Driving at 35 MPH car began to stall and lose power, car eventually gained power and acceleration, once driving slower the car lost power again and cut completely off after all lights on dash board came on. Selling dealer stated they fixed the problem which was a sensor but the car is now losing power again one month later. The interior and exterior lighting always flicker upon starting the…
2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class steering problems
moderate 3 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Complaints
3
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
When does it fail?
Of the 3 steering complaints filed for the 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 13 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Steering wheel stuck in highest position obstructing drivers' view. *tr
Date of purchase was 01/10/2005 service#1.1st wheel alignment was on 01/18/2005 mileage in was 788 miles, the front & rear, both had to be re-aligned, replaced parts were wheel camber/caster-l side/adjust install bolt kits and wheel camber/caster-r side/adjust install bolt kits and car was tested to verify pull to the right, they found camber on left front out of specs also vehicle has a 0.14…
Had steering trouble with your 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 3 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Based on the 3 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 96,000 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/Mercedes-Benz/CLK-Class.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.