1999 Mercedes Benz SLK230

I HAVE A MERCEDES-BENZ 1999 SLK 230. THE BULB SOCKET FOR THE BRAKE LIGHT LAMPS IN THE REAR LIGHT ASSEMBLY KEEPS FAILING AS THE CONTACTS DO NOT MAKE PROPER CONTACT DURING VIBRATIONS LEADING TO ELECTRIC ARCING AT THE CONTACTS. THE ARCING BUILDS UP DEPOSITS THAT BREAK THE CONNECTIVITY LEADING TO INOPERATIVE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS (A SAFETY ISSUE) AND HEATS UP THE AREA MELTING THE PLASTIC AND FUSING THE SOCKET TO THE ASSEMBLY. THERE IS A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD HERE BECAUSE OF THE OPEN ELECTRIC ARCING. RELATED TO OPEN CASE PE05051. THE BULB ITSELF DOES NOT FAIL AS CURRENTLY DESCRIBED IN THAT OPEN INVESTIGATION BUT THE CONTACT DOES. MB'S SOLUTION IS TO JUST REPLACE THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY WITH THE SAME DEFECT WHICH FAILS AGAIN AFTER A WHILE. *JB

I OWN A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ SLK230. ON DECEMBER 18, 2004 I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP (FRIENDLY MERCEDES BENZ IN WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY) DUE TO A BRAKE LIGHT PROBLEM. DEALER INFORMED ME OF A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE LIGHT OVERHEATING CAUSING THE ASSEMBLY TO MELT AND SHORT OUT THE LIGHT. MERCEDES WOULD NOT COVER THE REPLACEMENT COST OF $269.50. REGARDLESS OF COST, THE POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE EVIDENTLY EXISTS. I READ YESTERDAY THAT AN INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN OPENED IN THIS VERY MATTER SO I THOUGHT I'D PROVIDE YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THIS TYPE OF OCCURRENCE. *NM

THERE IS A DEFECT IN 1998 - 2001 MERCEDES BENZ SLK MODEL CARS TAIL LIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS. THE SOCKET WHICH HOUSES THE BULBS DOES NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT PRESSURE TO MAINTAIN ELECTRICAL CONTACT. THE RESULT OF THIS IS BURNED CONCTATS, MELTED BULB HOUSINGS AND BURNED OUT TAIL AND BRAKE LIGHTS. THIS CAN LEAD TO A FIRE OR AN ACCIDENT IN THE EVENT OF FAILURE. THIS DEFECT HAS BEEN REPORTED BY HUNDREDS/THOUSANDS OF SLK OWNERS TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MAUFACTURER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS DEFECT AND WILL DO NOTHING TO CORRECT IT IF THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRENTY. THE DEFECT, IF DISCOVERED BY THE OWNER PRIOR TO WARRANTY EXPIRATION IS CORRECTED, BUT IF THE DEFECT IS NOT DISCOVERED IN WARRANTY THE MANUFACTURER WILL DO NOTHING TO CORRECT IT. SUBSEQUENT (POST 2001) MODELS HAVE HAD THIS DEFECT CORRECTED BUT THE PRE 2001 VEHICLES STILL HAVE THIS DEFECT.

DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT FAILS. TOOK TO MERCEDES SEVERAL TIMES. THEY TELL ME IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE MERCEDES SLK 230 FROM 1998 TO PRESENT. I SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME ISSUE. MERCEDES IS WAITING FOR A DEATH TO OCCUR AS A RESULT OF A FAULTY TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY BEFORE THEY DECIDE TO RECALL AND FIX THE PROBLEM WHICK WILL CERTAINLY OCCUR IN TIME.*AK