2003 Mercedes Benz SLK: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
9 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
74,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 7 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 9 complaints (22.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 1 | 11.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 11.1% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 11.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
| Equipment | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Power Steering Fluid | 1 |
Electrical System: 2; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 1; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1; Equipment: 1; Exterior Lighting: 1; Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 1; Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Power Steering Fluid: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 2 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 |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 1 |
2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2010: 5; 2011: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10174135 · 2006-11-23 (November 23, 2006)
AT APPROX. 52,000 MILES ON MY CAR, I TOOK IT TO GET SERVICED BY A NON MERCEDES DEALER SHIP, SINCE THE WARRANTY WAS OUT. THEY FOUND THE POWER STEERING LEAKING AND THE RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY. I HAD JUST TAKEN THE CAR IN FOR A SERVICE THREE WEEKS EARLIER FOR WARRANTY WORK, AND THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT FOUND. FLUID WAS LEAKING AROUND THE POWER STEERING PUMP. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10174135 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10183295 · 2007-02-22 (February 22, 2007)
NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER IS 05V505000. MERCEDES BENZ USA HAS NOT PROVIDED INFORMATION TO CORRECT THE FAILURE AFTER INFORMING ME OF A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD WITH THE TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY IN SLK MOTOR VEHICLES. SUBSEQUENTLY BOTH MY TAIL LIGHTS ARE NOT FUNCTIONING AND CAUSING SAFETY HAZARD. DEALERSHIPS CONTACTED HAVE NO INFORMATION FROM MBUSA ON HOW TO CORRECT THE DEFECTIVE PARTS AFFECTED IN THE RECALL. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10183295 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10248895 · 2008-11-15 (November 15, 2008)
I INSERTED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY OR REMOVE THE KEY AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I WAS LEFT STRANDED IN A BAD SECTION OF TOWN AND HAD TO WAIT FOR FLAT BED TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. I HAD TO RENT A CAR FOR THREE DAYS WHILE THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ENTIRE IGNITION SWITCH. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10248895 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10325738 · 2010-04-14 (April 14, 2010)
MERCEDES WITH 23,000 IGNITION SWITCH WILL NOT TURN. I REPORTED THE ISSUE OF INTERMITTENT PROBLEM TO DEALER AND ATTEMPTED TO HAVE IT RESOLVED WHILE UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY PERIOD. THE DEALER SAID IT HAD NOT FAILED. WELL, THE WARRANTY IS GONE AND THE FAILING PART FAILED. IT IS EXPENSIVE AND APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE BASED ON MY DISCUSSION WITH OTHER OWNERS AND COMPLAINTS HERE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10325738 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10335111 · 2010-06-07 (June 7, 2010)
THE INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR IN A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ SLK230 (R170) HAD A FLUID LEAK. THE MIRROR IS SUPPOSED TO BE A CHROMATIC AUTO-DIMMING DEVICE. DUE TO THE FLUID LEAK ALL OF THE DARKENING AGENT HAS MIGRATED TO THE CENTER OF THE MIRROR. THE MIRROR NO LONGER AUTO DIMS, IT CREATES MULTIPLE OBJECTS DUE TO GLARE AND INTERNAL REFLECTION. IT IS COMPLETELY UNUSABLE IN IT'S CURRENT CONDITION. THE MANUFACTURER OF THIS MIRROR MAGNA DONNELLEY USED TO OFFER FREE REPLACEMENT OF THESE DEVICES, WHICH HAVE A LONG TRACK RECORD OF FAILING, BUT NOW NO LONGER D…
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10335111 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10340619 · 2010-06-29 (June 29, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES SLK320 ( N/A). WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS , THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND AFTER THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER ALL THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE.THIS HAS OCCURRED 10 ADDITIONAL TIMES. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY CONCLUDED THAT IT WAS THE K40 CIRCUIT FUSE THAT FAILED. THE FUSE WAS REPLACED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76000.
Owner-reported narrative. 74,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10340619 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10340713 · 2010-06-29 (June 29, 2010)
THE INSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR IN MY 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK 230 (R170 MODEL) IS AN ELECTRO CHROMIC SELF-DIMMING MIRROR THAT HAS NO MANUAL BACKUP. THE MIRROR CONTAINED A FLUID WHICH LEAKED OUT CAUSING THE SELF-DIMMING MIRROR TO FAIL TO PROVIDE DIMMING AGAINST REAR APPROACHING HEADLIGHTS RESULTING IN THE DRIVER TO EITHER BE BLINDED OR TO HAVE TO TURN THE MIRROR AWAY WHICH GREATLY ELIMINATES REAR VIEW CAPABILITY IN THE INTERIOR. THERE ARE NUMEROUS DOCUMENTED CASES OF THESE MIRRORS FAILING IN VARIOUS MAKES AND MODELS AS A RESULT OF USUALLY FROM THE IN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10340713 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10353794 · 2010-09-03 (September 3, 2010)
2003 SLK 230 TAIL LIGHT STILL DEFECTIVE AFTER RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10353794 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
05V505000 · Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights
Reported: 2005-11-01 (November 1, 2005)
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, FAILURE OF ONE OF THE SIDE BRAKE LIGHTS CAN OCCUR. THE BASE OF THE SOCKET CAN BE SUBJECT TO THERMAL DEFORMATION OVER TIME.
Consequence: THIS DEFORMATION CAN CAUSE MOVEMENT IN THE SOCKET-TO-BULB CONNECTION, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A LOOSENING OF THE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS IN THE SOCKET, AND FAILURE OF THE BULB TO ILLUMINATE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR LAMP MODULES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2006, TO APPROXIMATELY 8,200 OWNERS. PHASE II MAILING IS SCHEDULE ON OR ABOUT NOVEMBER 3, 2006, AND PHASE III MAILING IS SCHEDULE FOR JANUARY 2007 FOR THE REMAINING OWNERS. OWNERS OF VEHICLES WITH THE UPDATED TRIM (POST-FACE LIFT) WILL GET AN INTERIM NOTICE DURING NOVEMBER 2006, ASKING THEM TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR REAR TAIL LAMP REPLACEMENT LATER IN 2007. HOWEVER, IF THEY EXPERIENCE AN ACTUAL REAR LAMP FAILURE BEFORE THEY RECEIVE THAT NOTICE, THEY SHOULD COME TO THEIR DEALER IMMEDIATELY FOR A FREE REPAIR. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.
NHTSA campaign record ↗