2000 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 2000 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 05V505000 (Exterior Lighting) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the vehicle was started; however, the brake lights were inoperable. The contact stated that the brake warning light was illuminated. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID

11598585

Incident

Jul 3, 2024

Mileage

50,000 mi

REAR BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT FUNCTION OR FUNCTION INTERMITTENTLY, POSING A POTENTIAL DANGER OF BEING STRUCK FROM BEHIND IN TRAFFIC.

NHTSA ID

11076461

Incident

Mar 6, 2018

Mileage

129,670 mi

INTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRROR: LIQUID WITHIN THE MIRROR IS OBSCURING MORE THAN 75% OF THE VIEWING AREA, MAKING THE MIRROR USELESS AND DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ID

10838535

Incident

Jan 4, 2016

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ SLK230. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CENTER CONSOLE HARD PLASTIC TRIM DETACHED. IN ADDITION, THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD EXHIBITED CRACKS AND SEPARATED. THE DRIVER'S SIDE PANEL NEAR THE FLOORBOARD DETACHED COMPLETELY AND THE WIRES WERE VISIBLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER NO LONGER PRODUCED THE REQUIRED PART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ID

10750238

Incident

Jun 10, 2015

Mileage

80,000 mi

SUDDEN SPONTANEOUS ACCELERATION OF MOTOR VEHICLE I AM THE SON OF THE OWNERS OF THE MERCEDES IN QUESTION. IN FEBRUARY 2010, MY MOTHER EXPERIENCED AN ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. SHE WAS PULLING UP TO A PARKING SPACE. BY HER REPORT, THE CAR SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATED, JUMPING THE CONCRETE BARRIER AND ENDING UP WITH FRONT TIRES IN AN ADJACENT PLANTER. SHE STATED THAT SHE APPLIED HER BRAKES WHILE THE CAR WAS ACCELERATING, BUT THIS DID NOT APPEAR TO SLOW THE VEHICLE. A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION WAS LAUNCHED, BOTH BY THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND EVENTUALLY BY A MERCEDES BENZ USA REPRESENTATIVE AS WELL. THOUGH I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT CONCLUSIONS, I BELIEVE THAT THEY ATTRIBUTED THE ACCIDENT TO DRIVER ERROR BY STEPPING ON THE INCORRECT PEDAL. YESTERDAY, SEPT. 29, 2011, I DROVE THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE ACCIDENT. THIS WAS A ROUND-TRIP JOURNEY ON I-8 FROM PACIFIC BEACH TO KENSINGTON, ABOUT 20 MILES ROUND TRIP. SHORTLY INTO THE TRIP, I NOTICED THE CAR FAILED TO DECELERATE AFTER I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE, AND THE CAR SLOWED APPROPRIATELY. THIS HAPPENED A TOTAL OF SIX TIMES DURING MY OUTBOUND JOURNEY; IN TWO OF THE SIX INSTANCES, NOT ONLY DID THE CAR NOT DECELERATE, BUT ACTUALLY ACCELERATED ABOVE ITS CURRENT SPEED UNTIL I APPLIED THE BRAKES. TWO ADDITIONAL EPISODES HAPPENED UPON MY RETURN TRIP. DURING THE FIRST, IN AN EFFORT TO OBTAIN A MORE COMPLETE PICTURE AFTER THE PROBLEM SPONTANEOUSLY RETURNED.

NHTSA ID

10428630

Incident

Feb 1, 2010

Mileage

35,000 mi

THE INSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR IN MY 1999 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK 230 (R170 MODEL) IS AN ELECTRO CHROMIC SELF-DIMMING MIRROR THAT HAS NO MANUAL BACKUP. THE MIRROR CONTAINED A FLUID WHICH LEAKED OUT CAUSING THE SELF-DIMMING MIRROR TO FAIL TO PROVIDE DIMMING AGAINST REAR APPROACHING HEADLIGHTS RESULTING IN THE DRIVER TO EITHER BE BLINDED OR TO HAVE TO TURN THE MIRROR AWAY WHICH GREATLY ELIMINATES REAR VIEW CAPABILITY IN THE INTERIOR. THERE ARE MANY DOCUMENTED CASES OF THESE MIRRORS FAILING IN VARIOUS MAKES AND MODELS AS A RESULT OF USUALLY FROM THE INTERNAL FLUID LEAKING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10354374

Incident

Sep 7, 2010

Mileage

88,000 mi

REARVIEW MIRROR ON MY 2000 MERC. SLK230 WITH THE AUTO-DIM FEATURE STARTED LEAKING, MAKING THE MIRROR USELESS. I'M UNABLE TO SEE OUT MY MIRROR NOW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10329113

Incident

May 5, 2010

Mileage

599,200 mi

THE 2000 SLK230 I PURCHASED NEW IN 2000 HAS 5,000 MILES ON IT. MINT-GARAGE STORED CONDITION. I HAVE REQUESTED NUMEROUS TIMES,ASSISTANCE WITH BOTH SIDE DOOR PROBLEMS WHICH MAY LEAD TO UNWARRANTED AIR BAG RELEASE IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THE DEFECT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN CORRECTED IN 2001 BY MERCEDES BENZ AS THE NEWER MODELS HAVE A "ONE PIECE INTERIOR DOOR PANEL, VS THE "TWO PIECE" INTERIOR DOOR PANELS IN THE 2000 MODELS. I HAVE FRIENDS WITH THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE INTERIOR DOOR PANELS HAVE BROKEN LOOSE FROM THE DOOR DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE DESIGN OF TWO PIECE WITH ALL PRESSURE TO CLOSE THE DOORS, PULLING THE TWO PIECE PANEL DESIGN AWAY FROM THE ACTUAL DOORS. MERCEDES BENZ-CORPORATE AND THEIR LOCAL DEALERS REFUSE TO ASSIST WITH THE ISSUE. I AM CONFIDENT THAT IN THE NEAR FUTURE, AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IS INEVITABLE FROM BOTH SIDES DUE TO THE DEFECT IN DESIGN. HOPEFULLY WITH NO INJURY! *TR

NHTSA ID

10253209

Incident

Feb 10, 2005

Mileage

5,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ SLK230. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN EXPLOSION NEAR THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR, FOLLOWED BY A BURNING SMELL. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AIR BAG DEPLOYED, WHICH BRUISED HER LEFT ARM FROM THE ELBOW TO THE SHOULDER. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01I005000 (AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW) WAS REFERENCED. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 45,000.

NHTSA ID

10229196

Incident

May 28, 2008

Mileage

45,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ SLK230. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH OVER A RAILROAD TRACK, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE MAY HAVE BEEN DUE TO THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR, CAM SHAFT SENSOR, MASS AIR FLOW METER, OR AN ELECTRIC IGNITION SWITCH RING. THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN PROPERLY DIAGNOSED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 65,000.

NHTSA ID

10201043

Incident

Aug 27, 2007

Mileage

65,000 mi

CARS ENGINE SHUTS OFF SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING. MOST INSTANCES OCCURRED WHILE CAR WAS IN MOTION. THE ELECTRONICS STAYED ON BUT NO ENGINE OPERATION AT ALL. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART WITH A SLIGHT TURN TO THE LEFT AND THEN RIGHT OR TURNING OFF ALL THE WAY AND RESTARTING. ABOUT A THIRD OF THE TIME THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART FOR 5 TO 45 MINUTES WITH ONE OCCASION LASTING OVER 2 HOURS. MOST RECENTLY THE ENGINE SHUT OFF 4 TIMES ON A 90 MILE TRIP. THE LAST OF THE FOUR FAILURES OCCURRED AS I WAS PARKING AND WOULD NOT RESTART UNTIL LATER. AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO 2 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS AND NEITHER FINDING A PROBLEM, THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR WAS REPLACED ON SPECULATION THAT IT COULD BE A RESULT OF A SIMILAR FAILURE ON OTHER MERCEDES BENZ ENGINES.

NHTSA ID

10196329

Incident

Jul 2, 2007

Mileage

57,848 mi

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM THE DEALER AND THE GAS GAUGE WAS BETWEEN A HALF AND A QUARTER AND I RAN OUT OF GAS !!! GAS GAUGE ON THESE CARS ARE DEFECTED ...

NHTSA ID

10192551

Incident

May 15, 2007

Mileage

66,500 mi

I HAVE A 2000 MERCEDES SLK230 SPORT, COPPER DESIGNO EDITION. I HAVE HAD MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR IN THE YEAR I HAVE HAD IT. THE BACK BRAKE LIGHT WAS MELTED AND BURNED A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO AND I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM THAT. I HAD THE CAR RUNNING FOR ABOUT 1 MIN. AND 30 SECONDS DOWN THE ROAD WHEN I BEGAN TO SMELL SOMETHING THAT SMELLED LIKE PLASTIC BURNING, I THOUGHT FOR SURE IT COULDN'T BE MY CAR AND WAS COMING FROM OUTSIDE. I HAD THE HEAT ON NOTCH NUMBER 2 BUT NOTHING WAS COMING OUT. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE HEAT CAME ON THEN JUST CUT OFF AGAIN, I THOUGHT THAT WAS ODD. THE SMELL BEGAN TO GET WORSE. SO I PROCEEDED TO PULL INTO A CONVENIENT STORE PARKING LOT. AS I PULLED IN I NOTICED SMOKE SPIRALING OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD VENTS, SO NOW I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE SMOKE IS FILLING UP THE CABIN. I IMMEDIATELY SHUT THE CAR OFF AND POPPED THE HOOD. SMOKE WAS POURING OUT FROM JUST UNDERNEATH THE WINDSHIELD, I HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS HAPPENING. I RAN INSIDE THE STORE TO GET POSSIBLY SOME WATER OR SUCH FOR THE CAR. I LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW OF THE STORE AND MY CAR HAD 6 FOOT FLAMES RUSHING OUT THE FRONT RIGHT UNDER THE WINDSHIELD. THE STORE MANAGER AND I RAN OUT AND PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, AND THE FIRE DEPT. CAME AND NEW YORK STATE POLICE. THE FIREMAN DRENCHED IT WITH WATER AND PRETTY MUCH FLOODED THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. THE HOLE BEHIND THE FIRE WALL WAS QUITE BIG WITH THE WIRE HARNESS BEING BURNT TO A CRISP. THE FIREMAN SAID IT LOOKED LIKE THE HEATER BLOWER HAD A SHORT THE WAY IT WAS ALL MELTED. I HAVE HEARD TONS OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS CAR ABOUT ELECTRICAL SHORTS, A FEW COMPLAINTS EVEN WAS WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR, BUT THEY PULLED THE HEATER FUSE JUST IN TIME TO PREVENT FIRE. WHAT IF A PARENT LEFT AN INFANT IN THERE FOR A MINUTE WHILE THEY RAN IN TO PAY FOR SOMETHING , NEXT THING YOU KNOW THE PASSENGERS SEAT IS IN FLAMES, I BET SOMEONE WOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS THEN!! THANK YOU, JOSH *TR

NHTSA ID

10189904

Incident

May 4, 2007

Mileage

53,230 mi

MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC SENT A SAFETY RECALL # 2006-080005. I MADE AN APPT AT MERCEDES BENZ AT KEARNY MESA, SAN DIEGO, THE SERVICE WRITER (ALFONSO) SAID THAT THEY WILL ONLY REPLACE THE TAIL BRAKE LIGHT IF IT FAILS, BUT THE RECALL CLEARLY STATES THAT DUE TO THE HIGH HEAT CREATED BY THE TAIL BRAKE LIGHT THE BASE OF THE LAMP SOCKET CAN BE SUBJECT TO THERMAL DEFORMATION OVER TIME, THUS WHEN YOU PUSH THE BRAKE PEDAL THE TAIL BRAKE LIGHT WILL NOT WORK BECAUSE THERE IS NO ELECTRICAL CONTACT. THE RECALL ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE REPLACEMENT MATERIAL IS MORE HEAT RESISTANT MATERIAL BUT THE SERVICE WRITER SAID THAT THE REPLACEMENT MATERIAL IS THE SAME AS WHAT I HAVE ALREADY IN THE CAR, WHICH IS FALSE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10178625

Incident

Jan 13, 2007

TAIL LAMP FOR MERCEDES BENZ SLK230 KEEPS FAILING. NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 05V-505. WHEN IS MB GOING TO HAVE A RECALL OF THIS DESIGN FAILURE? *NM

NHTSA ID

10163338

Incident

Jul 24, 2006

MERCEDES SLK 230 BRAKE LAMP FAILURE; RELATED TO OVERHEATING AND MELTING OF PLASTIC HOLDER DUE TO POOR CONTACT BETWEEN METAL STRIPS. FAILED BRAKE LAMPS ARE A SAFETY HAZARD; DEFECTIVE PRODUCT CAN ALSO LEAD TO ARCING OF CONTACTS AND FIRE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10157397

Incident

May 10, 2006

Mileage

26,000 mi

BRAKE LIGHTS BURNS OUT ON AVERAGE OF 3 TO 4 TIMES A YEAR. I BROUGHT TO THE DEALER FOR BULB REPLACEMENT, BUT THE PROBLEM OCCURS A FEW WEEKS LATER. A DAYS AGO, THE PROBLEM RECUR. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AND HAD THEM FIXED IT; HOWEVER AS, I DROVE OFF THE LOT, THE BRAKE LIGHT WENT OUT AGAIN. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN RECURRING FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS. THE DEALER HAS REPLACE THE HOUSING TWICE. SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN AND AGAIN. *NM

NHTSA ID

10144622

Incident

Oct 10, 2005

Mileage

50,000 mi

2000 MERCEDES BENZ SLK 230 WITH 14072 MILES ONLY HAD TAIL LAMP UNIT R/SIDE REPLACED DUE TO THE BULB "MELTING". ENTIRE ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UNSAFE, DEFECTIVE DESIGN FOR BULB TO MELT IN SOCKET. PROBLEM DEFINED AT AUTHORIZED REPAIR SHOP AS CAUSE: POOR FIT. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH MECHANICS AT SHOP WHO STATED THIS IS COMMON. WHY? NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS BEFORE THERE IS A FIRE IN VEHICLE DUE TO THIS BULB PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID

10141616

Incident

Aug 19, 2005

Mileage

13,900 mi

MY LEFT REAR TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY REQUIRED REPLACEMENT FOLLOWING THE LIGHT FAILURE. THE DEALER KEPT THE ASSEMBLY. I PAID $180.51.*JB

NHTSA ID

10137943

Incident

Aug 4, 2005

Mileage

40,400 mi

DT: LIGHT CAME ON DASH PANEL INDICATING THERE WAS A LIGHT PROBLEM, AND DISCOVERED THERE WERE NO BRAKE LIGHTS. TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID BECAUSE THERE WAS HEAT SO EXTENSIVE FROM BRAKE LIGHT THAT IT MELTED AND WOULD COST $1200 FOR REPAIRS. THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY SERVICE PLAN THROUGH FORD. HOWEVER, THIS WAS NOT COVERED BECAUSE THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS ISSUE,TSB # PB8210/406 OF 1-31-05. *AK NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE BUT OWNER PLANS TO PAY FOR THIS OUT OF POCKET. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID

10133067

Incident

Jul 27, 2005

Mileage

30,000 mi

WE OWN A 2000 MERCEDES SLK 230. THE LIGHT, THAT WARNS OF A LAMP FAILURE SOMEWHERE ON THE VEHICLE, KEPT COMING ON. IT WOULD NOT STAY ON ALL THE TIME HOWEVER, AND WE COULD NOT FIND WHICH LAMP WAS MALFUNCTIONING. WE CALLED THE DEALER, MERCEDES-BENZ OF WILSONVILLE, (WILSONVILLE OREGON - 503-454-5000) AND WERE TOLD TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN WHEN THE WARNING LAMP CAME ON AND STAYED ON. WHEN IT FINALLY DID, A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER, WE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALER. THE SERVICE WAS PERFORMED ON AUGUST 16TH 2004. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND TOLD US THAT THE TAIL LAMP BULBS IN BOTH TAIL LAMPS WERE ARCHING AND HAD MELTED THE TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY. BOTH TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLIES HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $360.00. THE SERVICE INVOICE STATES "28636 BULB FAILURE MIL 852 INSPECTED BULB FOUND EVIDENCE OF ARCHING BETWEEN SOCKET AND ASSEMBLY 852 R/R BOTH TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLYS/82-2310. I SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE ADVISOR, ALEX GARCIA. HE TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD SEEN THIS SAME PROBLEM ON OTHER MERCEDES VEHICLES. I ASKED HIM IF A RECALL HAD BEEN INITIATED BECAUSE IT SEEMED TO ME THAT THIS WAS A CONDITION THAT COULD CAUSE A FIRE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, NEAR THE GAS TANK. HE TOLD ME THAT NO RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED. I REQUESTED THE OLD PARTS AND WAS ASSURED BY MR. GARCIA THAT I COULD HAVE THEM. HE TOLD ME HE WOULD LEAVE THEM WITH THE SALES DEPARTMENT SO THAT I COULD PICK THEM UP THAT WEEKEND. HOWEVER WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP ON SATURDAY THE 21ST THE PARTS WERE NOT THERE. I WILL CALL THE DEALERSHIP ON MONDAY AND HOPE TO HAVE THE PARTS RETURNED TO ME. I BELIEVE THAT THIS CONDITION IS A FIRE HAZARD AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED. I SUSPECT THAT FAILURES IN OTHER VEHICLES WERE COVERED BY WARRANTY AND THUS NOT REPORTED. NONETHELESS I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE NOTED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10088345

Incident

Aug 16, 2004

Mileage

28,635 mi

DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ATTACHMENT LOCATED BETWEEN THE SEAT AND CONSOLE IS SET TOO FAR DOWN, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR CONSUMER TO LATCH OR RELEASE BUCKLE WHEN NEEDED. ALSO, THE PASSENGER SIDE BELT IS TOO SHORT. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING CAN BE DONE. *AK

NHTSA ID

859044

Incident

Oct 15, 1999