-cyl RWD · 18 city / 24 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 16 consumer complaints for the 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK320. The part named most often is seat belts, with 6 complaints (38% of the total), followed by air bags (4) and electrical system (4). 11 of the complaints include a mileage, and 45% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 69,000 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 47 technical service bulletins for this model year. Seat belts complaints overlap with 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Air bags complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part.

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.

Also reported: Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).

Example complaints

Seat belts: “The airbags deployed on their own without a collision. I was driving 30 MPH on a residential street with roads in excellent condition when all the sudden the steering wheel and passenger dash airbags went off out of n o where.”

NHTSA complaint #11302271, filed 2020-01, 217,000 miles

Air bags: “After stopping at a red light, I went thru the street and going less than 25 MPH and in less than 100 yards drove directly into an overhead light standard in a median strip. I don't know to this day what happened. I told my auto insurance company (hartford- aarp) that I must have coughed and my eyes closed causing me to run into the light. To this day I am not sure what happened, .did I run into the light standard and the air bags deployed of did the airbags deploy and cause me to run into the light standard? …”

NHTSA complaint #10351843, filed 2010-08, 25,000 miles

Electrical system: “My voltage regulator went out in my benz. It surged and destroyed other components of my vehicle. Not too mention that this is highly in safe. I researched on line, and mercedes benz had done a voluntary recall, but they are not acknowledging the issue now, and are denying it. They say my VIN doesn't match, and I questioned there integrity. This is such a dangerous issue, and I have a two year old son that must ride in this care. Can someone please help me. They know the problem exists, and it is dangerous, but refuse to fix it- now that is under ownership. …”

NHTSA complaint #10276470, filed 2009-07, 70,000 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “The automatic transmission has developed a condition that causes the transmission to shift very roughly at low speeds. This shifting causes the vehicle to jerk and stutter when down shifting or shifting from 1st or 2nd gear. I have had a transmission service, replacement transmission, replacement radiator all installed to no avail. The condition is at best a nuisance, and at its worst a safety concern. This rough shifting occurs in the lower gears, and at lower speeds.”

NHTSA complaint #10861476, filed 2016-04, 97,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

45% of the 11 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 28,714 and 97,000 miles.

0%0–109%10–2536%25–5018%50–7518%75–1000%100–15018%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (11 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 69,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

2008220102201320162202020242
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
CLK320 RWD3.2L 6-cyl5-speed automatic182420$4,100
CLK320 (Cabriolet) RWD3.2L 6-cyl5-speed automatic182420$4,100

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 → · 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. 47 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 47 bulletins →

Other model years of the Mercedes-Benz CLK320

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20051269,8963—21—Not enough data
20041669,0003—20—Rising
20031945,5273—20—Falling
20021659,0000—20—Stable
20011590,0000—21—Falling
20001752,5000—21—Stable
19991869,4941—21—Stable

All Mercedes-Benz CLK320 model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 have?

NHTSA recorded 16 consumer complaints for the 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 is reported most often?

Seat belts is named most often, in 6 complaints (38% of the total), followed by air bags with 4.

Has the 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 get?

The EPA rates the 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 (CLK320, 3.2L 6-cyl) at 20 mpg combined, 18 city and 24 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,100 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 reported?

Among the 11 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 69,000 miles and the middle half falls between 28,714 and 97,000 miles; 45% 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. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

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.