Most common 1999 Mercedes-Benz CLK430 problems
Share of the 11 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mercedes-Benz CLK430 complaints by model year
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 1999 Mercedes-Benz CLK430:
Engine crankshaft pulley failure
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened this preliminary evaluation to investigate allegations of engine crankshaft pulley harmonic balancer failure that could result in loss of power-steering assist.odi has received a total of 546 non-duplicative reports that allege engine crankshaft pulley harmonic balancer failure on all Mercedes-Benz vehicles using the subject component.the subject component failures…
What 1999 Mercedes-Benz CLK430 owners say
Engine & cooling
Failed crankshaft position sensor left my car dead in very heavy highway traffic during rush hour. The crankshaft position sensor is notoriously failure-prone on the 8-cyl Mercedes models. This is obviously (from the number of complaints) a defective part and needs to be recalled right away. Failure of the crankshaft position sensor renders the car immediately and suddenly immobile. This is a potentially life threatening defect.
I was stuck in traffic and car stalled out in the middle of rush hour. I could not re start for about 40 min. It shut down two more times before I got home.this was a bad situation, very dangerous. I had no where to go to get out of the way. Turns out to be a bad crankshaft position sensor.
Transmission & drivetrain
Tl contact owns a 1999 Mercedes Benz CLK430. The contact stated that the gear cluster pixel has faded out, preventing him from seeing what gear he is in when driving. The failure was noticed while driving 55 MPH. Mercedes Benz stated that all of their vehicles are designed that way and refuse to repair his vehicle. The current and failure mileages were 73,000.
The vehicle started back firing and stalling, it suddenly lost all power. Traction lights illuminated on the dash. When the consumer pulled to the side , engine began smoking and the caught on fire. Fire was put out by the fire department dealer has been contacted.
1999 Mercedes-Benz CLK430 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.3L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 16 / 23 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Mercedes-Benz CLK430 a good car?
There isn't enough complaint history for the CLK430 to compare model years reliably. So far owners have filed 11 complaints with NHTSA.
What is the most common problem with the 1999 Mercedes-Benz CLK430?
The engine & cooling — 4 complaints, 36% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › gasoline. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (4) and brakes (2).
How many recalls does the 1999 Mercedes-Benz CLK430 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1999 Mercedes-Benz CLK430. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
At what mileage do 1999 Mercedes-Benz CLK430 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 82,000 miles; 0% 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.