2004 Mercedes-Benz SLK32 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2004 Mercedes-Benz SLK32, 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
- Engine150.0%
- Exterior lighting150.0%
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
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE CAR STALLED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AFTER 15-MINUTES DRIVE. STARTER TURNED THE ENGINE JUST FINE, BUT THE ENGINE WON'T START. AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR. NEXT DAY IT HAPPENED AGAIN - AFTER A DRIVE CAR WAS PARKED AT THE STORE PARKING LOT AND IT WON'T START ONCE I RETURNED TO IT 10 MINUTES. AFTER UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO START THE ENGINE FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES, I WAS ABLE TO DO SO AGAIN. BOTH TIME THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND OBD CODE WAS "P0335 - CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR A CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION". I'M DEEPLY CONCERNED WITH THIS SAFETY ISSUE, WHICH APPEARS TO BE QUITE COMMON FOR THE MERCEDES-BENZ CARS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ SLK32. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH REAR BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE AS DESIGNED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. UPON RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V505000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) WHICH HE LINKED TO HIS FAILURE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH MERCEDES-BENZ OF EASTON 4300 MORSE CROSSING, COLUMBUS, OH 43219 ABOUT THE RECALL AND WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WAS AN OLDER RECALL AND THAT MANUFACTURER WAS NO LONGER OBLIGATED TO REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35,000.
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
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .