Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2004 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system2
- Seats1
- Visibility1
- Air bags1
- Steering1
- Exterior lighting1
- Tires1
- Vehicle speed control1
- Seat belts1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2004 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class failed the safety check 0.00% of the time — 100% less often than the average 2004 passenger car (2.21%). Median odometer at inspection: 88,391 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the United Kingdom
162 cars built in 2004 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 148 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 168 of these cars first registered in 2004 took their annual MOT test. 78% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2004 the figure was 56%.
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
9 of these cars first registered in 2004 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 156,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
1 2004 cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
5 Transport Canada recalls for the 2004 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class.
| 2008290 15 Aug 2008 | Other Certain vehicles equipped with Active Body Control (ABC) the sensors on the front struts may not operate within tolerances. As such, the sensor signal may not … |
| 2007195 14 Jun 2007 | Steering On certain vehicles equipped with an 8-cylinder engine, corrosion may occur in the inner steel portions of the Active Body Control's high pressure distribution … |
| 2006031 7 Feb 2006 | Electrical Certain vehicles may experience instrument cluster backlighting malfunction. There are three distinct failure modes. (1) Vehicles built between 06/2000 and 11… |
| 2004184 3 Jun 2004 | Other On certain vehicles, the trunk lid springs could fail in the closed trunk lid position due to extensive exposure to very high temperatures. This failure only o… |
| 2004153 6 May 2004 | Brakes On certain vehicles equipped with a 12-cylinder engine, corrosion may occur in the inner steel portions of the Active Body Control's high pressure distribution … |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
MERCEDES-BENZ IS RECALLING MY 2006-2008 M-CLASS, R-CLASS, MY 2005-2009 SLK-CLASS, MY 2005-2008 C-CLASS, MY 2003-2004 AND 2006-2008 CLK-CLASS, MY 2003-2008 E-CLASS, MY 2004 AND 2008 CL-CLASS, MY 2008 CLS-CLASS, MY 2004 AND 2007-2008 S-CLASS, MY 2003 G-CLASS, AND MY 2003-2004, 2006 AND 2009 SL-CLASS VEHICLES. A SOFTWARE CALIBRATION NUMBER (SCN) CODING RECEIVED ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES DURING A RECENT WORKSHOP VISIT WAS INCORRECT. DEPENDING ON THE MODEL YEAR AND MODEL AFFECTED, THE RESULTS OF AN INCORRECT SCN CODING CAN AFFECT A NUMBER OF VEHICLE SAFETY AND EMISSION FUNCTIONS INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF FUNCTIONS: (1) THE FUEL GAUGE READINGS MAY BE INCORRECT; (2) A STUCK FUEL-LEVEL SENSOR MAY NOT BE DISPLAYED IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER; (3) THE OBD SYSTEM MAY CAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE INCORRECTLY; AND, (4) THE SPEEDOMETER MAY BE OUT OF TOLERANCE.
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.
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS EXPERIENCING ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CONTAINS GAUGES AND INDICATORS THAT MUST BE ILLUMINATED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION.
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE TRUNK LID SPRINGS COULD FAIL IN THE CLOSED TRUNK LID POSITION.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Mercedes-Benz told its dealers about the 2004 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10019822 | INSPECT TRANSMISSION PILOT BUSHING AT ELECTROCHYDRAULIC UNIT AND REPLACE IF NECESSARY. THE TRANSMISSION PILOT BUSHING MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED ON THE CONTROL UNITS WITH NON-TEMPERED SEALING RINGS WHICH MAY CAUSE A SMALL LEAK TO OCCUR. *TT UPDATED 04-11-07. *KB |
| 10018931 | LEARNING IN SELECTION RANGE SENSOR NOT POSSIBLE AFTER EHS REPLACEMENT. *TT |
| 10014593 | COMAND HEAD UNIT DISC DRIVE MALFUNCTIONS AT LOW TEMPERATURES. VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING MERCEDES-BENZ MODEL 215, AND 220 2004 AND 2005. *TT |
| 10014583 | SEAL BETWEEN EXTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRROR HOUSING AND DOOR. *TT |
| 10014548 | ROUGH DOWNSHIFTING WHEN ACCELERATING. *TT VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ 219 AND 220. *TT |
| 10012832 | SD FLASH TELEMATICS CD STUCK IN COMAND HEAD UNIT WHEN PERFORMING A SOFTWARE UPDATE. *TT |
| 10012831 | COMAND HEAD UNIT HANGS AT THE STAR SYMBOL WHEN BOOTING UP. *TT UPDATED *EH |
| 10010134 | NOISES FROM PARKING BRAKE CABLE. *TT |
| 10010129 | DIAGNOSTIC ENHANCEMENT. 220/215 COMAND ENHANCED DIAGNOSTIC ASSISTANCE CENTER EDAC. *TT |
| 10009985 | THE HIGH PRESSURE HYDRAULIC DISTRIBUTION HOSE OF THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL (ABC) MAY DETERIORATE OVER TIME DUE TO EXCESSIVE EXPOSURE TO HUMIDITY AND HIGH TEMPERATURES. VOLUNTARY RECALL CAMPAIGN OF ACTIVE BODY CONTROL (ABC) (12 CYLINDER ONLY). *NM |
| 10009891 | THE TRUNK LID SPRINGS COULD FAIL IN THE CLOSED TRUNK LID POSITION DUE TO EXTENSIVE EXPOSURE TO VERY HIGH TEMPERATURES. VOLUNTARY RECALL CAMPAIGN. COVER LETTER, RECALL CAMPAIGN BULLETIN AND LETTER TO OWNERS. *TT LITERATURE FROM WARRANTY SERVICES GROUP REGARDING LABOR TIME INFORMATION. *TT |
| 10009820 | REPLACEMENT OF ABC PRESSURE SUPPLY VALVE UNIT HYDRAULIC LINE. *TT |
| 10007590 | TELE AID NOT ACTIVE DISPLAYED IN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. *TT |
| 10007195 | COMAND INTERMITTENTLY INOPERATIVE. MODEL 220 ALSO INCLUDED. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)