Mercedes Benz SLK280 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
49 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
55,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 to 2008 model years. Data snapshot: . 30 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 26 of 49 complaints (53.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 10.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 8.2% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 4.1% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 4.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 2.0% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 26 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 |
| Seat Belts | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
Air Bags: 26; Electrical System: 5; Exterior Lighting: 3; Seat Belts: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Power Train: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 7 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 19 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 10 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2007: 2; 2009: 1; 2010: 3; 2011: 2; 2013: 4; 2014: 6; 2015: 4; 2016: 10; 2017: 7; 2018: 6; 2022: 2; 2024: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 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 10535206 · 2013-08-13 (August 13, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ SLK 280. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE RPM READING INCREASED AS THE ENGINE ROARED AND THE GEAR SHIFTER DISENGAGED INDEPENDENTLY. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION POWER. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE THE CONTACT DROVE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED. THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL PLATE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL PLATE WAS REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPRO…
Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10535206 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10762686 · 2015-09-09 (September 9, 2015)
DRIVING ON FREEWAY... ALL OF SUDDEN CAR GOES IN LOW GEAR NO WARNING HAS DONE THIS ABOUT 4 TIMES. TWICE ALMOST REAR ENDED. TOOK TO SHOP WAS TOLD IT WAS VALVE BODY/ CONDUCTOR PLATE ISSUE THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE FIXED AT DEALER DUE TO A DEFECTIVE PART MB USED ON THIS TRANSMISSION. CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. VALVE BODY / CONDUCTOR PLATE REPLACEMENT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10762686 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10610442 · 2014-07-14 (July 14, 2014)
WAS TOLD BY THE COMPUTER "RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION VISIT WORKSHOP." VISITED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY IT WOULD COST A LITTLE OVER $900 TO REPAIR FOR A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10610442 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11479715 · 2022-08-17 (August 17, 2022)
Electrical system faulty. Front lowbeam headlight warning light on. Mechanic changed headlight bulb but it still did not work. After about a week the warning indicator went off and headlight worked. A few days went by and the indicator came on again. The low beam did not work. This time the left side marker lamp indicator came on and the bulb wasn't working. Before I could take it in for repair the side marker was working again. It goes off and on about every other month. Also, the indicator for one of the bulbs above my license plate goe…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11479715 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10899518 · 2016-08-30 (August 30, 2016)
TAKATA RECALL, AT 64,000 MILES THE FUEL PUMP WENT BAD ON 2007 SLK280. CAR DROVE 20MILES AT MOST A DAY. TRIED STARTING THE CAR AND HAD IT STALLED EVERY TEMPTED.
Owner-reported narrative. 64,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10899518 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11040331 · 2017-10-27 (October 27, 2017)
TAKATA RECALL EITHER THESE AIRBAGS ARE SAFE AND THE RECALL NEEDS TO BE RESCINDED OR THE AIRBAGS ARE UNSAFE? IF DEEMED UNSAFE THEN ALL INVENTORIES AND PRODUCTION NEEDS TO BE DIRECTED TOWARDS RESOLVING THIS ISSUE. AIRBAG PRODUCTION SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO CORRECT THIS RECALL INSTEAD OF NEW CAR PRODUCTION. COULD THIS BE A STALL TACTIC BY THE AUTO MANUFACTURERS? EVERY YEAR THAT PASSES A CERTAIN % OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES END THEIR USEFUL LIVES. MANUFACTURERS THEREFORE RECOGNIZE A LOWER REPLACEMENT COST. EVEN THOUGH A LARGE MONETARY SETTLEMEN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11040331 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10326787 · 2010-04-21 (April 21, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES SLK280. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING IDLE WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO 5 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE SOFTWARE WAS REPROGRAMMED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE TIMES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,493. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 13,512.
Owner-reported narrative. 13,493 miles reported. Look up ODI 10326787 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 0 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
2006: 0; 2007: 2; 2008: 1