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

What owners actually said

59 reports

8,900 miles · May 11, 2005

Exterior Lighting

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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.

NHTSA ODI #10120630

27,000 miles · Dec 29, 2004

Electrical System

1999 MB SLK230 - TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY SHORTS OUT AND BRAKE LIGHT FAILS. THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES, THE MOST RECENT INVOLVING BOTH TAILLIGHTS AT THE SAME TIME! THEY HAVE NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM IN THE DEFECTIVE PART NOW IN 5 YEARS. THEY KEEP REPLACING A DEFECTIVE PART WITH A DEFECTIVE PART! *NM

NHTSA ODI #10104731

53,500 miles · Sep 16, 2004

Visibility

DRIVERS SIDE AUTO DIMMING SIDEVIEW MIRROR AND INSIDE AUTO DIMMING REARVIEW MIRROR HAVE FAILED. THEY ARE NO LONGER REFLECTIVE AND ARE PERMANENTLY DARK. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10091150

68,000 miles · Jun 9, 2004

Exterior Lighting

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 AN…

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NHTSA ODI #10075098

19,000 miles · Feb 27, 2004

Electrical SystemExterior LightingVisibility

REARVIEW MIRROR HAS FOG INSIDE THE GLASS,MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE OUT OF IT. BRAKE LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS CONTINUE TO FAIL. ALSO, DASH LIGHTS FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10059960

65,000 miles · Oct 12, 2003

Electrical SystemFire

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED THE DASHBOARD CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE WAS STARTED BY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT UNDER THE DASH. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DRIVEN. *AK *SCC *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10034220

56,000 miles · Sep 15, 2003

Electrical System

I'VE HAD A DOZEN BULBS/FUSES BLOW DURING THE LIFE OF THIS VEHICLE. I'VE OWNED OTHER VEHICLES THAT NEVER BLEW A SINGLE BULB OR FUSE OVER THEIR LIFETIME. I JUST WONDER IF THIS IS A WAY FOR MERCEDES BENZ TO INCREASE SERVICE REVENUES. THEY WANT OVER $100 TO REPLACE EACH BULB.

NHTSA ODI #10038923

Mileage unknown · Jul 28, 2001

Visibility

MERCEDES-BENZ CAN NOT FIX WINDOW LEAKING, COMING OFF TRACK. *AK

NHTSA ODI #749359

Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 2001

Electrical SystemInterior Lighting

VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALER 6 TIMES FOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. DASHBOARD LIGHTS AND REAR EXTERIOR LICENSE LIGHT ARE ON SAME FUSE. FUSE KEEPS BLOWING. DEALER CANNOT REMEDY. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ODI #881962

Mileage unknown · Jun 19, 2000

Electrical SystemStructure

HARD TOP CONVERTIBLE WILL NOT OPEN -- THE MICRON CHIP HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE BY THE DEALER. HARD TOP CONVERTIBLE SQUEAKING NOISE -- I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN 6 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM; ONLY OCCURS WHEN CAR SITS IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT AT 85 DEGREES OR HOTTE( DOT NUMBER: )

NHTSA ODI #724236

Official recalls

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

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.