2009 Mercedes Benz CLK350

Routine

Owners filed 8 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the fuel/propulsion system. It has been recalled 3 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Fuel/Propulsion System2
000
Wheels1
000
Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Air Handler/Chamber, Ducts, and Valves1
000
Visibility1
000
Service Brakes1
000
Seats › Front Assembly › Head Restraint1
001
Air Bags1
101

3 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly24V874000
Filed Nov 19, 202433,456 vehiclesMercedes-Benz Usa, Llc

Defect. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models and model years. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and can detach.

Risk. A detached sunroof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall number 22V-954. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2024120001/2/3.

Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly22V954000
Filed Dec 23, 2022131,653 vehiclesMercedes-Benz Usa, Llc

Defect. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and may detach.

Risk. A detached sunroof panel may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 3, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall expands NHTSA recall number 19V-918. MBUSA's numbers for this recall are 2023010004, 2023010005, and 2023010006.

Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly19V918000
Filed Dec 20, 2019747,928 vehiclesMercedes-Benz Usa, Llc.

Defect. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 vehicles. The bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame may deteriorate, possibly resulting in the glass panel detaching from the vehicle. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V918-4126.pdf

Risk. A detached glass panel can separate from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the glass panel bonding and replace the sliding roof, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 10, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2020040011.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Air Handler/Chamber, Ducts, and Valves
Filed Aug 22, 202240,030 milesCA

The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes - Benz CLK350. The contact stated he turned on the air condition of his vehicle and an odor of mold came from the vents. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and stated that there was no recall for that failure. The manufacturer was contacted, and they also stated that there was no recall for the failure and advised the contact to call the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was 40,030.

Seats › Front Assembly › Head Restraint1 injured
Filed Jul 28, 2020123,000 milesGA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ CLK350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT HEADREST AIR BAG EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING, AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED LOSS OF HEARING IN HER LEFT EAR THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S SOS SYSTEM ALERTED HER OF A FAILURE AND A TOW TRUCK WAS SENT TO THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO RBM OF ALPHARETTA (345 MCFARLAND PKWY, ALPHARETTA, GA 30004) HOWEVER THE FAILURE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED AS THE DEALER WAS WAITING FOR THE MANUFACTURER TO ADVISE AND SEND A FIELD INSPECTOR TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 123,000.

Visibility
Filed Jul 1, 2020AZ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ CLK350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR STATE EMISSION TESTING AND SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V918000 (VISIBILITY) HOWEVER, PARTS TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

Service Brakes
Filed Jun 5, 201975,739 milesVA

DRIVING STRAIGHT ABOUT 25MPH ALONG A AN OTHERWISE EMPTY RESIDENTIAL STREET. EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE MICRO-BURSTS OF SUDDEN, BRIEF, VIOLENT, UNINTENDED BRAKING. DRIVER'S FOOT WAS NOWHERE NEAR THE BRAKE PEDAL. BRAKING WAS SO VIOLENT THAT THE WHEELS LOCKED UP AND MADE SKIDDING SOUNDS AND OCCUPANTS WERE SHAKEN. EACH INCIDENCE OF BRAKING WAS VERY SHORT, PERHAPS A FRACTION OF A SECOND. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE (WHILE TRAVELING ~25MPH) THERE WERE ABOUT FOUR SEPARATE "BRAKES" WITHIN A FEW SECONDS. THIS OCCURRED ONLY TWO BLOCKS FROM HOME. I PROCEEDED HOME AT A MUCH SLOWER PACE WITH THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS FLASHING. EN ROUTE I EXPERIENCED SEVERAL MORE INCIDENTS OF SUDDEN, BRIEF, VIOLENT UNINTENDED BRAKING. NO WARNING LIGHTS (E.G. ESP) FLASHED DURING ANY OF THE BRAKING EPISODES. EVEN AT LOW SPEED ON A EMPTY ROAD THE UNINTENDED BRAKING WAS SO VIOLENT AS TO LEAVE ME SHAKEN. IF IT OCCURRED AT HIGH SPEED, ON A BUSY ROAD, AND/OR OF WITH AN INEXPERIENCED DRIVER THE CONSEQUENCES COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS.

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Apr 24, 2018100,000 milesFL

I WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT LAST FEBRUARY, MY AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY AS COMPARED TO THE OTHER VEHICLE (TOYOTA) WHERE HER AIRBAG WORKED. MY CAR AND THE OTHER PERSON'S CAR WERE TOTALED. I WAS DRIVING ON THE MIDDLE LANE OF A 3 LANE ROAD WHEN THE DRIVER ON THE RIGHT SIDE LANE HIT A PARKED VEHICLE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD, SPUN AROUND, AND CROSS OVER TO MY LANE AND HIT ME HEAD ON. A ROAD DUE TO MY ACCIDENT, I SUSTAINED A FRACTURE OF MY NECK AND STILL HAVE ONGOING PHYSICAL THERAPY TREATMENTS. *TT *TR

Wheels
Filed Feb 11, 2018100,000 milesCA

THE TPMS CONSTANTLY DISPLAYS FALSE WARNING MESSAGES ABOUT THE TIRES BEING LOW ON PRESSURE. THIS BEGAN ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, WHEN THE CAR WAS 7 YEARS OLD, 100K MILES. NUMEROUS TRIPS TO THE DEALER AND OTHER REPAIR SHOPS HAS NOT ALLEVIATED THE PROBLEM. TPMS CONSTANTLY GIVING A FALSE WARNING ABOUT LOW TIRE PRESSURE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. MUCH LIKE SMOKE ALARMS WHICH GIVE FALSE NOTICE, FALSE TIRE PRESSURE WARNINGS WILL BE IGNORED. THE VEHICLE IS TYPICALLY IN A MOVING CONDITION WHEN THE TPMS ISSUES A FALSE ALERT.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Feb 17, 201738,000 milesFL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK350. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE ODOR OF FUEL WAS PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAL CONNECTED TO THE FUEL PUMP WAS FAULTY AND THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Dec 26, 201659,590 milesGA

STRONG FUEL ODOR OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE FOLLOWING FILL UP. MILEAGE 59590.JUST PURCHASED USED WITHOUT EXTENDED WARRANTY.. HAVE NOT TAKEN FOR SERVICE. WILL SEEK INFO PRIOR TO TAKING TO MB SERVICE.

8 of 8 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2007
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20101000Routine
2009 — this page8300Routine
200815310Routine
200742400Routine
200637400Routine

Compare every CLK350 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: Nov 19, 2024. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.