There are 5 owner-reported electrical system complaints for the 2008 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Classin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
MY PARTNER TOLD ME THAT HIS PASSENGER HEADLIGHT WAS BURNED OUT AND THAT HE WAS TOLD IT WAS GOING TO BE OVER $800 TO REPLACE. I DECIDED TO TRY TO REPLACE THE BULB MYSELF, BUT I FOUND THAT THE INSULATION ON THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS LEADING THE HEADLIGHT CONNECTORS HAD DETERIORATED TO THE POINT THAT THE WIRES ARE BARE, CAUSING ELECTRICAL SHORTING, EQUIPMENT FAILURE, LEADING TO POTENTIAL ELECTRICAL FIRE WHICH MAY CAUSE SERIOUS LIFE THREATENING ACCIDENTS. I HAVE FOUND AT LEAST ONE OTHER COMPLAINT OF THIS NATURE, REPORTED ON NOVEMBER 13 2017, FOR A 2008 CLK350 VEHICLE WITH THE SAME LEADING VIN NUMBER OF WDBTK56F.... THAT COMPLAINT INDICATES THAT "MERCEDES BENZ IS NOT SUPPLYING A FIX AS REPORTED BY MULTIPLE OWNERS. ALSO EXTENDED WARRANTY INSURERS ARE DENYING COVERAGE DUE TO THE WIDE SPREAD DEFECT ACROSS THE MERCEDES BENZ MODELS." I CANNOT FIND ANY MORE INFORMATION ON THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT NORMAL FOR ANY VEHICLE, MUCH LESS ONE THAT IS ONLY 10 YEARS OLD.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK350. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING AND "CHECK SRS AIR BAG" DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE WIRING FOR BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. A DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
ON 12/31/2017 MY CAR WAS PARKED ON DRIVE WAY OF 800 VILLA FLORENCE DR. NAPLES FLORIDA AND WITHOUT ANY PRIOR SIGN OF TROUBLE CAR CUT IN FIRE FROM LEFT SIDE OF TRUNK. THERE WAS NOTHING IN TRUNK OF THIS CAR EXCEPT TO LIGHT WEIGHT BEACH CHAIRS.
MY WIFE TOLD ME HER HEADLIGHT WAS BURNED OUT. WHEN I REPLACED THE BULB, I FOUND THE INSULATION ON THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS AND HEADLIGHTS IS DETERIORATING LEAVING EXPOSED BARE WIRES CAUSING ELECTRICAL SHORTING, EQUIPMENT FAILURES, ELECTRICAL FIRES, LEADING TO POTENTIALLY SERIOUS LIFE THREATENING ACCIDENTS. MERCEDES BENZ IS NOT SUPPLYING A FIX AS REPORTED BY MULTIPLE OWNERS. ALSO EXTENDED WARRANTY INSURERS ARE DENYING COVERAGE DUE TO THE WIDE SPREAD DEFECT ACROSS THE MERCEDES BENZ MODELS.
THE BRAKE LIGHT ON THE TRUNK SIMPLY FELL OFF. I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE AT LEAST 50 OTHER OWNERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THOSE THAT SIMPLY JUST WENT AHEAD AND GOT IT FIXED WITHOUT POSTING IT. THIS IS A DEFECT WHERE THE RED LENS SEPARATES FROM THE LIGHT HOUSING AND THE BRAKE LIGHT NO LONGER SHOWS RED WHEN BRAKING. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS CONTINUES TO RE-OCCUR EACH TIME IT IS REPLACED AT A COST OF $352.50 EACH TIME, NOT TO MENTION THE SAFETY ISSUE WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WHILE DRIVING YOU LOOSE YOUR BRAKE LIGHT. MERCEDES BENZ IS APPARENTLY STICKING THEIR HEADS IN THE SAND OVER THIS ONE. *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026