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2005 Mercedes Benz SLK350

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
21Owner complaints

Model-year median: 11

0Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
21
200510
200612
20074
2008
Compare all SLK350 years →

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

What owners reported most

Power Train
6Unknown Or Other
6Service Brakes
5Suspension
5Electrical System
2
All reported categories
Engine
2Engine And Engine Cooling
2Fuel/propulsion System
2Exterior Lighting
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Steering
1Structure
1Vehicle Speed Control
1Visibility/wiper
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: 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

Engine complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Aug 10, 2023
Engine

improper heat treatment of the balance shaft spocket causing the balance shaft to worn out resulting in advance timing of the CAM. Mercedes acknowledges it's an known issue but don't cover cost of fixing it. Once ecu detected timing is off, it will stop the transmission from accelerating without any warning. Happened to me o…

Read full complaint

improper heat treatment of the balance shaft spocket causing the balance shaft to worn out resulting in advance timing of the CAM. Mercedes acknowledges it's an known issue but don't cover cost of fixing it. Once ecu detected timing is off, it will stop the transmission from accelerating without any warning. Happened to me on a highway, good thing the car still have some momentum and was able to pull to the shoulder while others cars are coming from behind.

NHTSA ODI #11537700

67,501 miles · Dec 19, 2014
EnginePower Train

JUST GOT OFF THE HIGH WAY AND DRIVE ONTO A LOCAL STREET, THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR FORWARD OR REVERSE. END UP HAVING TO TOW THE CAR. LUCKILY IT DIDN'T HAPPEN WHILE I WAS AT THE HIGHWAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10667301

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.