Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Tires2
- Power train2
- Seat belts2
- Equipment1
- Air bags1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 1 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 6 2004 CLK-Class vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 4 people died inside them, and 2 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class failed the safety check 2.38% of the time — 8% more often than the average 2004 passenger car (2.21%). Median odometer at inspection: 92,765 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class cars on Dutch roads are the 1.8 petrol (120 kW, 161 hp), 2.6 petrol (125 kW, 168 hp) and 3.2 petrol (160 kW, 215 hp), out of 4 versions with at least 20 cars.
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 1.8 petrol | 120 kW 161 hp | 276 |
| 2.6 petrol | 125 kW 168 hp | 129 |
| 3.2 petrol | 160 kW 215 hp | 108 |
| 5.0 petrol | 225 kW 302 hp | 27 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
592 first registered in 2004 are on Dutch roads; 50% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €69,342.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde323
- Band onvoldoende profiel198
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm156
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen147
- Waarschuwingsinrichting airbag- / gordelsysteem geeft defect141
- Fusee(kogel) te veel speling139
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm138
- Remslang beschadigd, wapeningsmateriaal zichtbaar133
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
2,710 cars built in 2004 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 1,432 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
In Finland
210 of these cars first registered in 2004 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 248,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
4 Transport Canada recalls for the 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class.
| 2022740 22 Dec 2022 | Structure Issue: On certain vehicles, the sunroof glass may not be properly attached to the sliding roof frame. Over time, the glass can become loose and could separat… |
| 2021478 23 Jul 2021 | Structure Issue: This recall is for certain vehicles inspected under Mercedes-Benz recall 7891003 (Transport Canada recall 2019-668) that require a second inspection. … |
| 2019668 23 Dec 2019 | Structure Issue: On certain vehicles, the sunroof glass may not be properly attached to the sliding roof frame. Over time, the glass can become loose and could separate… |
| 2003338 17 Dec 2003 | Seats And Restraints On certain vehicles, the seat belt buckles may have a burr on a metal component of the locking mechanism. The presence of the burr may prevent the seat belt fr… |
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 PASSENGER VEHICLES, SOME SEAT BELT BUCKLES MAY HAVE A BURR ON A METAL COMPONENT OF THE LOCKING MECHANISM. THE PRESENCE OF THE BURR COULD PREVENT THE SEAT BELT FROM LOCKING UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.
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 CLK-Class: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10136041 | Selector lever blocks in position "P" (brake applied) |
| 10136029 | SENTEX gate operator with Clik Card Remote not compatible with Homelink |
| 10135917 | Malfunctions of various control units and/or on-board power supply problems caused by water in the control unit tray under the driver/front passenger seat (dislocated, pinched or leaking condensation hose) |
| 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 |
| 10006974 | INSTALLATION OF WIRING HARNESS ADAPTER FOR ENGINE COOLING FAN MALFUNCTION. *TT |
| 10005713 | VOLUNTARY RECALL CAMPAIGN 2003 SEAT BELT BUCKLE. *JB |
| 10005699 | VOLUNTARY RECALL CAMPAIGN 2003 SEAT BELT BUCKLE. *JB |
| 10005694 | VOLUNTARY RECALL CAMPAIGN 2003 SEAT BELT BUCKLE. *JB |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)