Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 34 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Mercedes-Benz SLK230. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 34 · page 1 of 2
WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT SHEARED OFF COMPLETELY LEAVING THE CAR WITH NO STEERING CONTROL. THANKS TO GOD THIS OCCURRED RIGHT AFTER A HIGHWAY EXIT AND WHILE TURNING INTO MY DRIVEWAY. IF THIS SHAFT HAD SHEARED 10 MINUTES BEFORE ON A HIGHWAY AT 60MPH SPEED, IT WOULD HAVE LEAD TO A POSSIBLE FATALITIES AND SEVERE MULTI CARS ACCIDENT ON A PUBLIC HIGH WAY TRAVELING WELL OVER 65 MPH SPEED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCEDES BENZ SLK230. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE BASE OF THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LAMP MELTED AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V505000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. UPDATED 8/21/15*CN
THE GRAY INTERIOR OF THE MERCEDES BENZ 1998 SLK230 WAS PEELING OFF THE CONSOLE AND MOST OF THE REST OF THE INTERIOR. IT SEEMED TO BE A GRAY PLASTIC FILM WHICH WAS PUT OVER WHAT LOOKED LIKE BLACK LEATHER. THE CAR'S INTERIOR WAS AWLFUL LOOKING WITH THESE BLACK PLACES SHOWING THROUGH THE GRAY THROUGHT MOST OF THE INTERIOR. I DIDN'TT THINK THE INTERIOR OF A MERCEDES BENZ SHOULD SHRED AND PEEL NO MATTER HOW OLD THE CAR WAS. *AK
TL*-THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN REFERENCE TO THE 1998 MERCEDES BENZ SLK WITH CURRENT MILEAGE: 85,000 A RECALL ISSUED ON THE VEHICLE DEALING WITH EXTERIOR REAR BRAKE LIGHTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND GAVE THEM THE INFORMATION, THEY SCHEDULED HER AN APPOINTMENT, AND TOLD HER TO COME BACK WHEN THEY RECEIVED THE PARTS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SAID THAT NOW THE FRONT LIGHTS WERE NOW BEING AFFECTED, AND THAT SHE HAD BEEN RECEIVING NUMEROUS TICKETS BECAUSE OF THIS MATTER.*AK
REAR BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE FAILED NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE SLK. REPLACED ENTIRE REAR BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY ONCE UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE SOCKETS EVERY FEW MONTHS FOR THE ENTIRE TIME I'VE OWNED THE CAR. WITHIN 2 MONTHS OF THE CAR NO LONGER BEING UNDER WARRANTY, THE SOCKET FAILED AFTER ONLY 1 WEEK OF BEING REPLACED. WAS TOLD THEY WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY (AGAIN), BUT THIS WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THEY SAID THEY COULD KEEP REPLACING THE SOCKETS, BUT THAT WOULD ONLY BE A TEMPORARY FIX. DEALER PUT IN A NEW SOCKET, THIS TIME TWISTING OUT THE LEADS TO GET A BETTER CONTACT AND IT SEEMS TO BE HOLDING. (AT LEAST FOR NOW) THE FAULTY REAR BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY SHOULD BE A RECALLED ITEM AS IT COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT AND/OR DEATH. *NM
REAR BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE FAILED NUMEROUS TIMES, REPLACED UP UNTIL THIS POINT AT OWNERS COST. A RECALL WAS ISSUED, AND I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE VIN IS NOT WITHIN THE RANGE THAT THEY ARE REPLACING. MY VEHICLE CAN NOT BE DRIVEN NOW AS IT HAS FAILED IT'S VEHICLE INSPECTION. THE LIGHTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT LEAST TWICE EACH ALREADY. *NM
REAR BRAKE LIGHT WILL STOP WORKING PERIODICALLY DUE TO MELTED SOCKET. OWNED THE CAR SINCE NEW AND DEALER REPLACE SOCKETS TWICE WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. SINCE WARRANTY EXPIRED I REPLACED THE SOCKET TWICE MORE ON EACH SIDE AT A COST OF $20. *JB
AFTER DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT BULB BURNED OUT I REPLACED BULB THREE TIMES BEFORE HAVING TO TAKE IT TO A MERCEDES SPECIALTY REPAIR SHOP. I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY. WHILE THERE IT WAS MENTIONED THAT ANOTHER CONSUMER HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK
REAR BRAKE LAMPS KEEPS BURNING OUT AND WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. *JB
DT: BOTH BRAKE LIGHTS MALFUCTIONED AFTER EXTENDED USE. THE HEAT CAUSED THE SOCKET AND HOUSING TO DISTORT AND MELT, LEADING TO FAILURE OF THE LIGHTS. *AK CONSUMER STILL HAS DEFECTIVE PARTS FOR INSPECTIONS AND TESTING. IF NHTSA NEED THESE PARTS PLEASE CONTACT CONSUMER.*SB *NM
TAILLIGGHT ASSEMBLY BECOMES HEATED AND CAUSES FAILURE OF THE BRAKE LIGHT SOCKET/HOUSING. DEALER STATES THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND THEY CAN NOT KEEP THE PARTS IN STOCK FAST ENOUGH TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM
I HAVE A 1998 MERCEDES BENZ SLK 230. THE BRAKE LIGHTS MALFUNCTION ON A REGULAR BASIS. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALER INFORMS ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE OF THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. IT SEEMS THAT WOULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE.
ENGINE THREW A ROD THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE BLOCK AT 84,000 MILES FOR NO REASON.*AK
BRAKE LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CIRCUIT BOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.THIS INFORMATION WAS PROVIDE BY MRS. MARGO'S HUSBAND LENOR KARSTADT.*AK
MY SEAT SENSOR IN MY CAR FAILED AT 7000 MILES OF USE. I HAVE A LOW MILEAGE MERCEDES AND IT WILL COST ALMOST 875 DOLLARS TO REPLACE. THIS SENSOR DISABLES THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IN CASE OF A BABY SEAT. I HAVE NEVER USED A BABY SEAT IN MY CAR AND IT IS NOW IN THE LOCKED (OFF) POSITION MAKING THE CAR EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FOR THE PASSENGER. FORTUNATELY I RARELY HAVE A PASSENGER BUT I WANT SOMEONE TO INVESTIGATE HOW OFTEN THIS SENSOR FAILS. WHEN THE CAR WAS NEW IT WAS TOUTED AS A SUPER SAFE CAR IN CASE YOU HAVE A BABY. NOW THAT IT IS IN LOCKED OFF POSITION IT IS A SUPER UNSAFE CARE FOR AN ADULT. [XXX] [XXX] BY THE WAY THERE ARE ALSO OTHER DEFECTS IN THIS PARTICULAR CAR. THE AIR COMPRESSOR EXPLODED AT ABOUT 4K MILES. THAT WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER AT HIS COST. THE BATTERY DIED AT LESS THAN 3 YEARS BUT I HAD IT REPLACED BY THE DEALER AT 4 YEARS ALSO. AND... NOW THEY SAY THERE IS A POSSIBLE PROBLEM WITH MY FUEL TANK VERSUS A MALFUNCTIONING VALVE. THIS IS A LOT OF PROBLEMS FOR A 7347 MILEAGE CAR. [XXX] *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I PURCHASED THE CAR WITH 1,000 MILES ON IT, I WAS THE 3RD OWNER. 1ST OWNER WAS DEALER IN NJ, 2-ND OWNER WAS MY FATHER. THE PROBLEM STARTED AROUND 15,000 MILES AND HAS CONTINUED. THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE REAR BRAKE3 LIGHT ASSEMBLY. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS A "KNOWN DEFECT" THAT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED WITH THE SLK MODEL THAT MERCEDES MANUFACTURES. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY DOES NOT HAVE A WAY TO COOL OFF AND GETS TOO HOT AND BURNS UP CAUSING THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO LOOSE CONNECTION AND THEY FAIL. 4 DIFFERENT MECHANICS HAVE ALL TOLD ME THE SAME STORY. I WAS TOLD THAT I COULD KEEP REPLACING THE PART AND THE SAME THING WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN AND AGAIN AND I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CORRECT THIS DEFAULT BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN OF THE MODEL OF THIS MERCEDES. I AM AFRAID THAT I AND MY SON WHICH IS 2 WILL BE IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT MAYBE EVEN FATEL IF SOMETHING IS NOT DONE, I HAVE GONE TO THE DEALERSHIP LOOKING FOR HELP, THEY WILL NOT HELP ME, THEY TOLD ME TO GO TO MERCEDES, THEY WILL NOT HELP ME. I HAVE BEEN SHOW THE PART THAT GETS TOO HOT AND LOOSES ITS CONNECTION. I HAVE THEM WITH ME FOR PROOF OF WHAT I AM SAYING IS FACTUAL AND MERCEDES IS NEGLECTING THIS ISSUE. I ASSUME THEY DON'T WANT TO BE BOTHERED WITH AN EXPENSIVE RECALL. PLEASE HELP US.*AK
WHILE BRAKING TAIL LIGHTS FAILED. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE TAIL LIGHTS. HOWEVER, PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING TAIL LIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALERSHIP MECHANIC SAID THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY BURNING UP. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *NLM DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY WITH NEWER VERSION. MECHANIC STATED THE ORIGINAL PART WOULD MALFUNCTION AT ANY TIME WITHOUT THE DRIVER BEING AWARE. CONSUMER STOPPED DRIVING THE VEHICLE UNTIL PART WAS REPLACED. *PH *NLM
PASSENGER DOOR OPENED UP WHEN THE VEHICLE WENT OVER A BUMP. THE DOOR BUTTONS OPENED ON THEIR OWN WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER HAD CONSISTENT PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *MR *CB *JB
CONSUMER STATES THAT DOOR LATCH IS INOPERATIVE. CONSUMER HAS TO REACH OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE TO OPEN DRIVER'S DOOR.*JB
THE CAR HAD A BAD LEFT DOOR PANEL THAT WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY LAST YEAR. THIS SUMMER I NOTICED THAT IT WAS LOOSE AT THE TOP SO I HAD MY WIFE TAKE IT IN TO BE FIXED. THEY FIXED THE PANEL AND MY DROVE HOME. WHEN MY WIFE GOT HOME SHE WAS LOCKED IN THE CAR AND THE LEFT DOOR WOULD ONLY OPEN IF SHE PUT THE WINDOW DOWN AND USED THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE. SE WENT INSIDE AND CALLED THE DEALER, SHAFFER IMPORTS. THEY HAD HER BRING IT BACK SO THEY COULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM. SHE LEFT THE CAR AND WHEN SHE RETURNED IT HAD NOT BEEN FIXED. THEY SAID THAT THE DOOR LATCH MUST HAVE FAILED ON THE WAY HOME AND THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO FIX IT. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THEY HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM ON OTHER MERCEDES MODELS THAT USE THE SAME DOOR LATCH. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE FIXED AND A RECALL ISSUED. BEING THAT THIS IS A TWO DOOR CAR WITH A CONSOLE AND A SHIFTER, IT IS QUITE DIFFICULT FOR ONE TO EXIT THE LEFT SEAT TO THE RIGHT DOOR. THIS COULD CAUSE LOST TIME IN AN EMERGENCY AND ULTIMATELY LOSS OF LIFE. PLEAS GIVE THIS PROBLEM YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION.
THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A FULL INSPECTION, THE CONSUMER ASKED THAT THE DEALER PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE FLUIDS, AFTER INSPECTION THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE CONSUMER, WITHIN 15 MIN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL AND BLACK SMOKE FUMED SMELLING OF ANTIFREEZE, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATED EXTREME HEAT AT WHICH TIME THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER, THE CONSUMER OBSERVED AN ANTIFREEZE PUDDLE UNDER THE CAR. NLM
THIS MODEL HAS BEEN EVOLVED SEVERAL TIMES BY THE MANUFACTURER MORE TO MARKET AND IN A HASTILY TIME,PERHAPS AT THE EXPENSE OF THE CONSUMER AND REQUIRES THOROUGH INVESTIGATION. NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK
TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. VEHICLE WILL START TO LOSE POWER. ALSO, THERE IS SOME FLUID LEAKAGE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK *TT
ALL 4 DUNLOP TIRES HAD EXTREME WEAR AT 11000 MILES (DUNLOP FRONT-205/55R21691V REAR-225/50R16 2000E). NLM
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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