RoadVitals

1999 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.
6
Latest Apr 17, 2013
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

Overview

Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1999 Mercedes-Benz Slk, most frequently naming the brakes, body & structure and visibility 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

  • Brakes333.3%
  • Body & structure222.2%
  • Visibility222.2%
  • Electrical111.1%
  • Exterior lighting111.1%

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

BrakesElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Apr 17, 2013

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. I DON'T KNOW IF THE BULB WAS REPLACED ONLY BUT TO ME IT APPEARS NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE ON THIS CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10508606
Incident
Jan 2, 2006
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Feb 9, 2013

THE INSIDE REAR MIRROR OF MY 1999 MERCEDES BENZ SLK 230 IS AN ELECTRO-CHROMIC SELF-DIMMING MIRROR THAT HAS NO MANUAL BACKUP. 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. THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER CASES OF THIS FAILURE DOCUMENTED ON LINE AND I HAVE HEARD THAT MAGNA DONNELLY (THE MANUFACTURER) WAS REPLACING THEM UP UNTIL A YEAR AGO FOR FREE BUT HAS STOPPED AND NOW SUGGESTS THAT WE BUY A NEW ($240) OR REMANUFACTURED ONE. THIS IS A FAILURE OF A SAFETY FEATURE OF THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10496945
Incident
Feb 8, 2013
Mileage
70,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Mar 1, 2012

THE MIRROR IS SELF-DIMMING USING A LIGHT-SENSITIVE LIQUID BEHIND THE MIRROR. THE LIQUID LEAKED OUT OF THE MIRROR AND CREATED ACID STAINS ON THE CENTER CONSOLE. THE MIRROR IS NOW BLURRY AND SHOWS GHOST IMAGES OF ANYTHING BEHIND. IT ALSO NO LONGER AUTO-DIMS WHEN BRIGHT HEADLIGHTS APPROACH FROM BEHIND AND THERE IS NO LEVER FOR THE DRIVER TO USE TO MANUALLY DIM IT. THE EASIEST THING IS TO JUST TURN IT AWAY BUT THAT CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD. I ASKED MERCEDES-BENZ CORPORATE TO HELP IN THIS MATTER BUT THEY REFUSED SAYING THE PART IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THERE IS NO RECALL IN EFFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10450008
Incident
Sep 1, 2011
Mileage
70,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Dec 13, 2007

THE FRAME OF MY 1999 MERCEDES SLK 230 HAS BROKEN FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I HAD NEW TIRES PUT ON IT AND AN ALIGNED AND TWO WEEKS LATER THE FRAME BROKE NEAR THE AXLE. THIS VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN WRECKED PREVIOUSLY AND THE FRAME SHOULD BE STRONGER THAN IT WAS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10211800
Incident
Dec 5, 2007
Mileage
122,408 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 1, 2007

1998 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK, BOTH REAR BREAK LIGHTS BURNED OUT, PLASTIC (BLUE) LIGHT BLUB HOLDERS ARE FUSED TO THE ASSEMBLY DUE TO EXTREME OVERHEATING CONDITION. CANNOT BE REMOVED BY HAND. JB

NHTSA ID
10204612
Incident
Sep 28, 2007
Mileage
51,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 11, 2007

TL* - THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER CAMPAIGN # 05V505000 ON 01/09/07 FOR THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS ON HIS 1999 MERCEDES SLK. THE DEALERSHIP, R & H MERCEDES OWENS MILL, MARYLAND TOLD THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD NOT PERFORM THE RECAL REPAIR BECAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS PRESENTLY WORKING.

NHTSA ID
10178398
Incident
Jan 10, 2007

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—
1999Viewing610—
1998210—

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.