US vehicle recalls and complaint patterns, explained
Mercedes-Benz CL-Class recalls and complaints by year
Comprehensive recall and complaint data for the Mercedes-Benz CL-Class,
sourced from official National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) records.
Stats focus on model years from 1960 onwards.
Earlier years appear in the detailed table below where data exists.
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Get plain-language explanations of recalls and complaints for the
Mercedes-Benz CL-Class. Powered by AI, backed by NHTSA data.
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Important: This assistant provides context from aggregated NHTSA data.
Always check your specific VIN on
NHTSA.gov
for vehicle-specific recall information.
Key Takeaways
A quick scan of where recalls and complaints concentrate for the Mercedes-Benz CL-Class,
based on aggregated NHTSA counts and campaign metadata.
Coverage spans model years 2000–2005 with 18 recall campaigns and 52 complaints in NHTSA data.
Years with the most recall activity: 2004 (4), 2001 (4), and 2000 (4).
Years with the most complaint volume: 2002 (25), 2003 (12), and 2004 (10).
Top recall themes: Electrical, Visibility and lighting, and Engine and cooling.
Most reported complaint areas (across all years): Suspension, Electrical system, Engine and engine cooling.
Complaints are not proof of a defect, but repeated themes can be useful signals when researching a used vehicle.
Always check your specific VIN for open recalls (open recalls are VIN-specific and can change over time).
Recall Themes
Instead of listing long campaign narratives, this groups recall campaigns into a few recurring areas.
Each theme links back to official notices as evidence.
Electrical
2 campaigns · Years: 2000–2001, 2004
These campaigns relate to wiring or electrical components that can cause warning lights, loss of function, or fire risk in some cases.
Across all model years, the most frequently reported areas for the
Mercedes-Benz CL-Class in NHTSA complaint data are
Suspension, Electrical system, Engine and engine cooling.
Jump to Model Year
Year-by-Year Overview
Each row shows how often this model appears in NHTSA recalls and consumer
complaints for a given model year. These are counts of campaigns and
complaints, not risk predictions.
Model Year
Recalls
Complaints
Details
2005
1
0
Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
2004
4
10
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system, Air bags, Exterior lighting.
2003
3
12
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Seat belts, Air bags, Equipment:electrical.
2002
2
25
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Suspension, Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system.
2001
4
4
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system, Interior lighting, Suspension.
2000
4
1
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings.
What to Do Next
Check open recalls by VIN on the official NHTSA site (open recalls are VIN-specific).
If buying used, ask for proof of recall remedy completion (dealer paperwork helps).
If symptoms match common complaint themes, consider a mechanic inspection before purchase or long trips.
A compact evidence view of recall campaigns that include this model.
The default text is an original summary line, with official notice text available on demand.
Most common areas involved:
Interior lighting
, Engine and engine cooling
and Electrical system
Show recall evidence by year
2005
Interior lighting:
Safety recall involving the interior lighting area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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.
2004
Latches/locks/linkages:
Safety recall involving the latches/locks/linkages area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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.
Engine and engine cooling:
Safety recall involving the engine and engine cooling area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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.
Electrical system:
Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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-clas
2003
Latches/locks/linkages:
Safety recall involving the latches/locks/linkages area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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.
Engine and engine cooling:
Safety recall involving the engine and engine cooling area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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.
2002
Interior lighting:
Safety recall involving the interior lighting area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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.
Engine and engine cooling:
Safety recall involving the engine and engine cooling area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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.
2001
Visibility: Windshield wiper/washer:
Safety recall involving the visibility area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The sheathing material on the electrical connection of the heated windshield washer bottle hose could overheat.
Electrical system: Fuses and circuit breakers:
Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: On certain passenger vehicles, during the production process of the blower motor fuse holder, the size of the electric conductor of the holder may be below appropriate tolerances.
Interior lighting:
Safety recall involving the interior lighting area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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.
Engine and engine cooling:
Safety recall involving the engine and engine cooling area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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.
2000
Equipment: Air conditioner:
Safety recall involving the equipment area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Due to an internal defect in the circuitry of the blower motor regulator, the regulator may overheat.
Electrical system: Fuses and circuit breakers:
Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: On certain passenger vehicles, during the production process of the blower motor fuse holder, the size of the electric conductor of the holder may be below appropriate tolerances.
Interior lighting:
Safety recall involving the interior lighting area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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.
Engine and engine cooling:
Safety recall involving the engine and engine cooling area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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.
Other Mercedes-Benz Models
Explore recall and complaint data for other Mercedes-Benz models.
Recall Explained provides independent analysis of official NHTSA data.
This site does not replace the official NHTSA VIN lookup and should not be
treated as legal or safety advice for your specific vehicle.
For any safety concerns: Always check your VIN on the official
NHTSA site and contact an authorized dealer.
