Most common 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 problems
Share of the 16 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 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 owners say
Electrical system
While on my way to work I stop to get gas. I get in my car to leave and key will not turn left or right. Also steering wheel was locked. I was stranded and had car towed the mb dealership. They said first I have to buy new key before they do anything which cost me $380. Got new key and that wasn't the problem. Then they said my eis needs to be replaced. They replaced the eis, then I get a call saying car still will not start. Now they say I need a esl(electronic steering lock) now my total jumped up to 2,200. I am so disappointed that all these problems can go out at the exact same time with no warning at all. There has to be something done about this common problem in Mercedes.
When driving on rte 6 in hyannis, massachusetts in my Mercedes clk 430 (the drop down options only include clk 320) , the "battery alternator" light went on on the dashboard. Within seconds the entire car shut down at high speed. Fortunately there was no one in the right lane and I was able to pull over with a very hard stop onto the shoulder. The local dealership said that there was an "open recall" on my car for precisely this problem. I called the manufacturer to find out why I never received a recall notice. They claimed there was no recall for this problem but instead a "service bulletin" was issued and that, under this circumstance no notices were required to be sent to the car owner. The rationale was that this was not deemed a "safety" issue. I fail to understand how the possibility of a total shut down of the car could not be deemed to be a safety issue. …
Engine & cooling
We had a brake booster vacuum line that connects to the aluminum intake with a plastic fitting on a 2002 Mercedes CLK320 (173K miles) that got brittle and broke. Thankfully no one was injured or killed. I'm an ex-mechanic and have never seen plastic fitting used for the vacuum line to the brake booster on the engine. Over time this will get brittle and break. This vacuum line does 2 things, #1 it keeps the car running with normal power, #2 allows you to have brakes that operate normally. I have done a quick search and it's not just Mercedes, other manufacturers do this in some and/ or all models of their cars. This was a wake up call for me especially being a mechanic. If I saw this as a mechanic it would have been reported. This is a major catastrophe waiting to happen. …
I was driving up the mountain home ,the gas pedal gave out. I set the cruise control on and drove an hour home. When I got home I looked under the hood and came to see that the throttle cable had came detached. The car only has 59,000 miles on it. This is the first time it has happened to me. I called Mercedes-Benz customer care number to see if there is a safety recall on this ,they said"no" but they could arrange a tow back to las vegas at my expense and they can check it out to see if they would be able to do anything for me. I would think they would tow and fix it without any expense to me for this sounds like a huge safety issue, I did come very close to an accident the car behind me almost rear ended me and I could not get over to the right due to other vehicles to the right of me. I hope someone could bring this to the attention to the right people.
2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 18 / 25 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 a good car?
Based on 16 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 CLK320 rates average: 1.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the CLK320 at the same age. 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 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK320?
The electrical system — 8 complaints, 50% of all complaints for this model year, most often about instrument cluster/panel. Next are the engine & cooling (3) and brakes (2).
How many recalls does the 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2002 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 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 59,000 miles; 27% 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.