NHTSA ID Number: 10200844

Incident Date: 2007-08-22

Manufacturer's Name: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC

Vehicle/Equipment Make: MERCEDES BENZ

Vehicle/Equipment Model: CLK CLASS

Model Year: 2001
9999 If Unknown Or N/A

Vehicle Identification Number: WDBLK70G81T

Vehicle Mileage At Failure: 59875

Vehicle Speed: 30

Number Of Occurrences: 15

Was Vehicle Towed: No

Consumer Location: COLUMBIA, MO

Summary of Complaint

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN MY 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK430 WILL FREQUENTLY BECOME STUCK IN ONLY ONE GEAR. MOST OFTEN 3RD GEAR, BUT SOMETIMES 2ND. THIS IS A TERRIFYING SITUATION FOR ME, ESPECIALLY IN TRAFFIC, AS THE AUTOMOBILE DOES NOT ACCELERATE FROM A STOP IN 3RD GEAR AND ABRUPTLY SLOWS WHEN LETTING OFF THE ACCELERATOR IN 2ND. 2ND GEAR ALSO LIMITS THE SPEED OF THE CAR SIGNIFICANTLY AND HAS CAUSED ME TO BE THE TRAFFIC SLOWDOWN AT RUSH HOUR ON MANY OCCASIONS. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS, AS I CANNOT GET THE CAR OUT OF A BUSY INTERSECTION QUICKLY OR CHANGE LANES TO MAKE A TURN WHEN THIS IS HAPPENING. I DRIVE MY CHILDREN IN THIS CAR AND AM AFRAID THAT A 3RD GEAR START OR A 2ND GEAR ABRUPT SLOWDOWN OR ITS SEVERELY LIMITED VELOCITY WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND THEY MAY GET HURT. THE ONLY WAY TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION IS TO PULL OVER, SHUT OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT. THIS IS NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE ON A BUSY STREET, AND IS DANGEROUS AT BEST. MY MECHANIC HAS DETERMINED THAT THIS IS NOT A MECHANICAL FAILURE IN THE TRANSMISSION, BUT A FAILURE IN THE ELECTRONIC MODULE THAT CONTROLS THE TRANSMISSION. I UNDERSTAND THROUGH CORROBORATIVE AND ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE THAT THIS COULD BE A RESULT OF LIQUID FROM THE CUPHOLDER SEEPING DOWN INTO THE ELECTRONICS. THERE IS EVIDENCE OF A LIQUID SPILL, AND IT IS CLEAR THAT THE POOR DESIGN OF THE CUPHOLDER AND ITS LOCATION ABOVE THE TRANSMISSION ELECTRONICS ARE THE CAUSE OF THIS SAFETY ISSUE. WE HAVE NOT PURSUED REPAIR AS OF YET, AS THE PARTS AND LABOR ARE QUITE EXPENSIVE. THE CAR IS NOW PARKED IN MY GARAGE, AS I CONSIDER IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

Complaint 10200844 Documents

For Latest Documents related to this Complaint, visit the NHTSA Website.

Click the (+) Plus Sign

Then click Associated Document(s).

Most Complaints Don't have any PDFs.

Bestseller No. 1

1,899 Reviews

Red Line 42804 Full Synthetic Gear Oil, V-Twin Transmission Oil with Shockproof - 1 Quart

• CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY - Shockproof technology designed to...
• QUIET SMOOTH SHIFTING - V-Twin Transmission oil dampens...
• IMPROVES PERFORMANCE - Transmission fluid that dramatically...
• POPULAR POWESPORTS OIL FOR - UTVs & Side by Sides, ATVs...
• WHY RED LINE - Established in 1979, Red Line Products...

$24.58

Buy on Amazon Price incl. tax, excl. shipping

Bestseller No. 2

Red Line 42804 V-Twin Transmission Oil with Shockproof - 4 Quarts

• CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY - Shockproof technology designed to...
• QUIET SMOOTH SHIFTING - V-Twin Transmission oil dampens...
• IMPROVES PERFORMANCE - Transmission fluid that dramatically...
• POPULAR POWESPORTS OIL FOR - UTVs & Side by Sides, ATVs...
• WHY RED LINE - Established in 1979, Red Line Products...

$82.99

Buy on Amazon Price incl. tax, excl. shipping

Last update on 2026-06-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

---

 

Search NHTSA Database for Recalls

Recalls List

Search NHTSA Database for (TSB's) Technical Service Bulletins

Technical Service Bulletins TSB's List

Search NHTSA Database for Vehicle Investigations

Investigations List

CRASH: No
WAS VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A CRASH

FIRE: No
WAS VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A FIRE

INJURIES: 0
NUMBER OF PERSONS INJURED

DEATHS: 0
NUMBER OF FATALITIES

Was Medical Attention Required: No

Was Incident Reported To Police: No

Date Of Incident: 2007-08-22
(YYYY-MM-DD)

Date Added To File: 2007-08-27
(YYYY-MM-DD)

Date Complaint Received By NHTSA: 2007-08-27
(YYYY-MM-DD)

Date Purchased: 2007-03-30
(YYYY-MM-DD)

Was Original Owner: No

Product Type: Vehicle

V = Vehicle
T = Tires
E = Equipment
C = Child Restraint

Specific Component's Description: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

Anti-Lock Brakes: Yes

Cruise Control: Yes

Number Of Cylinders: 8

Drive Train Type: RWD
[AWD, 4WD, FWD, RWD]

Fuel System: Fuel Injection

FI = Fuel Injection
TB = Turbo

Fuel Type: Gas

BF = BiFuel
CN = CNG/LPG
DS = Diesel
GS = Gas
HR = Hybrid Electric

Vehicle Transmission Type [Auto, Man]: AUTO

(DOT) Department Of Transportation Tire Identifier:

Tire Size:

Location Of Tire:

FSW = Driver Side Front
DSR = Driver Side Rear
FTR = Passenger Side Front
PSR = Passenger Side Rear
SPR = Spare

Type Of Tire Failure:

BST = Blister
BLW = Blowout
TTL = Crack
OFR = Out Of Round
TSW = Puncture
TTR = Road Hazard
TSP = Tread Separation

Was Defective Tire Repaired:

Was Part Original Equipment:

Date Of Manufacture:
(YYYYMMDD)

Type Of Child Seat:

B = Booster
C = Convertible
I = Infant
IN = Integrated
TD = Toddler

Installation System:

A = Vehicle Safety Belt
B = Latch System

Dealer's Name:

Dealer's Telephone Number:

Dealer's City:

Dealer's State:

Dealer's Zipcode:

SOURCE OF COMPLAINT CODE:

CAG = Consumer Action Group
CON = Forwarded From A Congressional Office
DP = Defect Petition,result Of A Defect Petition
EVOQ = Hotline VOQ
EWR = EARLY WARNING REPORTING
INS = Insurance Company
IVOQ = NHTSA Web Site
LETR = Consumer Letter
MAVQ = NHTSA Mobile APP
MIVQ = NHTSA Mobile APP
MVOQ = Optical Marked VOQ
RC = Recall Complaint, Result Of A Recall Investigation
RP = Recall Petition, Result Of A Recall Petition
SVOQ = Portable Safety Complaint Form (PDF)
VOQ = NHTSA Vehicle Owners Questionnaire

Incident State Code:

Vehicle Operator's Name: