Most common 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 problems
Share of the 19 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 →
2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 recalls (3)
Visibility › Sun/moon roof assembly
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models and model years. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and can detach.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Visibility › Sun/moon roof assembly
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and may detach.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 3, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Visibility › Sun/moon roof assembly
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 vehicles. The bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame may deteriorate, possibly resulting in the glass panel detaching from the vehicle. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V918-4126.pdf
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the glass panel bonding and replace the sliding roof, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 10, 2020.
What 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 owners say
Electrical system
My 2003 Mercedes Benz clk 320 that I have owned for less than 1 year caught on fire on June 9, 2017. The engine is melted and destroyed luckily no one was injured despite it happened around a busy area. I am completely in shock still, not knowing what actually happened until I came across a website stating that other Mercedes Benz models have had their engines catch on fire due to trying to start the vehicle more than once in consecutive attempts. (while reading that last paragraph, I do recall trying to do just that since the car decided to stall on me). I remember I was waiting at an intersection to make a turn into a U.S. Post office parking lot area. However, before I could even make the turn, it stalled on me in the intersection. I immediately tried to start it as people began honking their horns at me without any luck. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Mercedes Benz CLK320. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the vehicle decelerated while the accelerator pedal was applied. The contact applied force to the accelerator pedal and the vehicle resumed to normal. Additionally, there were fumes that omitted into the vehicle from the rear end of the vehicle. The failure occurred on ten different occasions. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the wire harness needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 116,000 and the current mileage was 125,000.
Air bags
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK320. While driving 30 MPH, the contact rear ended another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 133,000.
2003 Mercedes (convertible) 350 clk traveling approx 35 MPH on 2-lane road veered right and struck a parked car, causing approximately $20,000 damage to the right front of the Mercedes (total loss). None of the airbags deployed, although the rear seat roll bars did deploy. Driver hit her head on the steering wheel, suffering concussion. Apparently the air bags were defective.
Seat belts
On mar. 18, 2017 I was in a parking lot preparing to leave. When I started the car the mechanism that brings the seat belt forward so I can grab it began to move back and forward erratically. When it stopped the seatbelt failed to come all the way out. I turned the car off and started it again and the mechanism came out like it should but the seatbelt wouldn't come out. I played with seatbelt until I got it to come out, however, it wouldn't retract to fit snug against my body. I shut off the car again and turned it on again and the mechanism came out as it should but the seatbelt didn't do anything. I tried to manually retract the seatbelt but it didn't work so I had to drive home without a seatbelt.
2003 Mercedes Benz suffered three tire sidewall flats. ** answer required***. When the dealer went to replace a damaged tire, they found that the remaining tires only had 2mm of tread left. The left front seat belt button was replaced. Water leaked from the top corner of the vehicle.
2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 17 / 24 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 a good car?
Based on 19 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2003 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 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK320?
The electrical system — 6 complaints, 32% of all complaints for this model year, most often about instrument cluster/panel. Next are the air bags (5) and seat belts (3).
How many recalls does the 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK320, the most recent from November 19, 2024 (sun/moon roof assembly). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the 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 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 46,000 miles; 57% 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.