NHTSA Data Explorer

Mercedes-Benz SLK230

Data refreshed May 30, 2026

Select a model year to filter results to that year of the Mercedes-Benz SLK230.

Complaints

235

Active records

Recalls

4

Active records

TSBs

129

Active records

Filing history

Monthly totals over the last 20 years. Click a legend item to show or hide that series.

Reported severity

Based on consumer complaints filed since 2000. Recalls and TSBs do not include severity data.

Deaths

0

Injuries

8

Crashes

6

Fires

5

Top reported issues — Mercedes-Benz SLK230

Click a category to expand its values.

Condition issue

69

Lighting behavior

47

Operating state

44

Fluid issue

38

Thermal issue

30

Performance issue

26

Engine behavior

22

Braking behavior

21

Reporting mechanism

21

Driver assistance issue

13

Access/entry issue

11

Electrical issue

10

Transmission/drivetrain behavior

9

Safety restraint issue

6

Starting behavior

5

Noise

4

Ride/handling behavior

3

Safety restraint behavior

3

Vibration/harshness

3

Recent change

2

Smell

1

Wiper/washer behavior

1

Recent filings

The 10 most recent filings for each type.

2000 MERCEDES BENZ SLK230

Filed Jul 3, 2024


The contact owns a 2000 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 05V505000 (Exterior Lighting) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the vehicle was started; however, the brake lights were inoperable. The contact stated that the brake warning light was illuminated. The…

2002 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK230

Filed Sep 28, 2022


The transmission on my 26700 miles car did not shift and the car wouldn’t move on the intersection as well as on the highway where the car would just roll without accepting the gas pedal. Most dangerous on the intersection where cars behind mine would just go without making sure my mercedes is moving(which it didn’t). The mechanic mentioned that transmission fluid may have contaminated other parts of the engine and contaminated various sensors giving erroneous readings error codes all related…

2003 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK230

Filed May 9, 2021


CONSTANT CODE PO171

1999 MERCEDES BENZ SLK230

Filed Apr 5, 2021


THIS VEHICLE STOPS DEAD IN THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING AND WILL NOT RESTART UNTIL IT SITS SEVERAL MINUTES OR MORE. IT DOES NOT DO THIS EVERY TIME IT IS DRIVEN BUT THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. AFTER DOING RESEARCH, WE FIND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL, AS WELL AS A FEW OTHER MODELS OF MERCEDES. WE HAVE CONTACTED THE NHTSA BUT THEY WILL NOT RESPOND AS PROMISED. WE HAVE CALLED NUMEROUS MERCEDES DEALERS AND THEY OFFER NO SOLUTION EXCEPT TO BRING IT IN AND THEY WILL CHECK IT OUT FOR A BIG…

1998 MERCEDES BENZ SLK230

Filed Mar 15, 2021


WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT SHEARED OFF COMPLETELY LEAVING THE CAR WITH NO STEERING CONTROL. THANKS TO GOD THIS OCCURRED RIGHT AFTER A HIGHWAY EXIT AND WHILE TURNING INTO MY DRIVEWAY. IF THIS SHAFT HAD SHEARED 10 MINUTES BEFORE ON A HIGHWAY AT 60MPH SPEED, IT WOULD HAVE LEAD TO A POSSIBLE FATALITIES AND SEVERE MULTI CARS ACCIDENT ON A PUBLIC HIGH WAY TRAVELING WELL OVER 65 MPH SPEED.

1999 MERCEDES BENZ SLK230

Filed Mar 1, 2021


TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ SLK230. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10- 15 MINUTES. THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY 20 TIMES. THE CONTACT HAD CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALER MERCEDES-BENZ OF AKRON (1361 E MARKET ST, AKRON, OH 44305, (330)733-7511) WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE ISSUE.…

2003 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK230

Filed Oct 22, 2020


MY DRIVERS SIDE BRAKE LIGHT HAS BEEN REPAIRED OR REPLACED 11 TIMES. THE RECALL TO FIX IT FAILED AND MERCEDES WONT CORRECT THE TAIL LIGHT SYSTEM. NO BRAKE LIGHT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IN TRAFFIC, IN MAKING LEFT TURNS ESPECIALLY! BRAKING IS THE MOST IMPORTANT LIGHT FUNCTION ON ANY VEHICLE!

2002 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK230

Filed Aug 25, 2020


THE HEADLINER/CEILING OF THE CAR IS FALLING APART. PARTICULARLY THE CLOTH UNDER THE SUNROOF ALL CAME OFF WITH THE ADHESIVENESS IS LOST AND DIRECTLY FALLS ONTO ONES'S FACE WHILE DRIVING AND IT COULD BE FATAL. MERCEDES DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THE ISSUE BUT DID NOT AUTHORIZE A COVERED REPAIR. THIS IS REAL SAFETY CONCERN AND THERE CAN BE CHOKING OR OTHER UNDESIRED DISTURBANCE WITH THE HANGING HEADLINER PART WHILE DRIVING. THE ADHESIVE MATERIALS EXPOSED AND THE TINY PARTICLES COULD BE INHALED INTO…

2003 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK230

Filed Aug 7, 2020


WHEN DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL LOCKS UP. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT 40 MPH (IN TOWN) AND ALSO 65 MPH (ON HIGHWAY), ALMOST CAUSING ME TO HIT ANOTHER CAR AND RUN OFF THE ROAD. ITS HAPPENS TWICE FOR ONLY 3 SECONDS AT A TIME. THE BAS, SAP AND EMERGENCY LIGHTS ALL COME ON AT THIS TIME.

2003 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK230

Filed Jul 17, 2020


TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK230. THE CONTACT STATED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE FAILED TO IMMEDIATELY START WHEN TURNING THE IGNITION KEY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER MERCEDES-BENZ OF BEAVERTON LOCATED AT 9275 SOUTH WEST CANYON RD PORTLAND OR 97225 WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 184,000.

Data sourced from NHTSA's public datasets. Issue classifications are generated by Repair Surge. About this data.

Updated May 30, 2026. Refreshed nightly.