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2001 Mercedes Benz SLK230

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2001 Mercedes Benz SLK230 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 31.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

28 reports with mileage · 3 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.

  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electronic Stability Control (esc). Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 6 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 reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

7 reports
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105,000 miles · Aug 1, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK230. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE ESC WARNING INDICATOR SUDDENLY ILLUMINATED AND THE ESC ACTIVATED. AS A RESULT, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE SUDDENLY ACTIVATED AND THE VEHICLE TURNED TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED O…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK230. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE ESC WARNING INDICATOR SUDDENLY ILLUMINATED AND THE ESC ACTIVATED. AS A RESULT, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE SUDDENLY ACTIVATED AND THE VEHICLE TURNED TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA ODI #11241028

80,000 miles · Oct 9, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

MY VEHICLE WOULD WOULD SUDDENLY COME TO AN ABRUPT STOP WITHOUT APPLYING THE BRAKES. IT WOULD DO THIS AT ANY SPEED. IT WAS HAPPENING EVERYDAY. WE HAD TO STOP DRIVING IT. WE TOWED IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD US THE YAW SENSOR WAS BAD. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON THE INTERNET. IT IS DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE A DEA…

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MY VEHICLE WOULD WOULD SUDDENLY COME TO AN ABRUPT STOP WITHOUT APPLYING THE BRAKES. IT WOULD DO THIS AT ANY SPEED. IT WAS HAPPENING EVERYDAY. WE HAD TO STOP DRIVING IT. WE TOWED IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD US THE YAW SENSOR WAS BAD. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON THE INTERNET. IT IS DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE A DEADLY ACCIDENT. THE COST TO REPAIR WAS $1000.

NHTSA ODI #10914998

50,000 miles · Aug 30, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

THE RIGHT WHEEL STARTED AUTOMATICALLY BRAKING, WITHOUT ME DOING ANYTHING, WHEN I WAS TRAVELLING AT 55 MPH. IT ALMOST CAUSED TO RUN OFF THE ROAD. I FELT FORTUNATE THAT THERE WERE NOT OTHER CARS AROUND ME, THEN THE BAS/ESP LIGHT WILL CAME ON. IT FELT EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!

NHTSA ODI #10899405

127,000 miles · Jul 28, 2010
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

YAH SENSOR/ ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL: 2001 MERCEDES SLK 230; INCIDENT; WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON A CLEAR AND DRY DAY, IT BRAKES HARD TO THE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY CAUSING THE TIRE TO SCREECH AND SENDING ME INTO THE RIGHT HAND LANE OF TRAFFIC. WENT INTO DEALERSHIP WAS TOLD IT WAS ( YAH SE…

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YAH SENSOR/ ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL: 2001 MERCEDES SLK 230; INCIDENT; WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON A CLEAR AND DRY DAY, IT BRAKES HARD TO THE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY CAUSING THE TIRE TO SCREECH AND SENDING ME INTO THE RIGHT HAND LANE OF TRAFFIC. WENT INTO DEALERSHIP WAS TOLD IT WAS ( YAH SENSOR ) WHICH TELLS THE CAR THAT ITS GOING INTO A SKID AND ALLOW THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL TO STABILIZE THE VEHICLE. THE SENSOR WAS PLACED ON ORDER. DEALER DID NOT ADVICE ME THAT THIS IS WHAT I CALL (A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE') NOR THAT IT MAY HAPPEN AGAIN BEFORE IT CAN BE REPAIRED AND ALLOWED ME TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE HOME. IT HAPPEN TWICE ON THE WAY. CAN YOU PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM AND ISSUE A RECALL OR ATLEAST A NOTABLE CONCERN BEFORE SOMEONE IS SEVERELY HURT OR KILLED THANK YOU...... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10345838

92,296 miles · Nov 28, 2008
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes, Electric

FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, ESP/BAS LIGHT WILL COM ON WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY, AND BRAKES ARE APPLIED INVOLUNTARILY INTERMITTENTLY, CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD. ON OCCASION IS ALSO HAPPENED AT LOW SPEED IN CITY TRAFFIC. CONTACTED THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALER, THEY IMMEDIATELY BLAMED YAW RATE SENSOR, OR ACCELERATOR SENSOR MODULE REP…

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FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, ESP/BAS LIGHT WILL COM ON WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY, AND BRAKES ARE APPLIED INVOLUNTARILY INTERMITTENTLY, CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD. ON OCCASION IS ALSO HAPPENED AT LOW SPEED IN CITY TRAFFIC. CONTACTED THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALER, THEY IMMEDIATELY BLAMED YAW RATE SENSOR, OR ACCELERATOR SENSOR MODULE REPLACEMENT RANGING BETWEEN $300-700.00 IN REPAIR COST IN ADDITION TO ANOTHER RELATED PROBLEM WITH STOP LIGHT SWITCH, ALTHOUGH THEY ARE AWARE OF THE FAULTY PARTS, NO RECALLS ARE MADE, AND NHTSA ALSO IS AWARE, BUT HAVE CLOSED THE INVESTIGATION. THE CAR SUDDENLY BRAKES LAST TIME TO AN SCREECHING HALT IN MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. AFTER SEARCHING MB FORUMS IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH A BATCH OF SENSORS, AND SWITCHES FITTED ON 2001 MODELS, OF M, E, CLK, AND SLK'S. I AM PROVIDING A LINK TO THE SITE OF OWNERS COMPLAINING OF THE SAME FAULT FOR YOUR REVIEW AT: HTTP://WWW.BENZWORLD.ORG/FORUMS/R170-SLK-CLASS/1407460-SUDDEN-BRAKE.HTML I ALSO CONTACTED THE DEALER TO MEET WITH MB USA REPRESENTATIVE ON WARRANTY REPAIR, BUT NEVER HEARD FROM THEM, OR MBUSA, REGARDING THIS KNOWN FAULT BOTH TO THEM AND NHTSA. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10250062

52,150 miles · Apr 8, 2008
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY IN WET CONDITIONS (RAINING ON AND OFF), MY CAR SUDDENLY JERKED TO THE RIGHT; IT FELT AS IF MY RIGHT REAR WHEEL BRAKES HAD APPLIED FOR A SECOND OR SO. I NOTICED THAT THE YELLOW TRIANGLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DASH BOARD THAT ALERTS ME TO THE APPLICATION OF THE ESC WAS BLINKING (AND CONTINUED T…

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WHILE DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY IN WET CONDITIONS (RAINING ON AND OFF), MY CAR SUDDENLY JERKED TO THE RIGHT; IT FELT AS IF MY RIGHT REAR WHEEL BRAKES HAD APPLIED FOR A SECOND OR SO. I NOTICED THAT THE YELLOW TRIANGLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DASH BOARD THAT ALERTS ME TO THE APPLICATION OF THE ESC WAS BLINKING (AND CONTINUED TO BLINK UNTIL I STOPPED THE CAR AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE). AS I RECALL, MY CAR WENT INTO THE LANE TO MY RIGHT BEFORE I REGAINED CONTROL. I HAD BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL AT THE TIME. BECAUSE OF THE WET CONDITIONS, I ASSUMED I MAY HAVE SKIDDED WITHOUT MY REALIZING IT, CAUSING THE ESC TO KICK IN. WHEN I GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY AT THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY, I TURNED OFF THE MOTOR AND GOT OUT. UPON RESTARTING THE CAR, THE ESC LIGHT HAD GONE OUT, AND I ASSUMED EVERYTHING WAS OKAY. BUT THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN BEFORE I GOT TO MY DESTINATION (PITTSBURGH). I CALLED A LOCAL DEALER, WHO ADVISED ME IT MIGHT BE A DEFECTIVE SENSOR AND THAT IT SHOULD BE OKAY TO MAKE THE RETURN DRIVE TO NO. VIRGINIA BEFORE GETTING THE VEHICLE FIXED. I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM A FEW TIMES ON THE RETURN TRIP AND THEN BROUGHT THE CAR INTO MY DEALER. THE DEALER SERVICE FORM IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AS "NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE YAW RATE SENSOR." THE REPAIR CHARGE WAS $807.85. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10223735

34,000 miles · Nov 5, 2007
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior LightingFuel System, Gasoline

I HAVE LESS THAN 50K MILES AND HAD TO REPLACE THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR TWICE AND NOW CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AGAIN FOR THE SAME SERVICE NEEDED. I HAVE PAID OUT OF POCKET NOT TO MENTION THE INCONVENIENCE OF HAVING IT IN THE SHOP SO MANY TIMES ALSO HAVE HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION SENSORS AND TAIL LIGHT, WHICH MERCEDES DID NOT R…

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I HAVE LESS THAN 50K MILES AND HAD TO REPLACE THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR TWICE AND NOW CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AGAIN FOR THE SAME SERVICE NEEDED. I HAVE PAID OUT OF POCKET NOT TO MENTION THE INCONVENIENCE OF HAVING IT IN THE SHOP SO MANY TIMES ALSO HAVE HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION SENSORS AND TAIL LIGHT, WHICH MERCEDES DID NOT REIMBURSE FOR ORIGINAL CHARGE, JUST RE- REPLACED. NOW PROBLEMS HAPPENING WITH REAR MIRROR. THIS IS RIDICULOUS MERCEDES SHOULD STAND BY THERE PRODUCT THAT IS SUPPOSED TO LAST FOREVER AND I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10207936

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.