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1999 Mercedes Benz SLK230

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1999 Mercedes Benz SLK230 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 31.

About this comparison →
59Owner complaints

Model-year median: 31

0Recall campaigns

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2Investigations

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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

Visibility
22Exterior Lighting
16Electrical System
14Fuel System, Gasoline
3Unknown Or Other
3
All reported categories
Engine
2Equipment
2Power Train
2Structure
2Air Bags
1Engine And Engine Cooling
1Equipment Adaptive/mobility
1Interior Lighting
1Suspension
1Tires
1

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

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

33 reports with mileage · 26 unknown

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.

  • Visibility. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports1 fire reports2 injury reports

Equipment Adaptive/mobility complaints

1 reports
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89,982 miles · Mar 16, 2009
Equipment Adaptive/mobilityVisibility

MY INSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR HAS FAILED. THERE IS NO MANUAL BACKUP. THE FLUID IN THE MIRROR, WHICH CAUSES THE AUTOMATIC SELF-DIMMING, HAS LEAKED OUT. THE MIRROR NOW FAILS TO PROVIDE DIMMING FOR REAR APPROACHING HEADLIGHTS RESULTING IN A BLINDED DRIVER OR NON-USE; BOTH ELIMINATING REAR VIEW CAPABILITY. THE ELECTROCHROMIC SELF-D…

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MY INSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR HAS FAILED. THERE IS NO MANUAL BACKUP. THE FLUID IN THE MIRROR, WHICH CAUSES THE AUTOMATIC SELF-DIMMING, HAS LEAKED OUT. THE MIRROR NOW FAILS TO PROVIDE DIMMING FOR REAR APPROACHING HEADLIGHTS RESULTING IN A BLINDED DRIVER OR NON-USE; BOTH ELIMINATING REAR VIEW CAPABILITY. THE ELECTROCHROMIC SELF-DIMMING MIRRORS ARE STANDARD EQUIPMENT IN MY 1999 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK 230, MODEL R170. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND MANY DOCUMENTED CASES OF THE EXACT MIRRORS FAILING IN THE SAME WAY. THE MIRROR MANUFACTURE, MAGNA DONNELLY, WAS REPLACING THESE MIRRORS FOR FREE UNDER SOME KIND OF WARRANTY PROGRAM IN THE PAST, BUT STOPPED FOR UNKNOWN REASONS. THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN SO BAD THAT THEIR WARRANTY DEPARTMENT DIRECT NUMBER (616-786-7495) NOW HAS A RECORDED MESSAGE DIRECTING PEOPLE TO ANOTHER WEB SITE THAT SELLS DISCOUNTED REPLACEMENT MIRRORS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10262061

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

2

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.

PE99055 · Refueling Spit Back

Opened Aug 30, 1999 · Closed Nov 17, 1999

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

Two owners of the subject vehicles have had trouble refueling the vehicle due to excessive click-offs and spit-backs.Both owners have reported being completel soaked when gasoline sprayed from the tank.