RoadVitals

2002 Mercedes-Benz SLK320 Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
10
Latest Dec 5, 2025
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.
0
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
1
Reports on file since Sep 8, 2012

What this page shows

Our database holds 10 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Mercedes-Benz SLK320. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–10 of 10

Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 5, 2025

Previous recall 05V505 has been completed but the issue has returned the issue has been intermittent for a fee months but the tail light has been non op for a few months, i have tried different sockets and bulbs to no avail. The issue has not caused any incidents but i have no brake light on the drivers side due to melting on the lamp itself aswell as the pins on the connector are warped

NHTSA ID
11703211
Incident
Dec 4, 2025
Exterior lighting
Filed Jun 1, 2023

The contact owns a 2002 Mercedes-Benz SLK320. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the message that the rear light had malfunctioned was displayed. Upon inspection, it was discovered that while depressing the brake pedal, the driver’s side brake light failed to illuminate as needed. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the rear lamp module was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 05V505000 (Exterior Lighting). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced that failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 106,000.

NHTSA ID
11524795
Incident
Jun 1, 2022
Mileage
106,000 mi
EngineVisibility
Filed Mar 27, 2023

The contact owns a 2002 Mercedes-Benz SLK320. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate as it went into Limp mode. Several warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that he had replaced the spark plugs and the accelerator pedal; however, the failure persisted, and the engine was misfiring. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the PCM, the speed sensor, and the ignition coil were malfunctioning. The vehicle was not repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that the defroster had failed. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and confirmed that the vehicle was not included in a recall. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 145,000.

NHTSA ID
11513974
Incident
Mar 22, 2023
Mileage
145,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed Oct 11, 2016

THE BAS/ESP LIGHT AND SUDDEN BRAKING JUST OCCURRED TODAY(10.11.16) ON OUR 2002 MERCEDES BENZ SLK 320. THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES IN ABOUT AN HOUR OF DRIVING ON CITY STREETS BETWEEN 15 AND 45 MPH. ONE OCCURRENCE WAS WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT, THE OTHER TWO HAPPENED WHILE CHANGING LANES IN MOVING TRAFFIC. THE EXPERIENCE TODAY WAS THAT THE CAR HAD A BRIEF MOMENTARY HARD BRAKING. FIRST ON THE LEFT FRONT AND THEN THE RIGHT FRONT (2 SEPARATE TIMES). EACH WAS A SEPARATE INCIDENT AND EACH TIME THE BAS/ESP LIGHT LIT UP AFTERWARD. AFTER INTERNET RESEARCH, IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG THE SLK LINE AND POSSIBLY EXTENDS TO OTHER MODELS. IN MERCEDES BENZ ONLINE COMMUNITIES, MANY OTHERS HAVE STATED EXPERIENCING THIS SAME PROBLEM. THERE ARE APPARENTLY NUMEROUS POTENTIAL REMEDIES. TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THE CULPRITS(S) COULD BE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, NUMEROUS SENSORS MALFUNCTIONING. I.E.: YAW SENSOR, LATERAL ACCELERATION SENSOR, STEERING ANGLE SENSOR, BAS RELEASE SWITCH, MAF SENSOR, ROTATIONAL SPEED SENSOR, TO NAME A FEW. THIS SEEMS TO BE OCCURRING OFTEN ENOUGH TO DEMAND A RECALL.

NHTSA ID
10915378
Incident
Oct 11, 2016
Mileage
68,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jun 30, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS FAILED AND AN UNKNOWN ERROR MESSAGE ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED UNDER A MANUFACTURER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLIES WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SIX OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. ..UPDATED 07/20/16 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED FROM THE DEALER THE GAS CAP LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. UPDATED 10/19/2017*JS

NHTSA ID
10881746
Incident
May 6, 2016
Mileage
75,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 26, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ SLK320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO RESTART. IN ADDITION, THE REAR AND DRIVER SIDE MIRRORS AUTOMATICALLY DIMMED IN LIGHTING CAUSING IT HARDER TO VIEW THE ROAD WHEN DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000. UPDATED 09/09/15*LJ UPDATED 10/31/2017*CN

NHTSA ID
10730534
Incident
Nov 15, 2014
Mileage
34,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 29, 2014

FAST MOVING TRAFFIC, DRY WEATHER. ALL OF A SUDDEN CAR APPLIED BRAKES, THOUGHT I WAS HAVING ONE OF THE TIRES BREAKING INTO PIECES. THIS LASTED UNTIL I PULLED OVER AND STOPPED, NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THIS. AN INEXPERIENCED DRIVER IN THIS FAST TRAFFIC SURELY WOULD HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT, MAYBE EVEN FATALLY. ANYWAY, I SAW NOTHING BROKEN, ALL TIRE IN TACT, SO I CONTINUED. THIS WAS IN FL AND HAVING JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE THE NIGHT BEFORE, I WAS ON A LONG JOURNEY TO MY HOME STATE DE. IT DID HAPPEN A COUPLE OF MORE TIME WITH LIGHTER IMPACT. TODAY IS MONDAY SEPT.29TH, I AM BACK AND HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING MBENZ FORUMS AND FOUND OUT, NOT DEFINITE, PEOPLE BELIEVE IT IS YAW SENSOR. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10639907
Incident
Sep 27, 2014
Mileage
16,600 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 10, 2014

THE CAR SUDDENLY BRAKES FOR ABOUT ONE SECOND, AND THE BAS-ESP LIGHTS ILLUMINATE, AND IT RESUMES TO NORMAL DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10609717
Incident
Jul 7, 2014
Mileage
98,500 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Mar 31, 2014

SUDDENLY, FOR NO REASON, THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE ACTIVATED, CAUSING THE CAR TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. THIS RELEASED WITHIN A SECOND. I STOPPED AND RESTARTED. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN AT ABOUT 60 MILES PER HOUR. I HAD THE CAR CHECKED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC. SEVERAL SENSORS WERE REPLACED. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED SEVERAL MORE TIMES. I CALLED MERCEDES ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THEY WANTED ME TO TAKE IT TO DEALER AND PAY THE DEALER TO CHECK THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM GOT WORSE OVER TIME. I HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY A FEW MONTHS AGO. SINCE THEN, I HAVE HAD NO MORE PROBLEMS. THIS CAUSES A GREAT DEAL OF CONCERN. I DO NOT DO KNOW IF THE PROBLEM IS FIXED AND IF IT IS, WHAT FIXED IT. THIS IS KNOW ISSUE TO MERCEDES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10576072
Incident
Dec 29, 2012
Mileage
64,807 mi
Visibility
Filed Sep 8, 2012

THE INSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR IN MY 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK32 IS AN ELECTRO CHROMIC SELF-DIMMING MIRROR THAT HAS NO MANUAL BACKUP. THE MIRROR CONTAINED A FLUID WHICH APPEARS TO HAVE LEAKED OUT PRIOR TO MY PURCHASE OF THE CAR A FEW MONTHS AGO THAT CAUSES THE SELF-DIMMING MIRROR TO FAIL TO PROVIDE DIMMING AGAINST REAR APPROACHING HEADLIGHTS. THIS INABILITY TO DIM CAUSES ME TO BE BLINDED FORCING ME TO TURN THE MIRROR AWAY WHICH ELIMINATES REAR VIEW CAPABILITY WHILE UNDERWAY. THERE ARE MANY DOCUMENTED CASES OF THESE MIRRORS FAILING IN VARIOUS MAKES AND MODELS AS A RESULT OF USUALLY FROM THE INTERNAL FLUID LEAKING.

NHTSA ID
10474354
Incident
Apr 10, 2012
Mileage
62,000 mi

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.

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .