IllustrationTHE EMERGENCY BRAKE LINE CAUGHT FIRE UNDERNEATH THE ARM REST COMPARTMENT. TRACED THE LINE BACK TO REAR TIRES AND NOTHING ELECTRICAL COULD BE SEEN TOUCHING BRAKE CABLE LINE. SO NO OBVIOUS REASON WHY CABLE WOULD IGNITE. I WAS PARKED IN CAR PORT STALL AFTER A SHORT TRIP TO A FRIENDS HOUSE.
2005 Mercedes Benz SLK350
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.
About this comparison →21Owner complaints
Model-year median: 11
0Recall campaignsView recall details →
0InvestigationsView investigation details →
Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Inspection summary
2005 Mercedes Benz SLK350
NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 21 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.
Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.
Top reported categories (up to 5)
- Power Train: 6 reports
- Unknown Or Other: 6 reports
- Service Brakes: 5 reports
- Suspension: 5 reports
- Electrical System: 2 reports
Full reported-category list and vehicle report
Recall links
No recall campaigns in this snapshot.
Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.
How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all SLK350 years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure 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
Limited mileage data: 10 of 21 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.
- Power Train. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 5 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
Electrical System complaints
2 reportsIGNITION SWITCHES INADVERTENTLY TURN FROM "RUN" TO "ACCESSORY" POSITION WHILE CAR IS DRIVEN AND I HAVE TO RESTART THE CAR TO KEEP GOING. I WOKE UP TO READ IN THE NEWSPAPER TODAY (2/28/2014) THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE GM FAULTED IGNITION DEATHS AND THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM DESCRIBED IS IN MY CAR AND STILL EXISTS IN THIS VEHICLE…
Read full complaint
IGNITION SWITCHES INADVERTENTLY TURN FROM "RUN" TO "ACCESSORY" POSITION WHILE CAR IS DRIVEN AND I HAVE TO RESTART THE CAR TO KEEP GOING. I WOKE UP TO READ IN THE NEWSPAPER TODAY (2/28/2014) THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE GM FAULTED IGNITION DEATHS AND THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM DESCRIBED IS IN MY CAR AND STILL EXISTS IN THIS VEHICLE. I LOVE THIS CAR BUT IT SCARES ME. I TOLD THE LOCAL NEW CAR DEALERSHIP ON THIS AND THEY SAID IT WOULD COST ABOUT $2,000.00 TO FIX IT AND I SHOULD WAIT TILL IT GETS WORSE BEFORE FIXING IT. PLEASE ADVISE ON ANY HELP I CAN GET BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.I BELIEVE YOU ARE THE RIGHT AGENCY TO HELP ME ON THIS I WILL GLADLY SURRENDER THIS CAR FOR YOUR INSPECTION.. THANK YOU. CC:MY ATTORNEY *TR
Recall campaigns
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 ↗
Defect investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.