NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
59 reports62,010 miles · Dec 5, 2008
Visibility
VEHICLE TYPE IS 1999 MERCEDES BENZ SLK230 (R170 MODEL). THE INSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR IS AN ELECTROCHROMIC SELF DIMMING MIRROR THAT HAS NO MANUAL BACKUP. THE MIRRORS FAIL LOSING THEIR ABILITY TO PROVIDE DIMMING AGAINST REAR APPROACHING HEADLIGHTS CAUSING THE DRIVER TO EITHER BE BLINDED OR TO HAVE TO TURN THE MIRROR UP AND HAVE NO …
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VEHICLE TYPE IS 1999 MERCEDES BENZ SLK230 (R170 MODEL). THE INSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR IS AN ELECTROCHROMIC SELF DIMMING MIRROR THAT HAS NO MANUAL BACKUP. THE MIRRORS FAIL LOSING THEIR ABILITY TO PROVIDE DIMMING AGAINST REAR APPROACHING HEADLIGHTS CAUSING THE DRIVER TO EITHER BE BLINDED OR TO HAVE TO TURN THE MIRROR UP AND HAVE NO REAR VIEW CAPABILITY. I KNOW OF MANY DOCUMENTED CASES OF THESE MIRRORS FAILING INCLUDING MY OWN. SOME FAIL BY JUST QUITTING WORKING WHILE OTHERS LEAK THE INTERNAL FLUID. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10250802
39,125 miles · Jul 22, 2008
Visibility
VEHICLE TYPE IS 1999 MERCEDES BENZ SLK230 (R170 MODEL). THE INSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR IS AN ELECTROCHROMIC SELF DIMMING MIRROR THAT HAS NO MANUAL BACKUP. THE MIRRORS FAIL LOSING THEIR ABILITY TO PROVIDE DIMMING AGAINST REAR APPROACHING HEADLIGHTS CAUSING THE DRIVER TO EITHER BE BLINDED OR TO HAVE TO TURN THE MIRROR UP AND HAVE N…
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VEHICLE TYPE IS 1999 MERCEDES BENZ SLK230 (R170 MODEL). THE INSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR IS AN ELECTROCHROMIC SELF DIMMING MIRROR THAT HAS NO MANUAL BACKUP. THE MIRRORS FAIL LOSING THEIR ABILITY TO PROVIDE DIMMING AGAINST REAR APPROACHING HEADLIGHTS CAUSING THE DRIVER TO EITHER BE BLINDED OR TO HAVE TO TURN THE MIRROR UP AND HAVE NO REAR VIEW CAPABILITY. I KNOW OF MANY DOCUMENTED CASES OF THESE MIRRORS FAILING INCLUDING MY OWN. SOME FAIL BY JUST QUITTING WORKING WHILE OTHERS LEAK THE INTERNAL FLUID. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10235333
61,000 miles · Jun 3, 2008
Visibility
REAR VIEW MIRROR ( DONNELLY #010486) IS BLURRY AND HAS THREE DIFFERENT SHADES OF TINTING. I CAN BARELY TELL IF A VEHICLE IS BEHIND ME AND THERE IS NO WAY TO DETERMINE ITS DISTANCE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10229697
107,000 miles · Feb 12, 2008
Electrical SystemPower TrainVisibilityCrashInjury
FOR MY SLK 230 1999 , SPORT PACKAGE, THE RED AND BLACK INTERIORS, FADE AWAY CONSTANTLY , THE RED PAINT ON DASH AND CENTER CONSOLE IS VERY DELICATE, IT WILL SCRATCH ALL THE WAY DEEP ENOUGH TO SEE THE BLACK ORIGINAL COLOR OF THE SAME... CARDAN JOINTS HAVE BEEN CHANGED FOUR TIMES AND KEEPS BREAKING , I HAVE A BRAND NEW ONE IN M…
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FOR MY SLK 230 1999 , SPORT PACKAGE, THE RED AND BLACK INTERIORS, FADE AWAY CONSTANTLY , THE RED PAINT ON DASH AND CENTER CONSOLE IS VERY DELICATE, IT WILL SCRATCH ALL THE WAY DEEP ENOUGH TO SEE THE BLACK ORIGINAL COLOR OF THE SAME... CARDAN JOINTS HAVE BEEN CHANGED FOUR TIMES AND KEEPS BREAKING , I HAVE A BRAND NEW ONE IN MY TRUNK BECAUSE THE 4TH ONE IS ALREADY BROKEN...THEN THE ASR LIGHT TURNS ON" AVOIDING FOR THE ASR SYSTEM TO WORK PROPERLY, CAN BECOME VERY DANGEROUS ON WET ROAD.. I HAD AN ACCIDENT AND ALMOST TOTALED MY SLK230... *TR
NHTSA ODI #10217894
Mileage unknown · Feb 7, 2007
Exterior Lighting
1999 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
NHTSA ODI #10182674
77,000 miles · Feb 2, 2007
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
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 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
NHTSA ODI #10181425
Mileage unknown · Jan 22, 2007
Exterior Lighting
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
NHTSA ODI #10179571
Mileage unknown · Jan 4, 2007
Visibility
TL*-THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SIDEVIEW MIRRORS WERE DAMAGED. THEY HAD WATER MARKS AND CRACKS , THUS LOWERING HER VISIBILITY. THE CONTACTWAS NOT CLEAR AS TO WHAT CAUSED THE DAMAGE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10177776
Mileage unknown · Dec 19, 2006
Exterior Lighting
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.
NHTSA ODI #10176609
72,116 miles · Aug 29, 2006
Exterior Lighting
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
NHTSA ODI #10166986
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.
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