RoadVitals

2005 Mercedes-Benz Slk Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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 Oct 5, 2011
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
4
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.
1

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2005 Mercedes-Benz Slk, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

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

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Engine337.5%
  • Transmission337.5%
  • Brakes112.5%
  • Powertrain (other)112.5%

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

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TOOK MY CAR IN, IT WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE, THEN THE ENGINE WAS WINDING OUT REALLY HI ON THE TACHOMETER, MERCEDES SAID IT WAS THE VALVE BODY MODULE IN TRANSMISSION, OK- THEN THEY TOLD ME MY ENGINE BALANCE SHAFT WAS NOT WORKING AND THE LABOR WAS 5628.00 THEY HAVE NOT YET QUOTED ME A PRICE ON THE PARTS FOR EITHER ISSUE. SAID THE ENGINE WILL JUST SEIZE UP WHEN DRIVING, I LOOKED THIS UP ON INTERNET AND THERE SEEMS TO BE A CLASS ACTION SUIT GOING ON WITH THIS BALANCE SHAFT ISSUE.IS THIS A SAFETY ISSUE THEY OVERLOOKED POSSIBLY ? MILES AS LOW AS 62K HAVING SAME ISSUE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID 10428838 · filed Oct 5, 2011

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE CAR WAS BURNING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL. THE VEHICLE USED TWO QUARTS OF OIL AT ONLY 5, 500 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE VALVES WERE NOT SEATED. ALSO, AT TIMES WHILE PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THE VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE IT WILL ONLY REV THE ENGINE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED, THEY TOLD HER THE NEXT TIME THIS OCCURRED TO SHUT THE ENGINE BY PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNING THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION TO MAKE ANY CORRECTIONS. *AK UPDATED 2/24/2006 - THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TOT HE DEALER ON 1/26/2006 AND TOLD THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT AT THE DEALER FOR THE REPAIRS TO BE MADE. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE CONSUMER. ON 1/26/2006 THE VEHICLE AGAIN SUDDENLY STOPPED MOVING FORWARD WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 55 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER FOR 6 DAYS AT WHICH TIME THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ID 10146300 · filed Dec 28, 2005

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Transmission

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

[XXX] 2005 SLK 350 I HAVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION IT IS HARD TO GET INTO FIRST GEAR FROM NEUTRAL WHERE IT SLIPS INTO REVERSE. THE DEALER HAS NOT SO FAR BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THIS. I FOUND ONLINE THAT THERE IS A TSB ON THIS. THEY SAY UNLESS THE CAN DUPLICATE THIS THEY WILL NOT PROCEED WITH IT. I INFORMED THE DEALER EARLIER THAT I HAD A WRITTEN NOTE FROM MY FRIEND WHO WAS WITH ME ONCE WHEN IT HAPPENED, THEY DID NOT CARE. TSB TELLS THE DEALER IF YOU RECEIVE CUSTOMER REPORTS IN THE ABOVE MODEL VEHICLES OF FIRST OR REVERSE GEARS BEING DIFFICULT TO ENGAGE FROM NEUTRAL AND/OR THE SHIFTER CATCHING BETWEEN GEARS DURING THE UPSHIFT, THIS MAY BE DUE TO INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION OF THE TRANSMISSION INPUT SHAFT NOT ALLOWING THE CLUTCH DISC TO MOVE FREELY. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT HAPPENED FIVE TIMES. MERCEDES HAD THERE REGIONAL REP LOOK AT THE CAR AND HE COULD NOT DUPLICATE IT FOR THE SHORT DRIVE HE DID. THE TECH STATED THE SAME BUT THEN THIS IS THE SAME TECH WHO CLAIMED HE FIXED TWO OTHER PROBLEMS THAT WERE STILL A PROBLEM AS NOTED BY THE REGIONAL REP. ON THE WAY HOME FROM THE DEALER, SARASOTA MERCEDES THE CAR DID THE SAME GOING INTO REVERSE AT A LIGHT FROM NEUTRAL AND I JUST MISSED AN ACCIDENT BACKING UP WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED WHILE THE CAR BEHIND ME WENT FORWARD. I WAS SO UPSET BY THIS I TRADED IN THE CAR ON THE WAY HOME KNOWING THAT THE DEALER AND MERCEDES HAD NO INTENTION OF RECTIFYING THIS KNOWN PROBLEM AS SHOWN BY THE TSB. MERCEDES AND THE DEALER REFUSED TO APPLY THE TSB BUT THEY REFUSED AND LET ME DRIVE AWAY WITH AN UNSAFE VEHICLE WITH AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. THIS IS INCOMPETENCE ON BOTH OF THEIR PARTS. THIS IS THE TSB NUMBER: P-26-50-02TITLE: MANUAL TRANS - FIRST OR REVERSE GEAR DIFFICULT TO ENGAGE. IT USED TO BE ON THE INTERNET BUT AFTER I WROTE TO THE PRESIDENT/CEO, GENERAL MANAGER CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THE VP OF SALES AND MARKETING IT WAS REMOVED, THAT WAS THEIR RESPONSE TO MY PROBLEM. *NM UPDATED 07/11/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C

NHTSA ID 10182887 · filed Feb 18, 2007

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 50MPH AND ACCELERATING THE VEHICLE GOES TO NEUTRAL AND LOOSES POWER. THE VEHICLE MUST BE PUT INTO PARK, TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED TO REGAIN POWER. THERE IS NOT A DELAY FROM THE TIME IT IS TURNED OFF UNTIL START UP. THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN ALERTED AND REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE ETC ON MAY 16TH, THE PROBLEM RETURNED ON MAY 27, 2006. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN UNABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN IN TOUCH WITH A SERVICE ADVISOR WHO EXPLAINED THEY NEED TO SPEAK WITH SOMEONE REGARDING THE ISSUE BEFORE THEY INSPECT THE VEHICLE AGAIN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY THE SALES DEALER BECAUSE OF THE DISTANCE TO THE REPAIR SHOP. THE SALES DEALER INSTRUCTED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER SERVICE DEALER NEAR THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED. THE VEHICLE IS A CLK320.*AK

NHTSA ID 10158579 · filed May 30, 2006

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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. *NM

NHTSA ID 10176164 · filed Dec 14, 2006

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Powertrain (other)

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

TOOK MY CAR IN, IT WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE, THEN THE ENGINE WAS WINDING OUT REALLY HI ON THE TACHOMETER, MERCEDES SAID IT WAS THE VALVE BODY MODULE IN TRANSMISSION, OK- THEN THEY TOLD ME MY ENGINE BALANCE SHAFT WAS NOT WORKING AND THE LABOR WAS 5628.00 THEY HAVE NOT YET QUOTED ME A PRICE ON THE PARTS FOR EITHER ISSUE. SAID THE ENGINE WILL JUST SEIZE UP WHEN DRIVING, I LOOKED THIS UP ON INTERNET AND THERE SEEMS TO BE A CLASS ACTION SUIT GOING ON WITH THIS BALANCE SHAFT ISSUE.IS THIS A SAFETY ISSUE THEY OVERLOOKED POSSIBLY ? MILES AS LOW AS 62K HAVING SAME ISSUE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID 10428838 · filed Oct 5, 2011

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .