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 campaigns

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0Investigations

View 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

Other model years Selected 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

Engine

2 Engine And Engine Cooling

2 Fuel/propulsion System

2 Exterior Lighting

1 Fuel System, Gasoline

1 Steering

1 Structure

1 Vehicle Speed Control

1 Visibility/wiper

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

Fuel/propulsion System complaints

2 reports

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76,000 miles · Jun 10, 2020

Fuel/propulsion System

Read full complaint

THE FUEL GAUGE IS WORKING ERRATICALLY. AFTER FILLING UP WITH FUEL, GAUGE SHOWS 3/4 FULL. NEXT MORNING, SHOWS FULL. AFTER DRIVING 25 MILES INTO WORK, FUEL GAUGE SHOW 1/4 FULL. END OF THE DAY, FUEL GAUGE SHOWS 1/2 FULL OR EMPTY. THE READING CAN BE ALMOST ANYWHERE AND IS UNRELIABLE. I HAVE HAD TO RESORT TO TRACKING MILEAGE AND FILLING UP BEFORE RUNNING OUT OF FUEL. THE CAR HAS RUN OUT OF FUEL ON A FEW OCCASIONS CAUSING THE CAR TO LOSE POWER AND SPEED ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY WHICH IS VERY UNSAFE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11328196

30,000 miles · Jul 24, 2015

Fuel/propulsion System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ SLK350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

NHTSA ODI #10743294

Recall campaigns

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 ↗

Defect investigations

No 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.