Illustration1999 MERCEDES SLK 230 WITH A SAFETY RECALL CUSTOMER WANTS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR REPAIRS**CC THE DEALER DENIED THERE WAS A RECALL, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER IN THE MAIL AFTER BEING TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HIS MECHANIC TO HAVE THE REPAIRS DONE. RECALL # 05V505000. *JB
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all SLK230 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
30–25K
625–50K
1150–75K
775–100K
5100–150K
1150K+
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
Exterior Lighting complaints
16 reportsTL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ SLK230. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS. THE MERCEDES MECHANIC REPLACED THE LIGHTS AT THE CONTACTS HOME. PRIOR TO REPLACING THE LIGHTS PER THE RECALL, THE LIGHTS WERE WORKING. HOWEVER, THE LIGHTS NO LONGER WORKED, AND THE VEHICLE DID NO…
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TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ SLK230. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS. THE MERCEDES MECHANIC REPLACED THE LIGHTS AT THE CONTACTS HOME. PRIOR TO REPLACING THE LIGHTS PER THE RECALL, THE LIGHTS WERE WORKING. HOWEVER, THE LIGHTS NO LONGER WORKED, AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT START. THE DEALER DID NOT WANT TO ADDRESS THE FAILURES AND MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. THE CONTACT TALKED TO THE MANAGER OF MERCEDES AND HE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL AT GAINING ASSISTANCE. *AK
SAFETY RECALL SLK-CLASS REPLACE BRAKE LAMP BULB SOCKETS**NAR**CC THE RECALL DESCRIBED THE NEED TO REPLACE THE BRAKE LAMP BULB SOCKETS TO ENSURE THE TAIL LIGHTS CONTINUE TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE CONSUMER LOCAL MB DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT MERCEDES BENZ CENTRAL SUPPLIER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE THE PARTS NEEDED. *NM
TL* - THE CONTACT FIXED THE TAIL LIGHTS ON HER CAR, AND THEN RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL ON HER TAIL LIGHTS. CONTACT PAID ALMOST $500.00 TO HAVE HER TAIL LIGHTS REPAIRED, AND WAS ONLY REIMBURSED HALF OF THAT. THE CONTACT WANTS TO KNOW IF SHE CAN GET ENTIRE MONEY BACK. SAFETY RECALL NUMBER IS 2006-080005.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER BEING ALERTED THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS INOPERABLE THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 05V505000, REGARDING THE BRAKE LIGHTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACT WHO REFLECTED NO KNOWLEDGE OF THIS RECALL. UPDATED 9/13/2006 - *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S REAR PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT WAS INOPERABLE, AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE BULB WAS REPLACED, BUT IMMEDIATELY BURNED OUT. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 05V505000, REGARDING THE BRAKE LIGHTS. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THIS RECALL.
RE: NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 05V-505. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED IN A LETTER TO NHTSA THAT IT WOULD START OWNER NOTIFICATION NO SOONER THAN SECOND QUARTER OF 2006. IT IS NOW THIRD QUARTER 2006 AND WHEN ASKED, THE MANUFACTURER STILL SAYS THERE ARE NO ACTIVE RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE. I FEEL THAT THE MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO PROVIDE AN UPDA…
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RE: NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 05V-505. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED IN A LETTER TO NHTSA THAT IT WOULD START OWNER NOTIFICATION NO SOONER THAN SECOND QUARTER OF 2006. IT IS NOW THIRD QUARTER 2006 AND WHEN ASKED, THE MANUFACTURER STILL SAYS THERE ARE NO ACTIVE RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE. I FEEL THAT THE MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO PROVIDE AN UPDATED SCHEDULE FOR COMPLIANCE WITH THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP THAT ATTEMPTED TO REPLACE THE BULB. THE REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THE SOCKET BURNED OUT AND WHILE PLACING THE BULB IN THE SOCKET, THE DRIVER SIDE SOCKET BURNED OUT AS WELL. BOTH BRAKE LIGHT SOCKETS ARE BEIN…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP THAT ATTEMPTED TO REPLACE THE BULB. THE REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THE SOCKET BURNED OUT AND WHILE PLACING THE BULB IN THE SOCKET, THE DRIVER SIDE SOCKET BURNED OUT AS WELL. BOTH BRAKE LIGHT SOCKETS ARE BEING REPLACED. UPDATED 04/11/06. *JB
BRAKE LIGHTS BURN OUT FREQUENTLY ON MY 1999 MERCEDES SLK 230. LIGHT SOCKETS BURN WITH DISCOLORATION AND PLASTIC MELTS AT THE SOCKET AND CIRCUIT BOARD ON THE REAR OF THE TAILLIGHT. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO REMOVE THE BURNED SOCKET FROM THE FIXTURE. THE INTENT OF THE DESIGN IS TO USE FINGER PRESSURE TO TWIST THE SOCKET OUT. DUE…
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BRAKE LIGHTS BURN OUT FREQUENTLY ON MY 1999 MERCEDES SLK 230. LIGHT SOCKETS BURN WITH DISCOLORATION AND PLASTIC MELTS AT THE SOCKET AND CIRCUIT BOARD ON THE REAR OF THE TAILLIGHT. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO REMOVE THE BURNED SOCKET FROM THE FIXTURE. THE INTENT OF THE DESIGN IS TO USE FINGER PRESSURE TO TWIST THE SOCKET OUT. DUE TO THE MELTING IT REQUIRES THE USE OF A WRENCH THAT THEN DAMAGES THE SOCKET SOMETIMES TO AN UNUSABLE CONDITION REQUIRING REPLACEMENT AT OWNER COST. DASH "BULB OUT" WARNING LIGHT IS TOO DIM TO NOTICE AND HIDDEN FROM VIEW BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL. BULB OUT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES SOMETIMES WHEN THERE ARE NO LIGHTS BURNED OUT SO THIS MAKES IT USELESS TO DETERMINE WHAT BULB IS ACTUALLY OUT IF ANY. MY CAR WAS IN THE MERCEDES SHOP FOR 30 DAYS AND RETURNED TO ME WITH THE COMMENT ''CONDITION COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED'' IN REGARDS TO THE TAILLIGHT. ALL THEY HAD TO DO IS REMOVE IT TO SEE THE BURNT CONDITION BUT THEY CHOSE TO IGNORE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD TO PURCHASE A HANDFUL OF SOCKETS TO KEEP ON HAND AS THEY NEED REPLACING EVERY MONTH OR SO. I EVEN PURCHASED A NEW SET OF TAILLIGHTS, THE ENTIRE HOUSING AND NEW SOCKETS THINKING THIS WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM BUT THEY BURNED OUT A MONTH LATER. I HAVE TURNED THE TAILLIGHT OVER TO NHTSA. *JB
NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : PE05051 REAR BRAKE LIGHT SOCKETS MELT/FAIL. *JB
Official recalls
0No 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
2PE05051 · 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.