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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
65,000 miles · Aug 28, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ SLK230. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH OVER A RAILROAD TRACK, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE MAY HAVE BEEN DUE TO THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR, CAM SHAFT SENSOR, MASS AIR FLOW METER, OR AN ELECTRIC IGNITION SWITCH RING. THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN PROPERLY DIAGNOSED. TH…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ SLK230. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH OVER A RAILROAD TRACK, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE MAY HAVE BEEN DUE TO THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR, CAM SHAFT SENSOR, MASS AIR FLOW METER, OR AN ELECTRIC IGNITION SWITCH RING. THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN PROPERLY DIAGNOSED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 65,000.

NHTSA ODI #10201043

57,848 miles · Jul 13, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

CARS ENGINE SHUTS OFF SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING. MOST INSTANCES OCCURRED WHILE CAR WAS IN MOTION. THE ELECTRONICS STAYED ON BUT NO ENGINE OPERATION AT ALL. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART WITH A SLIGHT TURN TO THE LEFT AND THEN RIGHT OR TURNING OFF ALL THE WAY AND RESTARTING. ABOUT A THIRD OF THE TIME THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTAR…

Read full complaint

CARS ENGINE SHUTS OFF SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING. MOST INSTANCES OCCURRED WHILE CAR WAS IN MOTION. THE ELECTRONICS STAYED ON BUT NO ENGINE OPERATION AT ALL. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART WITH A SLIGHT TURN TO THE LEFT AND THEN RIGHT OR TURNING OFF ALL THE WAY AND RESTARTING. ABOUT A THIRD OF THE TIME THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART FOR 5 TO 45 MINUTES WITH ONE OCCASION LASTING OVER 2 HOURS. MOST RECENTLY THE ENGINE SHUT OFF 4 TIMES ON A 90 MILE TRIP. THE LAST OF THE FOUR FAILURES OCCURRED AS I WAS PARKING AND WOULD NOT RESTART UNTIL LATER. AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO 2 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS AND NEITHER FINDING A PROBLEM, THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR WAS REPLACED ON SPECULATION THAT IT COULD BE A RESULT OF A SIMILAR FAILURE ON OTHER MERCEDES BENZ ENGINES.

NHTSA ODI #10196329

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.