2008 Mercedes Benz CLK

Routine

Owners filed 4 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the power train › automatic transmission. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Unknown or Other1
000
Service Brakes1
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission1
100
Latches/Locks/Linkages1
001

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Electrical System08V303000
Filed Jul 7, 2008404 vehiclesMercedes-Benz Usa, Llc.

Defect. 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.

Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE ELECTRICAL FUEL PUMP MAY NOT RECEIVE A CRASH SIGNAL THAT IS REQUIRED FOR THE FUEL PUMP TO DISCONNECT AND PREVENT FUTURE FUEL DELIVERY AS DESIGNED.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL RECODE THE SCN FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 30, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Service Brakes
Filed Mar 10, 201451,000 milesTN

THE BRAKE LIGHT ON THE TRUNK SIMPLY FELL OFF. I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE AT LEAST 50 OTHER OWNERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THOSE THAT SIMPLY JUST WENT AHEAD AND GOT IT FIXED WITHOUT POSTING IT. THIS IS A DEFECT WHERE THE RED LENS SEPARATES FROM THE LIGHT HOUSING AND THE BRAKE LIGHT NO LONGER SHOWS RED WHEN BRAKING. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS CONTINUES TO RE-OCCUR EACH TIME IT IS REPLACED AT A COST OF $352.50 EACH TIME, NOT TO MENTION THE SAFETY ISSUE WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WHILE DRIVING YOU LOOSE YOUR BRAKE LIGHT. MERCEDES BENZ IS APPARENTLY STICKING THEIR HEADS IN THE SAND OVER THIS ONE. *TR

Latches/Locks/Linkages1 injured
Filed Jul 27, 201025,257 milesCA

I HAVE SENT A COMMUNICATION TO MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC ON 7/15/2010, NEXT DAY AFTER MY INJURY FROM ONE OF THE CAR'S AUTOMATIC FEATURE (HEAD REST AUTOMATICALLY THRUSTS DOWN WHEN THE LEVER IS LIFTED AND SEAT MOVES FORWARD). IT'S A 2 DOOR SPORTS VEHICLE, SO IT WILL BE ALWAYS THE ACTION OF THE CONSUMER/VEHICLE OWNER TO GET IN AND OUT OF THE BACK SEATS. ON 7/14/2010 @ AROUND 1900: MY RIGHT ARM FLESH/SKIN GOT WEDGED/MANGLED INTO THE HEAD REST 'STEEL' OF THE CAR PASSENGER SEAT WHEN THE HEAD- REST-STEEL AUTOMATICALLY RAMMED/THRUST/PUSH LOWER CONTINUOUSLY DOWNWARDS; WHILE I WAS GETTING THINGS FROM THE BACK SEAT OF MY CAR-MB (MERCEDES-BENZ CLK 350, YEAR 2008 MODEL) CAR. MY OUTER RIGHT ARM AREA (ABOUT AN INCH PROXIMAL TO MY WRIST) WAS RESTING ON THAT PART OF THE SEAT WHEREIN I NEEDED TO LIFT THE LEVER/MECHANISM TO MOVE THE SEAT FORWARD WHEN THE STEEL CAUGHT MY SKIN/FLESH AND PRESSED IT INSIDE THE INSERTION CONTINUOUSLY. MY HUSBAND TOOK PHOTOS OF MY INJURY AND BROUGHT ME TO THE ER AFTERWARDS - DUE TO THE CONTUSION AND WOUND (V SHAPED) I SUFFERED FROM THE INCIDENT. MY ARM LOOKED LIKE IT WAS BURNED AND VERY SWOLLEN. I LOOKED INTO THE MERCEDES SAFETY MANUAL - AND IT DOES NOT EXPLAIN THE SAFETY PURPOSE OF THAT AUTOMATIC FEATURE OF THE MERCEDES CLK 350. I OWN 2 BRANDS OF CARS USUALLY (LEXUS AND MB) - OTHER BEST CARS - DOES NOT HAVE THIS FEATURE REALLY (SO IT'S NOT ACTUALLY A SAFETY FEATURE THAT IS PROVEN TO MEET THE SAFE OUTCOME FOR ALL VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS - WHATEVER MERCEDES INTENDS FOR IT

Unknown or Other
Filed Mar 23, 201011,000 milesFL

THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR MAT PULLED AWAY FROM THE ANCHOR PLUG AND KEEPS MOVING TOWARD THE GAS AND BREAK PEDDLES. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER MY WARRANTY. I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED ANY FAILURES BUT BECAUSE OF TALK OF SUCH A CONDITION CAUSING INTERFERENCE WITH A GAS OR BREAK PEDDLE I HAD TO PURCHASE AN ENTIRE SET OF NEW MATS. I STILL HAVE THE OLD MAT.

Power Train › Automatic TransmissionCrash
Filed Sep 3, 200917,600 milesNJ

2008 CLK 550 - TRANSMISSION LOCKED IN DRIVE, WHEN SHIFTER INDICATED THAT CAR WAS IN PARK. WE WERE ADVISED THAT A SHIFT LINKAGE CLIP BROKE. THE CAR DROVE UNCONTROLLED INTO A LOW WALL DAMAGING THE VEHICLE. HAD THIS HAPPENED 5 MINUTES BEFORE IN A HOSPITAL PARKING LOT, THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS INJURY. *TR

4 of 4 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2008
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
2008 — this page4100Routine
20073100Routine
20061000Routine
20051000Routine
20032000Routine
20022000Routine
20012000Routine
20001000Routine
19983000Routine

Compare every CLK year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Jul 7, 2008. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.