AI Damage2000 Mercedes-Benz SLK: common problems
Owners of the 2000 Mercedes-Benz SLK filed 3 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and exterior lighting. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 3
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 67% of all complaints
- 2 Exterior lighting 33% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 33% of all complaints
- 4 Vehicle speed control 33% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 2 complaints (67% of all).
- Exterior lighting: 1 complaints (33% of all).
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (33% of all).
- Vehicle speed control: 1 complaints (33% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.3 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
- automatic, 5-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: RWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 3 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 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 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..
When fully depressing the accelerator, on occasion the car will backfire or hesitate, or almost stall until the accelerator is released. The problem appears to be directly related to the activation of the turbo-charger (kompressor).
The consumer stated the brake lights were inoperative. The consumer replaced the bulb and the problem recurred. The consumer will contacted the dealer in the near future. Please provide further details.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 17,152 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 47% most complained about).
On average one model year of the SLK has 8 complaints (9 years in the data). This year has 3, below average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2000 Mercedes-Benz SLK?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, exterior lighting, powertrain. Total complaints: 3. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: stalls while driving (67%), hesitation when accelerating (33%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2000 Mercedes-Benz SLK?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2000 Mercedes-Benz SLK from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2000 models
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.