AI DamageMercedes-Benz SLK: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Mercedes-Benz SLK across 9 model years: 74 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Visibility 24% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 18% of all complaints
- 3 Exterior lighting 16% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 12% of all complaints
- 5 Engine and cooling 9% of all complaints
- 6 Service brakes 9% of all complaints
- 7 Vehicle speed control 9% of all complaints
- 8 Electronic stability control 8% of all complaints
- Visibility: 18 complaints (24% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 13 complaints (18% of all).
- Exterior lighting: 12 complaints (16% of all).
- Powertrain: 9 complaints (12% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 7 complaints (9% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.8 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl 2012–2015
- 2 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl 2016
- 2.3 L · petrol · 4 cyl 2003
- 2.3 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl 1999–2004
- 3 L · petrol · 6 cyl 2006–2011
- 3.2 L · petrol · 6 cyl 2002–2004
- 3.2 L · petrol · turbo · 6 cyl 2001–2004
- 3.5 L · petrol · 6 cyl 2005–2016
- 5.4 L · petrol · 8 cyl 2005–2009
- 5.5 L · petrol · 8 cyl 2010–2016
- automatic, 5-speed 1999–2004
- automatic, 7-speed 2005–2016
- automatic, 9-speed 2016
- manual, 5-speed 1999–2000named in 2 complaints
- manual, 6-speed 2001–2015named in 2 complaints
Drive: RWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 74 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility | 18 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Car continues to roll at stop light after I apply pressure to brake to stop car. Must stop car further away from car in front to prevent possible contact.
Car stalls. Unable to restart until after a short period of time. On 03/03/14 brought to dealership who replaced engine crankshaft position sensor for $842.04.. Problem persisted and car kept stalling in traffic posing potential safety issues..
While driving under 30 mph, vehicle randomly applies front or rear brake causing a loud braking squeal and causing the car to buck or pitch to one side. It has occurred from a stopped position as I started to accelerate, but 90% of the time it occurs at speeds under 30-35 mph while just driving in a simple or long…
The car went into "limp home mode" twice while I was driving during the past few months. The second time it happened on the high way: gearshifts no longer possible and the car was going about 20 miles per hour. It was producing very loud noise and scary. A collision could have happened.
This is in regards to recall number 05v505 for the driver side rear brake light. This recall occurred in 2006 and the light was fixed. However, it has failed again and has the exact same problem, the socked has gotten hot and melted/deformed the plastic socket.
The mirror contained fluid has leaked out causing the self-dimming to fail to provide dimming against rear approaching headlights but instead to be dark and full of bubbles all the time. This causes a hazard as it eliminates rear view capability entirely.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.