IllustrationTHE 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
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
What owners actually said
59 reportsVEHICLE EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH PULLING TO EITHER SIDE WHENEVER BRAKES WERE APPLIE. VEHICLE BEEN IN /OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND DEALERINFORMED CONSUMER THAT WAS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THAT VEHICLE. *AK
WHILE USING WINDSHIELD WIPERS, AFTER 5 MINUTES WHILE RUNNING, WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD BOUNCE ON GLASS. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK
WHEN REMOVING THE FUEL NOZZLE FROM THE FUEL TANK, THE FUEL SHOOTS OUT OF THE TANK AS IF FROM A HOSE. IN MY CASE IT WENT ALL OVER MY FACE AND CLOTHES DUE TO THE POSITION I WAS IN AT THE TIME (HENCE THE PROPERTY DAMAGE AMOUNT). IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF PRESSURE INSIDE THE TANK. THE DEALER SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO…
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WHEN REMOVING THE FUEL NOZZLE FROM THE FUEL TANK, THE FUEL SHOOTS OUT OF THE TANK AS IF FROM A HOSE. IN MY CASE IT WENT ALL OVER MY FACE AND CLOTHES DUE TO THE POSITION I WAS IN AT THE TIME (HENCE THE PROPERTY DAMAGE AMOUNT). IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF PRESSURE INSIDE THE TANK. THE DEALER SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE FUEL TANK AS WELL AS OTHER PARTS BECAUSE "FOR SOME REASON" THE FUEL WENT INTO OTHER AREAS OF THE CAR, AND "WE'RE NOT SURE HOW." THE POTENTIAL FOR A MAJOR HAZARD, INCLUDING POSSIBLE INJURIES IS TREMENDOUS GIVEN THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT LEAKING (RATHER SPEWING) FUEL BEING SPILLED ON THE GROUND AND (AS IN MY CASE), ON MY PERSON. I AM GRATEFUL NO ONE WAS SMOKING AND THAT WHEN I STARTED MY ENGINE BACK UP TO LEAVE THE GAS STATION, THAT THERE WERE NO SPARKS. *AK
WHILE PUTTING GAS INTO THE VEHICLE, AND AFTER CONSUMER FILLED UP THE TANK, WHILE REMOVING THE FUEL FILLER, GAS COMING FROM THE VEHICLE SPRAYED OUT ONTO THE OCCUPANT FOR ABOUT 20 SECONDS WHICH IF THERE WAS A SOURCE OF IGNITION, IT MAY HAVE STARTED A FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH CONSUMER DROVE OVER A PIECE OF RUBBER, AND IMMEDIATLEY VEHICLE COMPLETLEY STALLED. ENGINE WILL NOT START. *AK
WHEN REMOVING THE FUEL NOZZLE FROM THE FUEL TANK, FUEL SHOOTS OUT OF THE TANK LIKE A FOUNTAIN. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THERE IS PRESSURE IN THE TANK WHICH CAUSES THE FUEL TO SHOOT OUT OF THE TANK FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS. WIHLE DRIVING HOME FOLLOWING THIS INCIDENT, THE ENGINE BUCKED, SURGED AND STALLED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE IS B…
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WHEN REMOVING THE FUEL NOZZLE FROM THE FUEL TANK, FUEL SHOOTS OUT OF THE TANK LIKE A FOUNTAIN. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THERE IS PRESSURE IN THE TANK WHICH CAUSES THE FUEL TO SHOOT OUT OF THE TANK FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS. WIHLE DRIVING HOME FOLLOWING THIS INCIDENT, THE ENGINE BUCKED, SURGED AND STALLED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE IS BEING CHECKED BY THE DEALER. *AK *ML
A/C EXTENSION VALVE FAILED. NLM
ALTERNATOR FAILED. *YC
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.