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2015 Mercedes-Benz SLK250 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.
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Latest Apr 13, 2026
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
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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.
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What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2015 Mercedes-Benz SLK250, 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

  • Body & structure133.3%
  • Brakes133.3%
  • Fuel system133.3%

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

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

The roof panel on my car separated from the body of the vehicle during normal highway driving. This failure is similar to recent prior recalls on other Mercedes Benz models where, due to failed glue bonding, sliding panels on those models detached from vehicles during driving conditions. At least one news article described those component failures as being due to a "defect." In my case, the entire roof panel separated from and blew off the car. The loss of a roof from the body of a car during driving conditions creates obvious safety issues for the occupants of the vehicle and for those in other vehicles or otherwise using the road. I have regularly maintained my car at a certified Mercedes Benz dealer and this potential issue was never raised or identified to me.

NHTSA ID 11500350 · filed Jan 5, 2023

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

THIS IS THE PROBLEM I AM HAVING WITH MY VEHICLE: Nature of the Problem: The recall involves the ESC system software, which may incorrectly keep the brakes slightly applied. This can cause the brake components to heat up over time, potentially affecting braking performance and increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, the dragging brakes may overheat, raising the risk of a fire. Recall Initiation: The recall began on June 9, 2017. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is responsible for notifying owners and will update the ESC system software free of charge. I GOT THIS INFORMATION WHEN I DID A SEARCH FOR MY PARTICULAR PROBLEM. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, MY BRAKES GO "SOFT" AND I HAVE TO PUSH THE BRAKE PEDAL WAY DOWN TO STOP THE CAR. ALSO, THEY HEAT UP AND SOMETIMES SMOKE. THIS HAPPENS ONCE IN A WHILE NOT ALL THE TIME. THE LAST TIME WAS YESTERDAY 10/09/2025 I CALLED MERCEDES AND THEY TOLD ME MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED ON THE RECALL FOR SOME REASON. THEY TOLD ME TO REPORT THE PROBLEM HERE AND HAVE MY VEHICLE ADDED TO THE RECALL. THANK YOU

NHTSA ID 11698623 · filed Nov 10, 2025

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

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

I am submitting this complaint to report a serious high‑pressure fuel system failure on my 2015 Mercedes‑Benz SLK 250 equipped with the M274 2.0L turbocharged engine, which resulted in a sudden and dangerous loss of propulsion. While accelerating to pass another vehicle at roadway speed, the engine abruptly lost power, stalled, and the vehicle immediately entered limp mode, leaving me exposed to active traffic with no warning and unable to complete the maneuver safely. The incident triggered diagnostic fault code P000277, consistent with a fuel pressure or fuel control system malfunction. This failure created an immediate safety hazard, as loss of engine power during acceleration significantly increases the risk of rear‑end or side‑impact collisions. Of particular concern is that Mercedes‑Benz has previously acknowledged fuel system safety defects in the same M274 engine family, as documented in NHTSA Safety Recall Campaign No. 18V‑837, which addressed known vulnerabilities in the fuel delivery system that could lead to engine malfunction. Although my specific vehicle may not have been included in that recall, the symptoms and failure mode I experienced are consistent with those known fuel system issues. A sudden and complete loss of engine power during normal driving conditions represents an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety. I respectfully urge NHTSA to investigate this failure pattern to determine whether additional vehicles using this engine platform are affected and to take appropriate action to prevent injuries or fatalities. Can you please give me a document so I can go to Mercedes and get this fixed? this first happened in June 2024 and I am since clearing the code myself and I just found out this problem.

NHTSA ID 11730750 · filed Apr 13, 2026

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 .