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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.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

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

Unknown Or Other complaints

3 reports
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115,000 miles · Apr 5, 2021
EngineUnknown Or Other

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 BU…

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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 PRICE. THE PROBLEM WITH THIS IS THE CAR HAS TO MALFUNCTION WHILE THEY ARE CHECKING IT AND IT DOES NOT MALFUNCTION EVERY TIME IT IS DRIVEN. THEY SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL THESE CARS AS THIS IS A COMMON DANGEROUS PROBLEM. WE CANNOT FEEL SAFE AS LONG AS THIS CAR SHUTS DOWN WITH NO WARNING.

NHTSA ODI #11406379

Mileage unknown · Dec 22, 2010
Unknown Or Other

1999 SLK230 MERCEDES BENZ. CONSUMER STATES CLEAR COAT WAS PEELING ON SEVERAL AREAS OF VEHICLE *TGW THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE BODY SHOP TO CONTACT MERCEDES BENZ, BECAUSE THE PAINT JOB DONE ON THE VEHICLE WAS POORLY DONE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10371727

Mileage unknown · Mar 9, 2000
StructureUnknown Or Other

THE CONVERTIBLE TOP INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT GO DOWN. SOMETIMES WHEN IT'S DOWN IT WONT GO UP. SOMETIMES IT GETS STUCK HALF UP AND HALF DOWN. THE REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY SOMETIMES DON'T WORK FROM EITHER REMOTE. THEN LATER IT WORKS AGAIN. THE TOP NOR THE KEYLESS ENTRY CAN BE DEPENDED UPON TO WORK. *AK

NHTSA ODI #719884

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.