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Mercedes-Benz CLK320Model year report

2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 Problems

Complaints
12filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
69,896miles, 11 complaints with mileage
Recalls
3campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
21 mpgcombined, 3.2L 6-cyl RWD · 18 city / 26 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 12 consumer complaints for the 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK320. The part named most often is electrical system, with 3 complaints (25% of the total), followed by tires (3) and air bags (2). 11 of the complaints include a mileage, and 36% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 69,896 miles. Of all complaints, 1 a fire, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 58 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 9 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Tires 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.

Example complaints

Electrical system: “My 2005 mercedes CLK320 caught fire due to an electrical short while I was driving on the freeway. I pulled over, the entire car was engulfed in flames and totaled. It started with smoke coming out of the AC vents. When I turned the AC off the smoke got worse and fire proceeded.”

NHTSA complaint #11092499, filed 2018-05, 130,000 miles

Tires: “Tires on the mercedes CLK320 are not designed to last very long and become bald quickly creating dangerous driving conditions. According to the service manger at the mercedes dealership the tires supplied with the car are rated for only 8,000 to at best 11,000 miles. They tires can not handle simply brakes in the road and rip apart very easily. I know of someone else with this car that has experienced the same dangerous conditions.”

NHTSA complaint #10151852, filed 2006-03, 15,518 miles

Air bags: “The srs light came on once before like 6 months back, and the mechanic cleared the code. This light came back on sept 5, 2012. The mercedes dealer told me that there are 2 fault codes: 1. 900b - passenger side seat belt buckle 2. 9243 - passenger side airbag ignition squib this car has only close to 37,000 miles. And this is a safety issue with airbags will not deploy in accidents. This car has never been in any accidents and is in pristine condition. I very strongly feel this is poor workmanship by mercedes and they should have a recall to fix this as this relates to safety.”

NHTSA complaint #10475081, filed 2012-09, 36,800 miles

Seat belts: “At approximately 74,000 miles the front drivers side seat belt electric extender went in and out 6 six times uncontrollably, then in the retracted position failed all together, while the seat belt itself remained in the slack position and would not retract. This malfunction left the front drivers seat belt useless, a huge safety risk and violates colorado seat belt law. There are thousands of documented complaints in multiple model and years of the same issue with mercedes benz seat belts as published online. …”

NHTSA complaint #10872563, filed 2016-06, 74,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

36% of the 11 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 20,000 and 130,000 miles.

0%0–1027%10–259%25–5036%50–750%75–10018%100–1509%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: 69,896 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

200632010201220142015201620182023
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 2005 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 automatic182621$3,900
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 2005 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. 58 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 58 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 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 have?

NHTSA recorded 12 consumer complaints for the 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 3 complaints (25% of the total), followed by tires with 3.

Has the 2005 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 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 get?

The EPA rates the 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 (CLK320, 3.2L 6-cyl) at 21 mpg combined, 18 city and 26 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,900 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 reported?

Among the 11 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 69,896 miles and the middle half falls between 20,000 and 130,000 miles; 36% 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.