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 26 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.
Service Brakes. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electronic Stability Control (esc). Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Exterior Lighting. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
while driving on the highway/freeway system in the Portland Oregon area on several occasions one of which i initiated myself activated the cruise control immediately after initiating the vehicle began to increase its speed to the continuing to speeds well beyond the 100 mile per hour mark I was not able to deactivate the cru…
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while driving on the highway/freeway system in the Portland Oregon area on several occasions one of which i initiated myself activated the cruise control immediately after initiating the vehicle began to increase its speed to the continuing to speeds well beyond the 100 mile per hour mark I was not able to deactivate the cruise control in the usual ways pressing the brake pedal did not work cruise control knob has a cancel that was not responsive either on two other times this happened when I while driving the same thing happened but i was un aware i had touched the cruise control knob one of which a friend of mine was driving and i failed to notify the individual to be extremely careful not to use cruise control he had initiated by accident since it was so close to the blinker control switch He had more strength than i did and managed to bring it to a full stop burning through brake pads leaving it smelling as though there was a fire that had taken place in the vehicle, I recently read that another company that made similar vehicles as the Mercedes Benz slk model was having similar problemns
NHTSA ODI #11523731
98,000 miles · Jun 13, 2013
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ALONG A STRAIGHT PAVED ROAD UNDER CLEAR CONDITIONS, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE SUDDENLY LOCKED. THERE WAS A LOUD SCREECH FROM THE TIRE. THE CAR IMMEDIATELY FISHTAILED AND SWUNG THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE INTO THE ONCOMING LANE AND DIRECTED THE CAR TOWARDS THE SIDEWALK WHERE PEDESTRIANS WERE WALKING. …
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WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ALONG A STRAIGHT PAVED ROAD UNDER CLEAR CONDITIONS, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE SUDDENLY LOCKED. THERE WAS A LOUD SCREECH FROM THE TIRE. THE CAR IMMEDIATELY FISHTAILED AND SWUNG THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE INTO THE ONCOMING LANE AND DIRECTED THE CAR TOWARDS THE SIDEWALK WHERE PEDESTRIANS WERE WALKING. THANKFULLY, I WAS NOT TRAVELING FAST! AFTER SOME RESEARCH, THIS SEEMS TO BE AN VERY DANGEROUS, YET RELATIVELY COMMON, ISSUE WITH MERCEDES. DESPITE THE COMPLAINTS, A NHTSA INVESTIGATION INTO THE FAULTY YAW SENSOR (TURN RATE SENSOR) WAS ABANDONED. PLEASE REOPEN THE CASE AS THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10519700
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2001 Mercedes Benz SLK320 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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