Mercedes Benz SLK320 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
40 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
75,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 to 2004 model years. Data snapshot: . 31 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 16 of 40 complaints (40.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 23 | 57.5% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 7.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 7.5% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 5.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.5% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 16 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 12 |
| Exterior Lighting | 10 |
| Electrical System | 8 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Steering | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
Service Brakes: 16; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 12; Exterior Lighting: 10; Electrical System: 8; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Steering: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 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 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 9 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 |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 8 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 4; 2013: 3; 2014: 8; 2015: 5; 2016: 4; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2020: 3; 2022: 1; 2023: 4; 2024: 1; 2025: 2; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 23 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 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 10365253 · 2010-11-10 (November 10, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ SLK320. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE VEHICLE STALLED. HE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE WHERE AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INFORMED HIM THAT TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 70,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10365253 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10457096 · 2012-05-02 (May 2, 2012)
WHILE DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT, SMOOTH PAVED ROAD, THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE SUDDENLY LOCKED HARD ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE CAR TO SUDDENLY JERK TO THE RIGHT AND CAUSED THE TIRE TO SKID. I DID NOT HAVE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AT ALL. IMMEDIATELY THE VEHICLE'S ESV DASH LIGHT CAME ON. HAD I NOT HAD A FIRM GRIP ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO HOLD THE CAR IN THE ROAD, THE CAR WOULD HAVE LEFT THE ROADWAY. THIS IS A VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS DEFECT. WHILE READING POSTS IN ONLINE FORUMS, SEVERAL PEOPLE WITH THESE CARS ARE HAVING SIMILAR EXPERIENCES. BELOW IS A…
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10457096 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10730534 · 2015-06-26 (June 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 NOTIFIE…
Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10730534 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10450841 · 2012-03-09 (March 9, 2012)
THE TWO ON BOARD COMPUTERS FAILED; BECAUSE OF A SHORT CIRCUIT INSIDE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THEM TWICE. THE COOLING FAN CONTROL MONITOR IS DEFECTIVE AND FAIL; CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. I WAS TOLD THE COOLING FAN CONTROL MONITOR IS DEFECTIVE. MY CAR IS STILL AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR 3 WEEKS NOW BECAUSE THEY CANT FIND THE RIGHT CONTROL MONITOR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10450841 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10576072 · 2014-03-31 (March 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 PROBL…
Owner-reported narrative. 64,807 miles reported. Look up ODI 10576072 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10915378 · 2016-10-11 (October 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 RESEAR…
Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10915378 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 |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 0 |
| 2002 | 0 |
| 2003 | 0 |
| 2004 | 0 |
2001: 0; 2002: 0; 2003: 0; 2004: 0