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1998 Mercedes Benz SLK230

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Mercedes Benz SLK230 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 31.

About this comparison →
34Owner complaints

Model-year median: 31

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
34
199859
199922
200031
2001
Compare all SLK230 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Exterior Lighting
14Structure
6Engine And Engine Cooling
4Power Train
4Air Bags
2
All reported categories
Electrical System
2Fuel System, Gasoline
2Latches/locks/linkages
2Visibility
2Steering
1Tires
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 16 of 34 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports2 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

34 reports
Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 2002
Structure

THE CAR HAD A BAD LEFT DOOR PANEL THAT WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY LAST YEAR. THIS SUMMER I NOTICED THAT IT WAS LOOSE AT THE TOP SO I HAD MY WIFE TAKE IT IN TO BE FIXED. THEY FIXED THE PANEL AND MY DROVE HOME. WHEN MY WIFE GOT HOME SHE WAS LOCKED IN THE CAR AND THE LEFT DOOR WOULD ONLY OPEN IF SHE PUT THE WINDOW DOWN AND USED THE O…

Read full complaint

THE CAR HAD A BAD LEFT DOOR PANEL THAT WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY LAST YEAR. THIS SUMMER I NOTICED THAT IT WAS LOOSE AT THE TOP SO I HAD MY WIFE TAKE IT IN TO BE FIXED. THEY FIXED THE PANEL AND MY DROVE HOME. WHEN MY WIFE GOT HOME SHE WAS LOCKED IN THE CAR AND THE LEFT DOOR WOULD ONLY OPEN IF SHE PUT THE WINDOW DOWN AND USED THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE. SE WENT INSIDE AND CALLED THE DEALER, SHAFFER IMPORTS. THEY HAD HER BRING IT BACK SO THEY COULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM. SHE LEFT THE CAR AND WHEN SHE RETURNED IT HAD NOT BEEN FIXED. THEY SAID THAT THE DOOR LATCH MUST HAVE FAILED ON THE WAY HOME AND THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO FIX IT. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THEY HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM ON OTHER MERCEDES MODELS THAT USE THE SAME DOOR LATCH. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE FIXED AND A RECALL ISSUED. BEING THAT THIS IS A TWO DOOR CAR WITH A CONSOLE AND A SHIFTER, IT IS QUITE DIFFICULT FOR ONE TO EXIT THE LEFT SEAT TO THE RIGHT DOOR. THIS COULD CAUSE LOST TIME IN AN EMERGENCY AND ULTIMATELY LOSS OF LIFE. PLEAS GIVE THIS PROBLEM YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION.

NHTSA ODI #767638

Mileage unknown · Mar 22, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

AFTER SERVICE FOR RECOMMENDED EXHAUST REPAIR FOR LACK OF POWER THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A REDUCTION OF POWER FOLLOWED BY SMOKE FROM THE TAILPIPE.(CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS VEHICLE) NLM

NHTSA ODI #564649

Mileage unknown · Jan 3, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainVisibilityFire

THIS MODEL HAS BEEN EVOLVED SEVERAL TIMES BY THE MANUFACTURER MORE TO MARKET AND IN A HASTILY TIME,PERHAPS AT THE EXPENSE OF THE CONSUMER AND REQUIRES THOROUGH INVESTIGATION. NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #756350

Mileage unknown · Dec 28, 2001
Power TrainFire

TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. VEHICLE WILL START TO LOSE POWER. ALSO, THERE IS SOME FLUID LEAKAGE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK *TT

NHTSA ODI #8001166

Mileage unknown · Dec 6, 2000
Tires

ALL 4 DUNLOP TIRES HAD EXTREME WEAR AT 11000 MILES (DUNLOP FRONT-205/55R21691V REAR-225/50R16 2000E). NLM

NHTSA ODI #557911

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1999
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

FUEL INJECTOR, IGNITION TRANSPONDER.

NHTSA ODI #609770

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

TURBO

NHTSA ODI #609532

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1999
Structure

HYDRAULICS, TRUNK LID.

NHTSA ODI #609499

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1999
Structure

TRUNK LID DOES NOT CLOSE ALL THE WAY.

NHTSA ODI #609186

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Power Train

TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING. YH

NHTSA ODI #609043

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE05051 · Brake Lamp Failure

Opened Sep 22, 2005 · Closed Dec 2, 2005

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights

IN ITS LETTER DATED OCTOBER 28, 2005, MERCEDES-BENZ USA STATED THAT IT WOULD CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO REMEDY DEFECTIVE BRAKE LAMP ASSEMBLIES IN MODEL YEAR 1998 THROUGH 2004 MERCEDES BENZ SLK VEHICLES.THE BASE OF THE BRAKE LAMP SOCKET CAN BE SUBJECT TO THERMAL DEFORMATION OVER TIME.THIS DEFORMATION CAN CAUSE MOVEMENT IN THE SOCKET-TO-BULB CONNECTION, WHICH MAY LEAD TO A LOOSENING OF THE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS IN THE SOCKET, AND FAILURE OF THE BULB TO ILLUMINATE.ALL REAR LAMP MODULES (WHICH CONTAIN BRAKE, TURN SIGNAL, TAIL AND BACKUP LAMPS) WILL BE REPLACED WITH REDESIGNED REAR LAMP MODULES WITH A MORE HEAT RESISTANT MATERIAL AND ENHANCED SOCKET HOLDER DESIGN TO WITHSTAND THE HEAT INSIDE THE REAR LAMP MODULE.SEE NHTSA RECALL NO. 05V505 FOR MORE INFORMATION.