2005 Mercedes-benz Cl-class
The Verdict
The 2005 Mercedes-benz Cl-class has 5 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (4 complaints) and brakes (1 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 99/100, it earns a "Smooth Ride" rating. If you're shopping for a Mercedes-benz Cl-class, consider the 2012 model year which has 80% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2012 has 80% fewer complaints
View the 2012 Mercedes-benz Cl-class dashboard →
Klunk Score: Smooth Ride
This vehicle year has significantly fewer complaints than average. A reliable choice.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
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Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
By Category
By Severity
Worst Problems
Complaints
THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL IS OFF TERRIBLY. THE FRONT LEFT AND BACK RIGHT SIDES OF MY CAR SAG SO LOW BUT THE OPPOSITE SIDES DON'T. THIS CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT ETC.. *TR
THE SBC PUMP STOP WORKING CAUSING THE BRAKES TO NOT WORK THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT IN THERE DESIGN AND I COULD SEE IF CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AND INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURING KNEW THIS WAS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND HAD OFFERED AN 10 YEAR WARRANTY BUT I FEEL IT SHOULD BE REPLACED ON ALL CARS THAT HAVE AN SBC PUMP, I WAS TRAVELING 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY WHEN I HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK IF IT WAS NOT FOR MY QUICK THINKING AND BEING ABLE TO SWITCH TO ANOTHER LANE THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR CAR PILE UP WITH WHO KNOWS HOW MANY INJURIES. *TR
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 DROVE TO THE NEAREST REPAIR SHOP, BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE WITH VARYING ROAD CONDITIONS, SPEED, DRIVER ABILITY, ETC. THE FURTHER CONCERN IS THE OUTRAGEOUS AND EXTREMELY OUT-OF-TOUCH REPAIR BILLS MBENZ WILL CHARGE FOR A SYSTEM THEY KNOW IS DEFECTIVE. QUOTES UPWARDS OF $2-$3K ARE THE NORM WITH OWNERS REPORTING $5-$7K REPAIR BILLS FREQUENTLY. MECHANICAL ITEMS BREAK, MOVING PARTS AND FITTINGS WILL CORRODE/WEAR - THIS IS A WELL PUBLISHED ISSUE AND IF THEY ARE GOING TO CHARGE FOR IT THEY NEED TO DROP THE PARTS COSTS TO EITHER NOTHING OR COVER THE REPAIR COMPLETELY AS IT IS A RISK TO THE DRIVER AND THOSE DRIVING AROUND THE CAR. THANK YOU - *TR
DRIVING MY MERCEDES CL55 AMG, HEARD A POP SOUND GOT OUT LOOKED AROUND SAW NOTHING ARRIVED HOME PARKED AUTO OVERNIGHT NEXT MORNING A LARGE LEAK WHICH APPEARED TO BE SOME TYPE OF FLUID UNDER THE ENGINE OF THE VEHICLE. CONTACTED MERCEDES BENZ WAS TOLD RECALL WAS ISSUED BUT NOT FOR MY VIN# OR VEHICLE YEAR. AUTO NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND MERCEDES WILL NOT CONSIDER REPAIR THE CAR UNDER THE RECALL ISSUED FOR THE 2004 YEAR. COST TO REPAIR VEHICLE 3500.00. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ CL55. WHILE DRIVING HE NOTICED THAT THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT ALSO OBSERVED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THERE WOULD BE A PUDDLE OF FLUID BEHIND IT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE HYDRAULIC PUMPS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 10/23/09 *BF THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE PROBLEM, BUT WAS INFORMED HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. UPDATED 10/26/09