NHTSA vehicle safety data

2000 Mercedes Benz CL500 Recalls & Complaints

The 2000 Mercedes Benz CL500 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 6 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Mercedes Benz dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2000 Mercedes Benz CL500. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2000 Mercedes Benz CL500 owner complaints

Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 Mercedes Benz CL500, describing incidents dated September 5, 2006 to November 17, 2015.

Most-cited components

Suspension 3 complaints
Electrical System 2 complaints
Engine 1 complaint
Interior Lighting 1 complaint

Of the 6 complaints on file, 2 report a fire (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10806786 · Filed November 25, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ CL500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM NEARLY CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE…
ODI #10732783 · Filed July 8, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ CL500. WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED TO WORK AND WENT COMPLETELY BLANK SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT…
ODI #10638560 · Filed September 23, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES CL500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE DROPPED TO THE GROUND. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL IS TOO LOW PLEASE STOP VEHICLE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE…

Read all 6 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2000 Mercedes Benz CL500 in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Preliminary Evaluation PE03-058: ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY FAILURE
Closed April 22, 2004

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

MERCEDES-BENZ/FMVSS 108/HEADLAMPS

NHTSA #01V247000 · Exterior Lighting — Headlights — Switch · NHTSA notice

Reported August 1, 2001 · MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC.

Potentially affected: 613 vehicles

Owners notified October 15, 2001 · Vehicles built September 14, 1999 – February 2, 2000 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." WHEN THE LOW BEAM HEADLAMPS ARE ACTIVATED, THE XENON LAMPS ARE AIMED TO ILLUMINATE THE ROAD SURFACE. IN THE HIGH BEAM MODE THE LIGHT FROM THE XENON BULBS ARE REDIRECTED AND ADDITIONAL HALOGEN BULBS ALSO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE HIGH BEAMS ARE ACTIVATED. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE COMBINATION OF XENON BULB AND HALOGEN BULB EXCEED THE PERMITTED LIGHT OUTPUT.

Safety consequence

DRIVERS IN INCOMING VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE INCREASED GLARE FROM THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTING WHICH COULD RESULT IN THE POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE AIM OF THE HALOGEN HEADLAMP BULBS IN THE HIGH BEAM MODE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 15, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.

Notes

ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2000 Mercedes Benz CL500. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

6 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2000 Mercedes Benz CL500.

Suspension

ODI #10806786

Fire

Incident: November 17, 2015 · Filed: November 25, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ CL500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM NEARLY CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.

Electrical System

ODI #10732783

Incident: April 10, 2015 · Filed: July 8, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ CL500. WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED TO WORK AND WENT COMPLETELY BLANK SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE FUSES MULTIPLE TIMES BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Suspension

ODI #10638560

Incident: April 12, 2010 · Filed: September 23, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES CL500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE DROPPED TO THE GROUND. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL IS TOO LOW PLEASE STOP VEHICLE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT FLUIDS WAS LEAKING THROUGH SEALS OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE ABC HIGH PRESSURE HOSE AND THE HYDRAULIC PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000. THE VIN NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Engine

ODI #10523798

Incident: July 7, 2013 · Filed: July 8, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ CL500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE CONTACT STOPPED AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE LATER STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

Suspension

ODI #10340151

Fire

Incident: June 19, 2010 · Filed: June 25, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ CL500 (N/A). WHILE TRAVELING AT 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD, UNUSUAL POP COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. WITHIN SECONDS, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE REAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUSPENSION HOSE HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SECOND MECHANIC WHERE THE SUSPENSION HOSE WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

Electrical System; Interior Lighting

ODI #10170960

Incident: September 5, 2006 · Filed: October 16, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DID NOT ILLUMINATE PROPERLY ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL #06V028000 REGARDING INTERIOR LIGHTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE PART AVAILABILITY. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN WAITING OVER A MONTH FOR THE PART TO BE AVAILABLE FOR REPAIR.*AK UPDATED 10/31/2006 - THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BLACKED OUT PLUS THERE WERE ADDITIONAL ELECTRICAL FAULURES. THE NEW CLUSTER THAT THE DEALER CCLAMED WAS NEEDED WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL. *NM

Check your 2000 Mercedes Benz CL500 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Mercedes Benz CL500 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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