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1999 Mercedes Benz CLK430

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
11Owner complaints

Model-year median: 7.5

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
11
199920
20004
2002
Compare all CLK430 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Power Train
4Engine And Engine Cooling
3Air Bags
2Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2Electrical System
1
All reported categories
Engine
1Structure
1Suspension
1Wheels
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 6 of 11 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports2 fire reports0 injury reports

Power Train complaints

4 reports
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73,000 miles · Jul 27, 2007
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ CLK430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR CLUSTER PIXEL HAS FADED OUT, PREVENTING HIM FROM SEEING WHAT GEAR HE IS IN WHEN DRIVING. THE FAILURE WAS NOTICED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. MERCEDES BENZ STATED THAT ALL OF THEIR VEHICLES ARE DESIGNED THAT WAY AND REFUSE TO REPAIR HIS VEHICLE. THE C…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ CLK430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR CLUSTER PIXEL HAS FADED OUT, PREVENTING HIM FROM SEEING WHAT GEAR HE IS IN WHEN DRIVING. THE FAILURE WAS NOTICED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. MERCEDES BENZ STATED THAT ALL OF THEIR VEHICLES ARE DESIGNED THAT WAY AND REFUSE TO REPAIR HIS VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 73,000.

NHTSA ODI #10197706

128,120 miles · Jan 22, 2003
Power Train

TRANSMISSION BROKE DOWN. WHILE WAS GOING IN REVERSE FORDWARD GEAR WENT ON ,MAKING A LOUD NOISE PUT THE LEVER ON NEUTRAL AND CAR STILL GOING FORWARD

NHTSA ODI #10003197

Mileage unknown · Nov 21, 2000
Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

I WAS DOING AROUND 55 AND THE ROAD WAS CURVING SLIGHTLY WHEN I SUDDENLY SAW A LARGE OBJECT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I COULD NOT GO TO THE OTHER LANE BECAUSE A CAR WAS RIGHT NEXT TO ME SO I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES, I FELT ABS KICKING IN AND WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GO AROUND THE OBJECT WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE A LARGE CARDBOARD BOX. AT …

Read full complaint

I WAS DOING AROUND 55 AND THE ROAD WAS CURVING SLIGHTLY WHEN I SUDDENLY SAW A LARGE OBJECT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I COULD NOT GO TO THE OTHER LANE BECAUSE A CAR WAS RIGHT NEXT TO ME SO I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES, I FELT ABS KICKING IN AND WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GO AROUND THE OBJECT WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE A LARGE CARDBOARD BOX. AT THIS POINT IS WHERE I ENCOUNTER MY PROBLEM, I GIVE THE CAR GAS TO PROCEED DOWN THE ROAD, THE CAR JUST REVS AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL, I LOOK DOWN AT MY SHIFTER AND IT IS IN D. I SHIFT DOWN TO LOWER GEARS AND NOTHING. NOW I'M NERVOUS BECAUSE I SEE CARS COMING TO MY REAR AND THERE IS NO EMERGENCY LANE ON THIS ROAD. AFTER 30 SECONDS OF NO CONNECTION BETWEEN ENGINE AND TRANS, THE TRANS FINALLY ENGAGES AND I AM ABLE TO PROCEED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #736689

Mileage unknown · Dec 27, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainFire

THE VEHICLE STARTED BACK FIRING AND STALLING, IT SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER. TRACTION LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. WHEN THE CONSUMER PULLED TO THE SIDE , ENGINE BEGAN SMOKING AND THE CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE WAS PUT OUT BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #854400

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE03058 · Engine Crankshaft Pulley Failure

Opened Dec 17, 2003 · Closed Apr 22, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline:belts And Associated Pulleys

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HARMONIC BALANCER FAILURE THAT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER-STEERING ASSIST.ODI HAS RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 546 NON-DUPLICATIVE REPORTS THAT ALLEGE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HARMONIC BALANCER FAILURE ON ALL MERCEDES-BENZ VEHICLES USING THE SUBJECT COMPONENT.THE SUBJECT COMPONENT FAILURES ARE PROGRESSIVE IN NATURE AND ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINTS AND WARRANT CLAIMS INVOLVED A FAILURE THAT HAD PROGRESSED FAR ENOUGH TO EFFECT POWER STEERING PERFORMANCE (6 OF 55 ODI COMPLAINTS REFERENCE INCREASED STEERING EFFORT).THERE HAVE BEEN NO CRASHES OR INJURIES RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE SUMMARY REPORT ATTACHED FOR FURTHER DETAIL.