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NHTSA recalls & complaints · 1999–2006

Mercedes-Benz CL500 recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 44 owner complaints for the Mercedes-Benz CL500, covering model years 1999 to 2006. The 2002 model year drew the most complaints (12), and Electrical System is the component owners name most often.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint flat files, updated September 25, 2026.

Decode your Mercedes-Benz CL500 VIN

See the model year, plant and build details of one vehicle, then the recalls for its exact year.

  • 1 recall campaign on file
  • 44 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
  • 8 model years with data (1999–2006)
  • most complaints: 2002 (12 for that model year)
  • top component: Electrical System (18 complaints)
  • latest recall 01V247000 (reported Aug 1, 2001)
  • 0 complaints reporting a crash (0.0%)
  • 7 complaints reporting a fire (15.9%)
  • 2 complaints reporting an injury (4.5%)
  • 0 complaints reporting a death (0.0%)

Mercedes-Benz CL500 complaints by model year

8 model years · NHTSA complaints

The 2002 model year has the most complaints: 12 of 44, or 27.3%. Next come 2004 (9) and 2006 (7). The fewest are for 2003, with 1 complaint.

Owner complaints per model yearHighest yearOther years
Mercedes-Benz CL500 owner complaints to NHTSA by model year, 1999–2006Column chart of 44 complaints across 8 model years. The highest is 2002 with 12. The full figures are in the table below the chart.1999: 2 complaints219992000: 6 complaints620002001: 5 complaints520012002: 12 complaints1220022003: 1 complaint120032004: 9 complaints920042005: 2 complaints220052006: 7 complaints72006
Mercedes-Benz CL500 complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Mercedes-Benz CL500 complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model yearComplaintsReporting a crashReporting a fireReporting an injuryReporting a death
199920000
200060200
200150110
2002120300
200310000
200490100
200520000
200670010
All model years440720

Crash, fire, injury and death columns count complaints that report at least one of them, not people.

Most-reported Mercedes-Benz CL500 components

top 15 · NHTSA categories

Electrical System is the component named most often, in 18 complaints (40.9% of all 44), followed by Suspension (15) and Exterior Lighting (5).

Components named most often in Mercedes-Benz CL500 complaints (top 15)
Components named most often in Mercedes-Benz CL500 complaints (top 15)
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints
Electrical System1840.9%
Suspension1534.1%
Exterior Lighting511.4%
Engine49.1%
Power Train36.8%
Service Brakes36.8%
Air Bags24.5%
Seat Belts24.5%
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)12.3%
Engine and Engine Cooling12.3%
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility12.3%
Forward Collision Avoidance12.3%
Fuel/Propulsion System12.3%
Interior Lighting12.3%
Lane Departure12.3%

One complaint can name several components, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Component names are NHTSA’s top-level categories.

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

These figures count complaints that vehicle owners and other members of the public have submitted to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA uses complaints, together with other data, to spot safety issues that may warrant an investigation and to check whether existing recalls go far enough.

  • They are reports, not findings. Each complaint is the submitter's own account. Its presence in the database does not mean NHTSA has confirmed a defect.
  • Counts are not defect rates. The data doesn't say how many vehicles were sold, so a raw count can't tell you what share of vehicles had a problem.
  • Popular models collect more complaints. A model sold in large numbers will usually gather more complaints than a rare one, simply because more people own it.
  • One complaint can name several components. Totals by component can therefore add up to more than the number of complaints.
  • Coverage starts in 1995. NHTSA's complaint file contains complaints received since January 1, 1995.

Use complaint patterns as a prompt for questions: whether a recall covers the issue, whether the vehicle you are considering has had the fix, and what a mechanic finds on inspection. For confirmed safety defects, see the recall list for this model.

Mercedes-Benz CL500 recalls

1 campaign · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name CL500, newest first. The only campaign, 01V247000, covers model year 2000.

  • 1 recall campaign
Mercedes-Benz CL500 recall campaigns covering each model year
2000: 1 campaign

  1. NHTSA campaign 01V247000

    Reported

    Exterior Lighting › Headlights › Switch

    Model year 2000

    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.

    Consequence:
    Drivers in incoming vehicles may experience increased glare from the high beam lighting which could result in the potential for a crash.
    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.

    Filed by Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC

Recall text is shown as NHTSA publishes it; older campaigns, which NHTSA stores in capital letters, are shown in sentence case. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, also answers recall questions.

How to read this recall list

This list shows every safety recall campaign NHTSA has on file for this make, model and model year. It is not specific to one vehicle: a recall often covers only vehicles built in a certain date range or with a certain part, and many of the vehicles it covers will already have been repaired.

What each recall field means
What each recall field means
FieldWhat it tells you
Campaign numberNHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
ComponentThe system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
SummaryWhat the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
ConsequenceThe safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
RemedyWhat the manufacturer will do, such as a repair, replacement or software update, and whether it is free.
  • Some recalls carry an NHTSA consumer advisory, “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside”. Follow it until the repair is done.
  • A single campaign often covers several models or model years, so the same campaign number can appear in more than one list.
  • Recalls are shown as NHTSA publishes them. Very recent campaigns may take time to appear.

Does your vehicle have an open recall? Only a VIN check can tell you. Enter the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or on the manufacturer's website. Our VIN recall check guide explains what each option covers.

Mercedes-Benz CL500 questions

5 questions

How many recalls does the Mercedes-Benz CL500 have?

NHTSA lists 1 vehicle recall campaign for the Mercedes-Benz CL500, covering model years 1999 to 2006. The campaign, 01V247000, was reported on August 1, 2001 and is filed under “Exterior lighting”.

Which Mercedes-Benz CL500 model year has the most complaints?

The 2002 model year, with 12 of the 44 complaints in NHTSA’s file (27.3%). The next are 2004 (9) and 2006 (7). Complaint counts also reflect how many vehicles of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they are not a reliability ranking.

What is the most common Mercedes-Benz CL500 complaint?

Electrical System is the component named most often: 18 complaints, or 40.9% of all 44. Suspension (15) and Exterior Lighting (5) follow. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects, and one complaint can name several components.

Does every recall on this page apply to my Mercedes-Benz CL500?

Not necessarily. Each campaign lists specific model years, and many cover only vehicles built in a certain period or fitted with a certain part; repairs already carried out aren’t shown. To see whether a recall is open on your vehicle, enter its VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or ask a Mercedes-Benz dealer.

How many Mercedes-Benz CL500 complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 44 complaints, 0 report a crash, 7 a fire, 2 at least one injury and 0 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.

Other Mercedes-Benz models

8 models · most complaints first

The Mercedes-Benz models with the most NHTSA complaints, and the Mercedes-Benz VIN decoder with every Mercedes-Benz model page, WMI code and VIN note.

All Mercedes-Benz models and WMI codesLook up recalls by year

Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files, updated September 25, 2026. Recall campaigns are vehicle (V) campaigns listed for this model name; complaints are counted once per NHTSA ODI number and model year.