Most common 2001 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 problems
Share of the 15 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mercedes-Benz CLK320 complaints by model year
Best CLK320 years: 2005, 2001, 2004. Compare all years →
What 2001 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 owners say
Air bags
Air bag driver type unknown-- driver sternum fractured I was driving a 2001 Mercedes CLK320 during rush hour traffic 1/2 car length behind next car. The car in front of me changed lanes, two 3 series bmws were stopped for city bus. I slammed on brakes, then realized I would hit the car in front, did not swrive lined my body up both arms on wheel skidded and hit the car in front of me. The airbag hit me in the chest very hard at about 1300, there was a tear with white puff and little metal bead things on airbag. I check to see if my filings had been broken. I had no idea what the little metal circle was. I could move my hands, feet without numbness or tingling neck didn't hurt, chest had sharp pinpoint pain, there was smoke, engine was damaged I was worried about fire. Reached for seatbelt a guy wanted me to stay. Then firefighter said to leave to spray. Ems on scene. …
Mvc with frontal impact first through an t intersection then a culvert and striking a tree at a speed >45 MPH. Airbag did not deploy and seatbelt did not lock on drivers side while engaged. Driver incurred a 20% compression fracture on l1 vertabrae.
Speed control & acceleration
Pulling car into driveway and it just surged or took off, running into the garage door and crashing. I had foot on brake leaving black marks on driveway. Had 2 witnesses to the incident. Exact day not listed as I do not have that with me. Since that time I have noticed in the newspapers and t.v. Of 2 other incidents that caused property damage or even death in same brand of vehicle that would be explained by same malfunction. 1. In columbia s.c(death). And 1. In frankfort ky. Running into a kroger store.
Driving on highway at 60 MPH , stepped on accelerator to pass someone and there was no response. After that pulled over to side by coasting and found that the throttle linkage cable had broken at the attachment under the hood. Towed to Mercedes dealer where it is currently being repaired with a new throttle cable assembly under warranty. 320 clk 2001 with 36400 miles .all maintanance done on time. Could have been a dangerous situation . I used the cruise control to maneuver to the shoulder and wait for emergency tow.
Electrical system
While driving down the street both the right and left LED instrument clusters that indicate what gear you are in and the outside temperature both failed and are unable to read. I consider this a safety issue only because I cannot tell which gear I am in and often times I must guess at what gear it is in. This guessing takes my eyes and concentration off the road and could potentially cause an accident I know that every CLK320 has this same issue and Mercedes Benz has not issued a recall for this fix. It seems they should as it could lead to many accidents.
I own a 2001 Mercedes Benz clk 320. My concern is over its faulty display readouts that I hear many other owners are experiencing. The safety concern is that the left half of the display is very weak/dim and getting harder and harder to read. It's hazardous as I have to squint to read the display which takes my eyes off the road longer than they should be. As part of this cluster, the temperature pixels are not functional which has been unreadable for some time now. The main display issue started a few months ago but I fear will worsen. Is there a recall on this or is one being considered? Thank you for your attention."
2001 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 a good car?
Based on 15 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2001 CLK320 rates better than average: 40% fewer complaints than a typical year of the CLK320 at the same age. It is one of the best CLK320 years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2001 Mercedes-Benz CLK320?
The air bags — 4 complaints, 27% of all complaints for this model year, most often about side/window. Next are the speed control & acceleration (3) and electrical system (3).
How many recalls does the 2001 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2001 Mercedes-Benz CLK320. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mercedes-Benz CLK320?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2005, 2001 and 2004. See the full Mercedes-Benz CLK320 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2001 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 90,000 miles; 20% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.