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Mercedes-Benz CLK500Model year report

2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK500 Problems

Complaints
18filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
48,000miles, 13 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
18 mpgcombined, 5.0L 8-cyl RWD · 15 city / 23 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK500 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 18 consumer complaints for the 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK500. The part named most often is fuel system, with 4 complaints (22% of the total), followed by electrical system (3) and tires (3). 13 of the complaints include a mileage, and 54% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 48,000 miles. Of all complaints, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 51 technical service bulletins for this model year. Fuel system complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part. Electrical system complaints overlap with 8 technical service bulletins 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

Fuel system: “I've started noticing a very strong smell of gasoline coming from the driver's side rear wheel well after filling up the car. The gas fill door is on passenger side. In doing some research on the web, it's come to my attention that there are many other people with my make and model with the same problem. Also, a class action suit was filed for the s class and e class models of mercedes that were having this same gas fumes issue after filling up the tank. Mercedes offered an extended warranty of up to 15 additional years for the affected cars. …”

NHTSA complaint #10953761, filed 2017-02, 134,000 miles

Electrical system: “Driving home from the grocery store on a surface street at approximately 35 MPH. Engine switched off along with everything electrical. Car did restart and I was able to get home. Attempts to restart after that failed. The remedy was to replace the electronic ignition switch (ezs or eis control module). The explanation I received was that it has certain computer circuits that affect not only starting but other car systems. In fact, incorrect programming of the replacement module caused me to be unable to lower the soft-top as if one wasn't installed. …”

NHTSA complaint #10382876, filed 2011-02, 34,000 miles

Tires: “I was driving to work and it felt like the car ran over something. This is when I noticed that the tire had ran completely flat with tread splitting all around it. The tire has not been replaced but I have contacted the mercedes service department because the tire has only 22,000 miles. I believe there are defects with the tires because the other front tire has a bubble in the tread.”

NHTSA complaint #10275003, filed 2009-06, 22,000 miles

Air bags: “The contact owns a 2005 mercedes benz CLK500. When the ignition was turned to the on position, a message reading there is a problem with the srs, see a mechanic soon illuminated on the instrument panel continuously. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the front passenger side air bag failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 46,000.”

NHTSA complaint #10722288, filed 2015-05, 46,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

54% of the 13 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 27,000 and 117,000 miles.

15%0–108%10–2531%25–500%50–758%75–10038%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (13 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 48,000 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.

2009201132015201820232025
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 CLK500 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
CLK500 RWD5.0L 8-cyl7-speed automatic152318$4,550
CLK500 (Cabriolet) RWD5.0L 8-cyl7-speed automatic152318$4,550

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 CLK500 → · 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. 51 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 51 bulletins →

Other model years of the Mercedes-Benz CLK500

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2006566,0004—18—Not enough data
20051848,0003—18—Rising
20041477,0003—17—Not enough data

All Mercedes-Benz CLK500 model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK500 have?

NHTSA recorded 18 consumer complaints for the 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK500 as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK500 is reported most often?

Fuel system is named most often, in 4 complaints (22% of the total), followed by electrical system with 3.

Has the 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK500 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 CLK500 get?

The EPA rates the 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK500 (CLK500, 5.0L 8-cyl) at 18 mpg combined, 15 city and 23 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,550 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK500 reported?

Among the 13 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 48,000 miles and the middle half falls between 27,000 and 117,000 miles; 54% 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.