1999 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 Electrical Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK230. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER A FEW MINUTES AND CONTINUED DRIVING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10957410

Incident

Feb 13, 2017

Mileage

125,000 mi

HELLO, THIS IS A PRE-EMPTIVE REPORT OF A PROBLEM WITH A COMPONENT IN 1998-2000 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK 230 ROADSTERS. THE FAILURE OF THIS COMPONENT HAS MANY SYMPTOMS BUT ONE SERIOUS SYMPTOM IS COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHICH CAN BE DANGEROUS. I AM HOPING THAT YOU DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE TO WAIT FOR CRASHES AND DEATHS BEFORE YOU INVESTIGATE. I ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER THE DOCUMENTED PROBLEM HERE AND SEE THE POTENTIAL FOR A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND ASK THE MANUFACTURER TO ADDRESS IT. THE PROBLEM ARISES FROM A POOR DESIGN/MANUFACTURING OF SOLDERING ON A K40 RELAY MODULE WHICH IS AN ELECTRONIC COMPONENT AND PART OF THE ELECTRONICS OF THE CAR THAT CONTROLS THE ENGINE OPERATION. CERTAIN SOLDERED POINTS HAVE A TENDENCY TO GET CORRODED/BURNT OUT OVER TIME THAT AFFECTS THE ENGINE OPERATIONS. THE THREE PICTURES BELOW SHOW THE AFFECTED PART, THE PCB INSIDE AND A CLOSEUP OF THE SOLDERED JOINTS THAT SHOW THE PROBLEM. HTTP://WWW.OPENPRESENCE.ORG/SLK/K40-1.JPG HTTP://WWW.OPENPRESENCE.ORG/SLK/K40-2.JPG HTTP://WWW.OPENPRESENCE.ORG/SLK/K40-3.JPG THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED THIS PROBLEM AND WHILE THE OED THROWS UP REPEATABLE CODES ONCE THIS PART STARTS TO DETERIORATE - P1420, P1236, P1235, AND P1525, THE MB DEALER SERVICE CENTERS HAVE NOT BEEN TOLD ABOUT THESE CODES AND THEY TELL CUSTOMERS THAT IT IS UNDEFINED AND PROBABLY DUE TO LOW BATTER VOLTAGE AND SEND THEM WITH THIS PROBLEM STILL THERE UNTIL THE PROBLEM GETS BIG. IF THE CUSTOMER IS LUCKY, THEN IT JUST RESULTS IN A STARTING PROBLEM OR STUMBLING BUT IN SOME CASES CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS THE DANGEROUS PART. THIS PART WAS REDESIGNED IN SLKS FROM 2001 ONWARDS BUT THE MANUFACTURER HAS DONE NOTHING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM IN EARLIER SLKS OR TO EQUIP THEIR AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTERS TO CATCH THIS PROBLEM BEFORE IT CREATES A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE STAGE OF HAVING BEEN MISDIAGNOSED FOR THE ABOVE CODES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10315330

Incident

Feb 23, 2010

FOR MY SLK 230 1999 , SPORT PACKAGE, THE RED AND BLACK INTERIORS, FADE AWAY CONSTANTLY , THE RED PAINT ON DASH AND CENTER CONSOLE IS VERY DELICATE, IT WILL SCRATCH ALL THE WAY DEEP ENOUGH TO SEE THE BLACK ORIGINAL COLOR OF THE SAME... CARDAN JOINTS HAVE BEEN CHANGED FOUR TIMES AND KEEPS BREAKING , I HAVE A BRAND NEW ONE IN MY TRUNK BECAUSE THE 4TH ONE IS ALREADY BROKEN...THEN THE ASR LIGHT TURNS ON" AVOIDING FOR THE ASR SYSTEM TO WORK PROPERLY, CAN BECOME VERY DANGEROUS ON WET ROAD.. I HAD AN ACCIDENT AND ALMOST TOTALED MY SLK230... *TR

NHTSA ID

10217894

Incident

Sep 17, 2005

Mileage

107,000 mi

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ SLK230. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS. THE MERCEDES MECHANIC REPLACED THE LIGHTS AT THE CONTACTS HOME. PRIOR TO REPLACING THE LIGHTS PER THE RECALL, THE LIGHTS WERE WORKING. HOWEVER, THE LIGHTS NO LONGER WORKED, AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT START. THE DEALER DID NOT WANT TO ADDRESS THE FAILURES AND MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. THE CONTACT TALKED TO THE MANAGER OF MERCEDES AND HE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL AT GAINING ASSISTANCE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10181425

Incident

Jan 31, 2007

Mileage

77,000 mi

BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE. I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE THE COMPLETE SOCKET NUMEROUS TIMES. EACH TIME THE SOCKET HAS MELTED. MBUSA TELLS ME THEY KNOW OF THE PROBLEM, BUT DO NOT SEE ANY REASON TO FIX IT. EACH REPAIR RUNS ABOUT $300. I HAVE HAD MINE CHANGED NO LESS THAN 5 TIMES IN THE PAST THREE YEARS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10139157

Incident

Oct 8, 2005

Mileage

26,000 mi

WHEN IN TRAFFIC AND IDLING, ESPECIALLY SUMMER WEATHER, THE CAR STALLS OCASSIONALLY AND WON'T RESTART. MOST TIMES, WHEN DRIVING TO A DESTINATION, TURNING THE ENGINE OFF, RUNNING AN ERRAND, AND RETURNING TO START THE ENGINE, THE ENGINE WON'T START. THE PANEL LIGHTS ALL LIGHT UP, A CLICK, BUT NO CRANK OR TURNING OVER. AFTER LETTING THE ENGINE COOL DOWN OR SIT FOR A WHILE AND/OR PLAYING W/ THE KEY / IGNITION, THE ENGINE EVENTUALLY TURNS OVER. I'VE SPENT NEARLY $3,000 IN REPAIRS AND THE DEALER CANNOT ISOLATE THE PROBLEM. EVERYTHING HAS BEEN REPLACED EXCEPT FOR THE STARTER AND ELECTRONIC IGNITION MODULE (IF ONE EXISTS). I'M EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED. THE CAR HAS STALLED IN TRAFFIC NUMEROUS TIMES CAUSING TRAFFIC JAMS IN MANHATTAN, THE LINCOLN TUNNEL, AND I CAN'T TELL YOU THE NUMBER OF TIMES I RECEIVE NEGATIVE COMMENTS RE MERCEDES BENZ SUPPOSING TO BE A RELIABLE EXPENSIVE CAR. THIS IS MY 5TH MERCEDES, AND I'M ABOUT TO GIVE UP PERMANENTLY. IN THE LAST 3 YEARS I HAVE SPENT ALMOST $9,000 SERVICE AND REPAIRS AND AM FED UP AND FEEL AS IF I'M BEING SUCKED DRY.

NHTSA ID

10126138

Incident

Jun 19, 2005

Mileage

82,000 mi

1999 MB SLK230 - TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY SHORTS OUT AND BRAKE LIGHT FAILS. THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES, THE MOST RECENT INVOLVING BOTH TAILLIGHTS AT THE SAME TIME! THEY HAVE NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM IN THE DEFECTIVE PART NOW IN 5 YEARS. THEY KEEP REPLACING A DEFECTIVE PART WITH A DEFECTIVE PART! *NM

NHTSA ID

10104731

Incident

Dec 15, 2004

Mileage

27,000 mi

VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALER 6 TIMES FOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. DASHBOARD LIGHTS AND REAR EXTERIOR LICENSE LIGHT ARE ON SAME FUSE. FUSE KEEPS BLOWING. DEALER CANNOT REMEDY. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ID

881962

Incident

Oct 6, 2000

HARD TOP CONVERTIBLE WILL NOT OPEN -- THE MICRON CHIP HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE BY THE DEALER. HARD TOP CONVERTIBLE SQUEAKING NOISE -- I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN 6 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM; ONLY OCCURS WHEN CAR SITS IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT AT 85 DEGREES OR HOTTE( DOT NUMBER: )

NHTSA ID

724236

Incident

Nov 24, 1999

WHEN REMOVING THE FUEL NOZZLE FROM THE FUEL TANK, FUEL SHOOTS OUT OF THE TANK LIKE A FOUNTAIN. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THERE IS PRESSURE IN THE TANK WHICH CAUSES THE FUEL TO SHOOT OUT OF THE TANK FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS. WIHLE DRIVING HOME FOLLOWING THIS INCIDENT, THE ENGINE BUCKED, SURGED AND STALLED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE IS BEING CHECKED BY THE DEALER. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID

834512

Incident

Jan 2, 1999

ALTERNATOR FAILED. *YC

NHTSA ID

606180

Incident

Jun 1, 1998