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Mercedes-Benz CLK500Model year report

2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK500 Problems

Complaints
5filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
66,000miles, 5 complaints with mileage
Recalls
4campaigns 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
18 mpgcombined, 5.0L 8-cyl RWD · 15 city / 23 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK500 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 5 consumer complaints for the 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK500. The part named most often is fuel system, with 2 complaints (40% of the total), followed by air bags (1) and brakes (1). 5 of the complaints include a mileage, and 20% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 66,000 miles. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns and 48 technical service bulletins for this model year. Fuel system complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part. Air bags complaints overlap with 2 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: “Every time I start the vehicle, there is a strong gas scent. It is unbearable with the fan inside the car on. I must drive with all the windows open to breathe properly.”

NHTSA complaint #10484874, filed 2012-11, 99,000 miles

Air bags: “Srs light on. I took it for chack and here is what the scanner says: passenger airbag ignition squib the resistance value in the ignition circuit is too high”

NHTSA complaint #11132883, filed 2018-10, 136,000 miles

Brakes: “The contact owns a 2006 mercedes benz CLK500. While driving approximately 35 MPH on a rainy day, the emergency brakes engaged and the emergency brake on warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle slowed down. The contact was able to pull the vehicle over to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer who diagnosed that the rear brakes had rusted and that the catalytic converter was falling apart and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and supported the diagnosis of the dealer. The vehicle had not been repaired. …”

NHTSA complaint #10743297, filed 2015-07, 66,000 miles

Electrical system: “My transmission intermittently goes into low gear while driving at freeway speeds. The car suddenly slows down without the brake lights to warn traffic behind me. If I pull over & turn the engine off & back on, the transmission will shift gears normally for a few days. The mercedes dealer says there is no problem & no other cars do this. Now the check engine light is on & the transmission won't change gears at all. Now the dealer says the transmission must be replaced for $6500. …”

NHTSA complaint #10453628, filed 2012-03, 60,211 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

20% of the 5 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 60,211 and 99,000 miles.

0%0–100%10–2520%25–5040%50–7520%75–10020%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (5 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 66,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

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

20122201320152018
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 2006 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 2006 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. 48 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 48 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 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK500 have?

NHTSA recorded 5 consumer complaints for the 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK500 as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK500 is reported most often?

Fuel system is named most often, in 2 complaints (40% of the total), followed by air bags with 1.

Has the 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK500 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK500 get?

The EPA rates the 2006 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 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK500 reported?

Among the 5 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 66,000 miles and the middle half falls between 60,211 and 99,000 miles; 20% 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.