Half of all complaints arrive by 7 years of age, so 85.2% land after the 4-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Fuel/propulsion System, with 49 complaints, typically at 9 years.
Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class years to avoid — and the best ones
| Model year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Enough history? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 9 | 9 | yes | |
| 2008 | 15 | 12 | yes | |
| 2007 | 49 | 33 | yes | |
| 2006 | 43 | 28 | yes | |
| 2005 | 30 | 22 | yes | |
| 2004 | 36 | 26 | yes | |
| 2003 | 27 | 19 | yes | |
| 2002 | 18 | 16 | yes |
Does the market discount it? In our listings a 2006 CLK-Class asks a median $3,499, against $6,100 for a 2007, the next model year: about 43% less, so sellers do price some of the trouble in.
Among the 4 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2006, 2007, 2004; the three worth hunting are 2005, 2004, 2007.
When it starts to break
| Age at failure | Complaints | Running total | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 4.8% | covered | |
| 1 year | 9.1% | covered | |
| 2 years | 11.5% | covered | |
| 3 years | 14.8% | covered | |
| 4 years | 20.1% | you pay | |
| 5 years | 29.2% | you pay | |
| 6 years | 38.8% | you pay | |
| 7 years | 52.2% | you pay | |
| 8 years | 61.2% | you pay | |
| 9 years | 69.4% | you pay | |
| 10 years | 76.1% | you pay | |
| 11 years | 83.3% | you pay | |
| 12 years | 86.1% | you pay | |
| 13 years | 95.2% | you pay | |
| 14 years | 98.6% | you pay | |
| 15 years | 100% | you pay |
Basic warranty on this car is 4 years / 50,000 miles. Only 14.8% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 85.2% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (4 years / 50,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 14% of the complaints here.
What actually fails — and at what age
What waits further out is Fuel/propulsion System at 9 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.
| System | Complaints | Typical age | Crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel/propulsion System | 9 yrs | — | — | |
| Electrical System | 7.2 yrs | — | 3 | |
| Air Bags | 7.9 yrs | 9 | — | |
| Seat Belts | 6.9 yrs | 1 | — | |
| Power Train | 6.2 yrs | 1 | — | |
| Seats | 6.4 yrs | 1 | 1 | |
| Engine | 10.2 yrs | — | 1 | |
| Exterior Lighting | 9.3 yrs | — | — |
Good year or bad year — the VIN settles it.
- Check any VIN against complaints for its exact build year and plant
- Exact value for that car, adjusted for its mileage
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Alerts if a recall lands on a car in your garage
- No ads, on every page
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
Frequently asked questions
Is the Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class reliable?
By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 1.39 against 3.73 for the average car.
Which CLK-Class years should you avoid?
By complaints per production run, 2006, 2007, 2004. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2005, 2004, 2007. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.
When do CLK-Class problems usually start?
Half of all complaints arrive by 7 years of age. The most reported system is Fuel/propulsion System, typically at 9 years, followed by Electrical System.
Will the warranty cover CLK-Class problems?
Mostly not: basic cover is 4 years / 50,000 miles, and only 14.8% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 14% of the complaints here.
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