RoadVitals

1998 Mercedes-Benz Slk

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
2
Latest Feb 13, 2009
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Nov 1, 2005
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Mercedes-Benz Slk, most frequently naming the driver assistance, electrical and tires & wheels categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 2 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Driver assistance133.3%
  • Electrical133.3%
  • Tires & wheels133.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
05V505000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

Nov 1, 2005
69,278 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, FAILURE OF ONE OF THE SIDE BRAKE LIGHTS CAN OCCUR. THE BASE OF THE SOCKET CAN BE SUBJECT TO THERMAL DEFORMATION OVER TIME.
The risk: THIS DEFORMATION CAN CAUSE MOVEMENT IN THE SOCKET-TO-BULB CONNECTION, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A LOOSENING OF THE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS IN THE SOCKET, AND FAILURE OF THE BULB TO ILLUMINATE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR LAMP MODULES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2006, TO APPROXIMATELY 8,200 OWNERS. PHASE II MAILING IS SCHEDULE ON OR ABOUT NOVEMBER 3, 2006, AND PHASE III MAILING IS SCHEDULE FOR JANUARY 2007 FOR THE REMAINING OWNERS. OWNERS OF VEHICLES WITH THE UPDATED TRIM (POST-FACE LIFT) WILL GET AN INTERIM NOTICE DURING NOVEMBER 2006, ASKING THEM TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR REAR TAIL LAMP REPLACEMENT LATER IN 2007. HOWEVER, IF THEY EXPERIENCE AN ACTUAL REAR LAMP FAILURE BEFORE THEY RECEIVE THAT NOTICE, THEY SHOULD COME TO THEIR DEALER IMMEDIATELY FOR A FREE REPAIR. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.
MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC.Manufacturer number 2006080005View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Tires & wheels
Filed Feb 13, 2009

ON 02/02/2009 I HAD MY VEHICLE, A 1998 MERCEDES-BENZ 230SLK SERVICED FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE. DURING THAT SERVICE THE SERVICEMAN INSPECTED MY TIRES AND BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT THEY WERE BALD. THE TIRES IN QUESTION WERE THE THIRD SET OF DUNLOPS THAT THIS AUTO HAS HAD, THE FIRST BEING ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT WHICH I HAD SUCCESS WITH SO I WAS A LOYAL DUNLOP CUSTOMER. WHEN IT WAS TIME FOR TIRE REPLACEMENT I NATURALLY PURCHASED THE SAME DUNLOP TIRES. TO MY SHOCK, THEY EXHIBITED PREMATURE TIRE WEAR WITHIN SIX-TO TWELVE MONTHS OF PURCHASE. ALTHOUGH I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD BE REPLACED FOR FREE BECAUSE THEY WERE DEFECTIVE, DUNLOP DID NOT MAKE GOOD ON SUCH OFFER OR WARRANTY. ON 10/22/2007 I PURCHASED TWO DUNLOP TIRES, 225/50R1692V, DOT DN 41 29W AND TWO DUNLOP TIRES 205/55R1691V, DOT DM CP 38W, ALL SPSPORT 2020E. WHILE DUNLOP FAILED TO STAND BY THE TIRE WARRANTY, I WAS ASSURED THAT IF I PURCHASED FOUR NEW DUNLOP TIRES THEY WOULD MAIL ME A CHECK FOR A PARTIAL REFUND. RESTING ON THEIR ASSURANCE THAT THEY WOULD STAND BY NEW TIRES, I HAD THEM INSTALLED ON MY VEHICLE. THE MILEAGE AT THE DATE OF INSTALLATION, 10/22/2007, WAS RECORDED BY THE TIRE DEALER AS 66,666 MILES. THE MILEAGE AT MY MOST RECENT DATE OF SERVICE WAS RECORDED AS +- 84,250 MILES MEANING THAT THESE DUNLOP TIRES LASTED ONLY 17,584 MILES! AT THE TIME OF SERVICE THE VEHICLE WAS DETERMINED TO BE IN ALIGNMENT AND NOT HAVE A SUSPENSION PROBLEM. ALL FOUR DUNLOP TIRES EXHIBITED THE SAME DEGREE OF WEAR. THE FOUR DUNLOP TIRES WERE REMOVED FROM MY VEHICLE AND I TRANSPORTED THEM TO MY GARAGE, WHERE THEY REMAIN. I ALLEGE THAT THESE DUNLOP TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE, AND FURTHERMORE I ALLEGE THAT DUNLOP HAS BREACHED THE IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY. I AM REQUESTING OF DUNLOP THAT THEY REFUND ME MY NET PURCHASE IN FULL AND IN EXCHANGE FOR SUCH I SHALL NOT SEEK RECOVERY IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT AS IS MY RIGHT. IT IS INDEED FORTUNATE THAT NO INJURY EITHER TO MYSELF OR OTHERS RESULTED AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THESE TIRES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10258618
Incident
Feb 2, 2009
Mileage
17,584 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Mar 26, 2008
1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ALL THE SUDDEN AND WITHOUT WARNING, CAR STOPPED IN MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY, ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OF CAR WAS SHOT OUT AND COULD NOT OPERATE THE BRAKE STEERING AND CAR WAS TOWED TO A FACTORY TRAIED MERCEDES BENZ FACILITY, DIAGNOSIS (NO POWER TO ME2 CONTROL UNIT) THE K40 RELAY MODULE WAS REPLACED WHILE IN GARAGE ANOTHER SLK MODEL WAS IN FOR SAME IDENTICAL PROBLEM SINCE THIS COULD BE A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE IS REPORTED TO YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID
10222373
Incident
Feb 1, 2008
Mileage
31,758 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

TSB-42-10-109

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DIFFERENTIAL PROPORTIONAL VALVE; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:DRUM; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:SHOES/LININGS; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:WHEEL CYLINDERS; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

MERCEDES: CORROSION PROTECTION COATINGS FOR BRAKE COMPONENTS AND HARDWARE MAY BE DAMAGED AND OR STRIPPED AWAY IF HIGHLY CONCENTRATED ACID BASED CLEANERS ARE USED. ONCE THE CORROSION PROTECTION IS DAMAGED OR REMOVED THE BRAKE COMPONENTS AND OR HARDWARE CAN BEGIN TO CORRODE. INCLUDE ALL MODELS AND MODEL YEARS. *PE

033008

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON / FAULT CODES FC1200 / FC1208 STORED IN ME-SFI CONTROL UNIT. MERCEDES-BENZ MODEL C230, C280, C350, SLK280, SLK350, CLK350, CLK550, E350, E550, CLS550, S600, AND SL550. EQUIPPED WITH M272 ENGINE OR M273 ENGINE. *NJ UPDATED 8/28/08. *PE

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Mercedes-Benz Slk by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2012001—
2010000—
2009210—
2008010—
2007010—
2006210—
2005610—
2004011—
2003911—
2002252146.2
2001192350.5
2000332—
1999610—
1998Viewing210—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.