1999 Mercedes Benz SLK230: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Most common problems
Visibility is the most frequently named component, appearing in 15 of 53 complaints (28.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 15 | 28.3% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 7.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 5.7% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 1.9% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
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 10038923 · 2003-09-15 (September 15, 2003)
I'VE HAD A DOZEN BULBS/FUSES BLOW DURING THE LIFE OF THIS VEHICLE. I'VE OWNED OTHER VEHICLES THAT NEVER BLEW A SINGLE BULB OR FUSE OVER THEIR LIFETIME. I JUST WONDER IF THIS IS A WAY FOR MERCEDES BENZ TO INCREASE SERVICE REVENUES. THEY WANT OVER $100 TO REPLACE EACH BULB.
Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10038923 at NHTSA ↗
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 10091150 · 2004-09-16 (September 16, 2004)
DRIVERS SIDE AUTO DIMMING SIDEVIEW MIRROR AND INSIDE AUTO DIMMING REARVIEW MIRROR HAVE FAILED. THEY ARE NO LONGER REFLECTIVE AND ARE PERMANENTLY DARK. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 53,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10091150 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10104731 · 2004-12-29 (December 29, 2004)
1999 MB SLK230 - TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY SHORTS OUT AND BRAKE LIGHT FAILS. THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES, THE MOST RECENT INVOLVING BOTH TAILLIGHTS AT THE SAME TIME! THEY HAVE NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM IN THE DEFECTIVE PART NOW IN 5 YEARS. THEY KEEP REPLACING A DEFECTIVE PART WITH A DEFECTIVE PART! *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10104731 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 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 ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.