2013 Mercedes-Benz SLK250 Owner Complaints

The anti whip lash prevention malfunctioned and the headrest was launched forwards

NHTSA ID

11745474

Incident

Jun 16, 2026

While passing a vehicle on a two lane road, my vehicle lost power and went into limp mode nearly causing a head on accident. The check engine light came on and i immediately went to O'Reilly's Auto parts store and had their OBD scanner read the code. AP0002 code was read. I immediately returned home and the check engine light automatically cleared. I scanned the OBD again and found code P0002 and a second code P000277 that was listed as stored and current Both codes refer to an issue with the high pressure fuel pump. I just recently purchased this vehicle with 35170 miles. I had the OBD scanned prior to purchase, there were no codes at that time so we purchased the vehicle. We've since put 1000 miles on the vehicle and without any warning, this issue suddenly happened. I have done some research and Mercedes offered an extended 120000 mile/10 year warranty that addressed this exact issue, however, that warranty is now up due to the age of the vehicle. This issue put us and others at server risk of a major accident do to this issue happening with no warning. I haven't tried to reproduce the scenario that occurred, however the codes remain on the OBD computer.

NHTSA ID

11735326

Incident

May 2, 2026

The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz SLK250. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the convertible roof cover started to pull away from the cross-support members connected to the windshield. The contact stated that the separation failure of the roof top become more pronounced, and water there was water leaking into the vehicle, causing an electrical short circuit of the convertible roof controls and the courtesy lights located in the overhead panel. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the convertible top needed to be replaced; however, the convertible roof top was no longer manufactured. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 74,000.

NHTSA ID

11496637

Incident

Jun 11, 2022

Mileage

74,000 mi

COMPLAINT CONCERNS THE ROOF TOP PANEL PROBLEM ON A 2013 MERCEDES BENZ SLK 250. THE ROOF ISSUE OCCURRED IN JULY 2020 WHEN THE SLK 250 HAD ABOUT 36,000 MILES. THE ROOF PANEL ON THE CONVERTIBLE TOP SEPARATED FROM THE UNDERLYING CROSS-SUPPORT MEMBER CAUSING THE ROOF PANEL TO EXPAND AND SEPARATE WHICH THEN CAUSES THE FRONT PART OF THE ROOF PANEL TO BOW NOTICEABLY WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES ARE ABOVE APPROXIMATELY 85 DEGREES. WHEN THE ROOF PANEL BOWS IT CREATES CONSIDERABLE WIND NOISE, AND RAISES POSSIBLE CONCERNS OF WATER ENTERING THE INTERIOR IF DRIVEN WHILE RAINING OR POSSIBLE SEPARATION OF THE ENTIRE ROOF PANEL FROM THE AUTOMOBILE. THE AUTHORIZED MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP OFFERED NO REPAIR OTHER THAN AN ENTIRE ROOF REPLACEMENT AT CONSIDERABLE COST (ABOUT $4,000). MERCEDES BENZ CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS CUSTOMER CARE (ATLANTA, GA) OFFERED NO SOLUTION OR REMUNERATION FOR REPAIR OF THIS STRUCTURAL FAILURE AND POTENTIAL SAFETY CONCERN. I LEARNED OF THE CAUSE OF THE ROOF SEPARATION ISSUE VIA ONLINE RESEARCH, SPECIFICALLY WITH SLK WORLD OWNERS GROUP HAVING THE MOST INFORMATION. THE ROOF ISSUE APPEARS REAL WITH MANY OWNERS ATTEMPTING THEIR OWN RE-GLUING REPAIRS RATHER THAN PAYING SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR A COMPLETE ROOF REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA ID

11383526

Incident

Jul 26, 2020

Mileage

36,500 mi

SIGNIFICANT TIMING CHAIN RATTLE WHILE DRIVING IN THE 2200-2900 RPM RANGE. ENGINE HAS LESS THAN 70K MILES AND IT SEEMS THAT THE CHAIN HAS STRETCHED OR IS TENSIONER IS FAILING. MERCEDES CLAIMS THEY CANNOT FIND SOURCE OF RATTLE AND REFUSES TO FIX IT, BUT ONLINE FORUMS INDICATE THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR THIS ENGINE. I FEEL THEY ARE DEFERRING THE ISSUE UNTIL THE WARRANTY EXPIRES. I FEEL EARLY FAILURE OF THE TIMING CHAIN OR RELATED PARTS IS IMMINENT.

NHTSA ID

11127886

Incident

Sep 6, 2018

Mileage

57,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES BENZ SLK 250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT ONE OF THE CYLINDERS MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,500.

NHTSA ID

10759238

Incident

Apr 15, 2013

Mileage

5,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES BENZ SLK250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A RANDOM LEAK FROM THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED THE SEALANT TWICE BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE HARD TOP CONVERTIBLE ROOF WAS REPLACED WITH A PANO ROOF WITH A VINYL LINER BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT GLUE AS EXPOSED. THE WINDOWS WERE RATTLING ABNORMALLY AND THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE ROOF WAS STILL LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE MULTIPLE TIMES BUT PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21000.

NHTSA ID

10579614

Incident

Dec 15, 2013

Mileage

21,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES SLK250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS FUEL SEEN LEAKING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FUEL LINE CLAMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100. *TR

NHTSA ID

10522696

Incident

Jun 27, 2013

Mileage

100 mi