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U.S. public vehicle records

1999 Mercedes Benz SLK230 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

53 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

65,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 33 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Visibility is the most frequently named component, appearing in 15 of 53 complaints (28.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior1528.3%
Engine operation47.5%
Electrical and battery issues35.7%
Steering behavior11.9%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Visibility
15
Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights
12
Electrical System
5
Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights
4
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
3
Unknown Or Other
3
Engine
2
Power Train
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Visibility15
Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights12
Electrical System5
Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights4
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash3
Unknown Or Other3
Engine2
Power Train2

Visibility: 15; Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights: 12; Electrical System: 5; Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights: 4; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Engine: 2; Power Train: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
3
25,000 to 49,999
6
50,000 to 74,999
11
75,000 to 99,999
7
100,000 to 149,999
5
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0003
25,000 to 49,9996
50,000 to 74,99911
75,000 to 99,9997
100,000 to 149,9995
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 11; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 1

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 20 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2000
4
2001
2
2003
2
2004
4
2005
8
2006
5
2007
4
2008
7
2009
4
2010
6
2011
2
2012
1
2015
1
2017
1
2021
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20004
20012
20032
20044
20058
20065
20074
20087
20094
20106
20112
20121
20151
20171
20212

2000: 4; 2001: 2; 2003: 2; 2004: 4; 2005: 8; 2006: 5; 2007: 4; 2008: 7; 2009: 4; 2010: 6; 2011: 2; 2012: 1; 2015: 1; 2017: 1; 2021: 2

Pattern summary

Visibility leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 15 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10059960 · 2004-02-27 (February 27, 2004)

REARVIEW MIRROR HAS FOG INSIDE THE GLASS,MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE OUT OF IT. BRAKE LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS CONTINUE TO FAIL. ALSO, DASH LIGHTS FAILED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10059960 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10075098 · 2004-06-09 (June 9, 2004)

DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT FAILS. TOOK TO MERCEDES SEVERAL TIMES. THEY TELL ME IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE MERCEDES SLK 230 FROM 1998 TO PRESENT. I SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME ISSUE. MERCEDES IS WAITING FOR A DEATH TO OCCUR AS A RESULT OF A FAULTY TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY BEFORE THEY DECIDE TO RECALL AND FIX THE PROBLEM WHICK WILL CERTAINLY OCCUR IN TIME.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10075098 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10126138 · 2005-06-21 (June 21, 2005)

WHEN IN TRAFFIC AND IDLING, ESPECIALLY SUMMER WEATHER, THE CAR STALLS OCASSIONALLY AND WON'T RESTART. MOST TIMES, WHEN DRIVING TO A DESTINATION, TURNING THE ENGINE OFF, RUNNING AN ERRAND, AND RETURNING TO START THE ENGINE, THE ENGINE WON'T START. THE PANEL LIGHTS ALL LIGHT UP, A CLICK, BUT NO CRANK OR TURNING OVER. AFTER LETTING THE ENGINE COOL DOWN OR SIT FOR A WHILE AND/OR PLAYING W/ THE KEY / IGNITION, THE ENGINE EVENTUALLY TURNS OVER. I'VE SPENT NEARLY $3,000 IN REPAIRS AND THE DEALER CANNOT ISOLATE THE PROBLEM. EVERYTHING HAS BEEN REPL…

Owner-reported narrative. 82,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10126138 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10315330 · 2010-03-02 (March 2, 2010)

HELLO, THIS IS A PRE-EMPTIVE REPORT OF A PROBLEM WITH A COMPONENT IN 1998-2000 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK 230 ROADSTERS. THE FAILURE OF THIS COMPONENT HAS MANY SYMPTOMS BUT ONE SERIOUS SYMPTOM IS COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHICH CAN BE DANGEROUS. I AM HOPING THAT YOU DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE TO WAIT FOR CRASHES AND DEATHS BEFORE YOU INVESTIGATE. I ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER THE DOCUMENTED PROBLEM HERE AND SEE THE POTENTIAL FOR A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND ASK THE MANUFACTURER TO ADDRESS IT. THE PROBLEM ARISES FROM A POOR DESIGN/MANUFACTURING OF SOL…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10315330 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10034220 · 2003-10-12 (October 12, 2003)

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED THE DASHBOARD CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE WAS STARTED BY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT UNDER THE DASH. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DRIVEN. *AK *SCC *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10034220 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10120630 · 2005-05-11 (May 11, 2005)

THERE IS A DEFECT IN 1998 - 2001 MERCEDES BENZ SLK MODEL CARS TAIL LIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS. THE SOCKET WHICH HOUSES THE BULBS DOES NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT PRESSURE TO MAINTAIN ELECTRICAL CONTACT. THE RESULT OF THIS IS BURNED CONCTATS, MELTED BULB HOUSINGS AND BURNED OUT TAIL AND BRAKE LIGHTS. THIS CAN LEAD TO A FIRE OR AN ACCIDENT IN THE EVENT OF FAILURE. THIS DEFECT HAS BEEN REPORTED BY HUNDREDS/THOUSANDS OF SLK OWNERS TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MAUFACTURER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS DEFECT AND WILL DO NOTHING TO CORRECT IT IF THE VEHICLE I…

Owner-reported narrative. 8,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10120630 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10138717 · 2005-10-05 (October 5, 2005)

BRAKE LIGHTS BURN OUT FREQUENTLY ON MY 1999 MERCEDES SLK 230. LIGHT SOCKETS BURN WITH DISCOLORATION AND PLASTIC MELTS AT THE SOCKET AND CIRCUIT BOARD ON THE REAR OF THE TAILLIGHT. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO REMOVE THE BURNED SOCKET FROM THE FIXTURE. THE INTENT OF THE DESIGN IS TO USE FINGER PRESSURE TO TWIST THE SOCKET OUT. DUE TO THE MELTING IT REQUIRES THE USE OF A WRENCH THAT THEN DAMAGES THE SOCKET SOMETIMES TO AN UNUSABLE CONDITION REQUIRING REPLACEMENT AT OWNER COST. DASH "BULB OUT" WARNING LIGHT IS TOO DIM TO NOTICE AND HIDDEN FROM …

Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10138717 at NHTSA ↗