2005 Mercedes Benz CL600: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
47,245 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data updated: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 1 complaints (100.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Suspension | 1 |
Suspension: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 0 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 1 |
2010: 1
Pattern summary
Suspension leads the component reports. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10358237 · 2010-09-29 (September 29, 2010)
ABC - ACTIVE BODY CONTROL - SYSTEM IS A CONTINUOUS RISK TO ALL MBENZ OWNERS. ALL DISCUSSION BOARDS, OWNER'S FORUMS, ETC. WILL LIST THE VARIOUS TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS WITH THE SUSPENSION DOING ANY NUMBER OF ACTIONS FROM COMPLETELY LOWERING THE CAR TO THE BUMP-STOPS TO ELIMINATING ALL SUSPENSION DAMPENING WHICH IS WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR WHILE DRIVING. THE SUSPENSION BEING CONTROLLED BY THIS EXTREMELY ADVANCED SYSTEM IS THEN COMPLETELY UNPREDICTABLE AND HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS SUFFER IMMENSELY. I PERSONALLY GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY QUICKLY AND DR…
Owner-reported narrative. 47,245 miles reported. Look up ODI 10358237 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
1 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 642.9%ODI 10260674 · 80,000 miMERCEDES REFUSED TO TAKE REPAIR RESPONSIBILITY FOR ABC HOSE LEAK ON MY 2001 CL. THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY LOWER ,BODY TOUCHED TIRES, WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON FREEWAY. THE NHTSA HAS ISSUED A RECALL AFFECTING MERCEDES-BENZ CL CLASS AND S CLASS AUTOS FROM THE 2000 THROUGH 2004 MODEL YEARS. THE ISSUE INVOLVES HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAKAGE THAT COULD TOUCH OFF A FIRE. DETAILS ARE LISTED BELOW: MANUFACTURER: MERCEDES-BENZ MODEL YEAR: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 MODELS AFFECTED: CL CLASS, S CLASS NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V263000 POTENTIAL UNITS AFFEC… | 538.5%ODI 10259130 · 85,000 miTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ CL-600. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUSPENSION IN THE VEHICLE FAILED SEVERAL TIMES. THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED AND THE ABC PRESSURE CONTROL VALVE LEAKED AND FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE HYDRAULICS, SEAL RINGS, AND VALVES. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE MULTIPLE TIMES AND WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE REPAIR COSTS TOTALLED APPROXIMATELY $10,000. HE HAD NOT NOTICED ANY FAILURES SINCE RETRIEVING THE VEHI… | 2100.0%ODI 10170926 · 68,000 miDT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER HITTING A BUMP AT 50 MPH, THE SUSPENSION DROPPED DOWN 5 INCHES AND A WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE THEN OPERATED ROUGHLY AND WAS DRIVEN TO A RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED UNDER THE HOOD AND FOUND FLUID ON THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE, THE HYDRAULIC HOSE AND ACTIVE BODY CONTROL PUMP WERE REPLACED. A NHTSA RECALL, #04V228000 WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE CONCERNING, THE SUSPENSION HOWEVER, THE RECALL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT OFFER A SECOND REPA… | 1100.0%ODI 11513963 · 105,000 miThe contact owns a 2004 Mercedes Benz CL600. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, a warning message stating that the ABS system needed to be serviced was displayed. The contact noticed that the front end of the vehicle had dropped. The vehicle was taken to an unknown location, where it was diagnosed that the front passenger shock sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. An unknown dealer and the manufacturer were contacted and informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired under in NHTSA Campaign Number… | 1100.0%ODI 10358237 · 47,245 miABC - ACTIVE BODY CONTROL - SYSTEM IS A CONTINUOUS RISK TO ALL MBENZ OWNERS. ALL DISCUSSION BOARDS, OWNER'S FORUMS, ETC. WILL LIST THE VARIOUS TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS WITH THE SUSPENSION DOING ANY NUMBER OF ACTIONS FROM COMPLETELY LOWERING THE CAR TO THE BUMP-STOPS TO ELIMINATING ALL SUSPENSION DAMPENING WHICH IS WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR WHILE DRIVING. THE SUSPENSION BEING CONTROLLED BY THIS EXTREMELY ADVANCED SYSTEM IS THEN COMPLETELY UNPREDICTABLE AND HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS SUFFER IMMENSELY. I PERSONALLY GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY QUICKLY AND DR… |
| Electrical System | 428.6%ODI 10425555 · 100,000 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ CL 600. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF, A FIRE ERUPTED FROM THE DASH BOARD AREA. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT DID NOT CONFIRM THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000. | 17.7%ODI 10586673 · 80,000 miTHIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE TO MERCEDES, THIS IS A MAJOR FIRE HAZARD, THESE CARS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR THIS PROBLEM. OIL WILL SPRAY ALL OVER THE EXHAUST, AND PLASTIC CREATING A VACUUM. LUCKY MY FAMILY HASN'T DIED FROM THIS FIRE HAZARD. ITS ALL OVER THE MB FORUMS, EVERYONE ON REPAIR PAL, EVERYONE KNOWS THAT THIS IS COMMON AND LIFE THREATENING HAZARD THAT SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH THE REDESIGNED OIL COOLER. I HAVE CONTACTED MERCEDES BENZ ON THIS ISSUE. *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine | 17.1%ODI 10466780 · 65,700 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ CL600. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT ENGINE STARTUP, THE SRS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 25-30 MPH, THE ABC WARNING LIGHT AND BOTH TURNING SIGNALS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY.THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT BLACK SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE EXHAUST FOLLOWED BY A LOUD EXPLOSION. THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FAILED TO OPEN WITH THE ELECTRONIC KEY-LESS REMOTE AND THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR PANEL DETACHED WHEN THE DOOR WAS CLOSED. THE VEHI… | 17.7%ODI 10586673 · 80,000 miTHIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE TO MERCEDES, THIS IS A MAJOR FIRE HAZARD, THESE CARS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR THIS PROBLEM. OIL WILL SPRAY ALL OVER THE EXHAUST, AND PLASTIC CREATING A VACUUM. LUCKY MY FAMILY HASN'T DIED FROM THIS FIRE HAZARD. ITS ALL OVER THE MB FORUMS, EVERYONE ON REPAIR PAL, EVERYONE KNOWS THAT THIS IS COMMON AND LIFE THREATENING HAZARD THAT SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH THE REDESIGNED OIL COOLER. I HAVE CONTACTED MERCEDES BENZ ON THIS ISSUE. *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 214.3%ODI 10422463 · 117,000 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ CL-600. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE ABC WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN DETECTED THAT THE ABC HYDRAULIC HOSE AND HYDRAULIC PUMP WERE LEAKING A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF FLUID ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE HAD ALSO BEEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSL… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 215.4%ODI 10250393 · 63,000 miCAMPAIGN#2005060019 SEPTEMBER2005 -CYLINDER SHUT-OFF OIL PRESSURE SENSOR DEFECT 2002 CL600 ON 10.12.2005 CERTIFIED MB DEALER \RETAILER CLOSED THE CAMPAIGN FOLLOW PRIOR TO DATE CODE 1291LISTED IN THIS CAMPAIGN .ON OR ABOUT 1 YEAR THE PART WITH DATE CODE 1631 DEFECTED AND MAKE ESTIMATE DAMAGES DETERMINED FROM MB DEALER EWING AUTO HOUSE FOR $10000.INCLUDE IN THIS ESTIMATE IS ME CONTROL UNIT WHICH WARRANTY BY MB IS LISTED 8YEARS AND 80000MILES.MB USA AND EWING AUTO HOUSE DINAY ENY FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. IF OIL TRAVEL THROUGH CABLE HARNESS A… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Exterior Lighting | 17.1%ODI 10779507 · 44,000 miR HEADLIGHT TURN SIGNAL WILL NOT WORK (REST OF HEADLIGHT WORKS) RANDOMLY FLASH CHECK DIFFERENT LIGHTS AND ALL WORK. RANDOM ISSUES WITH FRONT WINDOWS. ABC LIGHT. CAR HAS LESS THAN 54,000 MILES ON IT. MERCEDES TOLD ME ALL RECALLS HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED FIXED AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE PURCHASED THE CAR IF I DIDN'T WANT TO SPEND THE MONEY TO FIX IT. NOW IT HAS THROWN THE V-BELT. I HAVE READ THE FORUMS ABOUT THE MANY ISSUES AND THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ANY ASSISTANCE OFFERED TO REMEDY THESE ISSUES. WHEN YOU SPEND A LOT OF MONEY ON A VEHICLE YOU WOULD TH… | 17.7%ODI 10477017 · 32,000 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ CL600. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH, THE CONTROL PANEL FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN FAILED TO QUALIFY FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:06V028000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 32,000. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 214.3%ODI 10597627 · 148,641 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ CL600. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FLAMES APPEARED FROM THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE POWER BOOSTER LINE, EVAPORATION HOSE, AND HYDRAULIC HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V252000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE AND STRUCTURE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,641. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Structure | 214.3%ODI 10167803 · 32,000 miDT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE TWO PIECES OF ALL FOUR SIDE WINDOWS WERE SEPARATING. THE DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER CLAIMED THE PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO THE HOT CLIMATE IN FLORIDA. THE CONSUMER WANTED TO CHECK THE STATUS OF THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 06/14/07 *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | Too few reports for a range | 47,245 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10358237 · 47,245 miABC - ACTIVE BODY CONTROL - SYSTEM IS A CONTINUOUS RISK TO ALL MBENZ OWNERS. ALL DISCUSSION BOARDS, OWNER'S FORUMS, ETC. WILL LIST THE VARIOUS TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS WITH THE SUSPENSION DOING ANY NUMBER OF ACTIONS FROM COMPLETELY LOWERING THE CAR TO THE BUMP-STOPS TO ELIMINATING ALL SUSPENSION DAMPENING WHICH IS WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR WHILE DRIVING. THE SUSPENSION BEING CONTROLLED BY THIS EXTREMELY ADVANCED SYSTEM IS THEN COMPLETELY UNPREDICTABLE AND HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS SUFFER IMMENSELY. I PERSONALLY GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY QUICKLY AND DR… |
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2004: 0 complaints · 2005: 0 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Suspension |
|---|---|
| Suspension | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.