SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

2000 Mercedes Benz SLK230

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2000 Mercedes Benz SLK230 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 31.

About this comparison →
22Owner complaints

Model-year median: 31

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
34
199859
199922
200031
2001
Compare all SLK230 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Exterior Lighting
9Air Bags
2Electrical System
2Engine And Engine Cooling
2Structure
2
All reported categories
Visibility
2Fuel System, Other
1Seat Belts
1Service Brakes
1Unknown Or Other
1Vehicle Speed Control
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 19 of 22 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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.

  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports2 fire reports1 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
5,000 miles · Dec 30, 2008
Air BagsStructure

THE 2000 SLK230 I PURCHASED NEW IN 2000 HAS 5,000 MILES ON IT. MINT-GARAGE STORED CONDITION. I HAVE REQUESTED NUMEROUS TIMES,ASSISTANCE WITH BOTH SIDE DOOR PROBLEMS WHICH MAY LEAD TO UNWARRANTED AIR BAG RELEASE IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THE DEFECT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN CORRECTED IN 2001 BY MERCEDES BENZ AS THE NEWER MODELS HAVE A "O…

Read full complaint

THE 2000 SLK230 I PURCHASED NEW IN 2000 HAS 5,000 MILES ON IT. MINT-GARAGE STORED CONDITION. I HAVE REQUESTED NUMEROUS TIMES,ASSISTANCE WITH BOTH SIDE DOOR PROBLEMS WHICH MAY LEAD TO UNWARRANTED AIR BAG RELEASE IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THE DEFECT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN CORRECTED IN 2001 BY MERCEDES BENZ AS THE NEWER MODELS HAVE A "ONE PIECE INTERIOR DOOR PANEL, VS THE "TWO PIECE" INTERIOR DOOR PANELS IN THE 2000 MODELS. I HAVE FRIENDS WITH THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE INTERIOR DOOR PANELS HAVE BROKEN LOOSE FROM THE DOOR DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE DESIGN OF TWO PIECE WITH ALL PRESSURE TO CLOSE THE DOORS, PULLING THE TWO PIECE PANEL DESIGN AWAY FROM THE ACTUAL DOORS. MERCEDES BENZ-CORPORATE AND THEIR LOCAL DEALERS REFUSE TO ASSIST WITH THE ISSUE. I AM CONFIDENT THAT IN THE NEAR FUTURE, AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IS INEVITABLE FROM BOTH SIDES DUE TO THE DEFECT IN DESIGN. HOPEFULLY WITH NO INJURY! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10253209

45,000 miles · May 29, 2008
Air BagsFireInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ SLK230. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN EXPLOSION NEAR THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR, FOLLOWED BY A BURNING SMELL. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AIR BAG DEPLOYED, WHICH BRUISED HER LEFT ARM FROM THE ELBOW TO THE SHOULDER. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID …

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ SLK230. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN EXPLOSION NEAR THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR, FOLLOWED BY A BURNING SMELL. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AIR BAG DEPLOYED, WHICH BRUISED HER LEFT ARM FROM THE ELBOW TO THE SHOULDER. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01I005000 (AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW) WAS REFERENCED. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 45,000.

NHTSA ODI #10229196

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

1

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.