2000 Mercedes Benz SLK230: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
22 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
50,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2000 model year. Data snapshot: . 19 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 22 complaints (22.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 8 | 36.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 9.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 4.5% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights | 5 |
| Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights | 3 |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Crankcase (Pcv) | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights: 5; Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights: 3; Air Bags:Side/Window: 2; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Crankcase (Pcv): 1; Exterior Lighting: 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 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 3 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 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2000: 1; 2004: 1; 2005: 4; 2006: 2; 2007: 5; 2008: 2; 2010: 2; 2011: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2018: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns 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 10088345 · 2004-08-22 (August 22, 2004)
WE OWN A 2000 MERCEDES SLK 230. THE LIGHT, THAT WARNS OF A LAMP FAILURE SOMEWHERE ON THE VEHICLE, KEPT COMING ON. IT WOULD NOT STAY ON ALL THE TIME HOWEVER, AND WE COULD NOT FIND WHICH LAMP WAS MALFUNCTIONING. WE CALLED THE DEALER, MERCEDES-BENZ OF WILSONVILLE, (WILSONVILLE OREGON - [phone removed]) AND WERE TOLD TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN WHEN THE WARNING LAMP CAME ON AND STAYED ON. WHEN IT FINALLY DID, A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER, WE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALER. THE SERVICE WAS PERFORMED ON AUGUST 16TH 2004. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT INSPE…
Owner-reported narrative. 28,635 miles reported. Look up ODI 10088345 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10133067 · 2005-09-23 (September 23, 2005)
DT: LIGHT CAME ON DASH PANEL INDICATING THERE WAS A LIGHT PROBLEM, AND DISCOVERED THERE WERE NO BRAKE LIGHTS. TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID BECAUSE THERE WAS HEAT SO EXTENSIVE FROM BRAKE LIGHT THAT IT MELTED AND WOULD COST $1200 FOR REPAIRS. THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY SERVICE PLAN THROUGH FORD. HOWEVER, THIS WAS NOT COVERED BECAUSE THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS ISSUE,TSB # PB8210/406 OF 1-31-05. *AK NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE BUT OWNER PLANS TO PAY FOR THIS OUT OF POCKET. *AK *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10133067 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10137943 · 2005-09-28 (September 28, 2005)
MY LEFT REAR TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY REQUIRED REPLACEMENT FOLLOWING THE LIGHT FAILURE. THE DEALER KEPT THE ASSEMBLY. I PAID $180.51.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 40,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10137943 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10141616 · 2005-11-03 (November 3, 2005)
2000 MERCEDES BENZ SLK 230 WITH 14072 MILES ONLY HAD TAIL LAMP UNIT R/SIDE REPLACED DUE TO THE BULB "MELTING". ENTIRE ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UNSAFE, DEFECTIVE DESIGN FOR BULB TO MELT IN SOCKET. PROBLEM DEFINED AT AUTHORIZED REPAIR SHOP AS CAUSE: POOR FIT. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH MECHANICS AT SHOP WHO STATED THIS IS COMMON. WHY? NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS BEFORE THERE IS A FIRE IN VEHICLE DUE TO THIS BULB PROBLEM. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 13,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10141616 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10144622 · 2005-12-07 (December 7, 2005)
BRAKE LIGHTS BURNS OUT ON AVERAGE OF 3 TO 4 TIMES A YEAR. I BROUGHT TO THE DEALER FOR BULB REPLACEMENT, BUT THE PROBLEM OCCURS A FEW WEEKS LATER. A DAYS AGO, THE PROBLEM RECUR. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AND HAD THEM FIXED IT; HOWEVER AS, I DROVE OFF THE LOT, THE BRAKE LIGHT WENT OUT AGAIN. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN RECURRING FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS. THE DEALER HAS REPLACE THE HOUSING TWICE. SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN AND AGAIN. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10144622 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10157397 · 2006-05-11 (May 11, 2006)
MERCEDES SLK 230 BRAKE LAMP FAILURE; RELATED TO OVERHEATING AND MELTING OF PLASTIC HOLDER DUE TO POOR CONTACT BETWEEN METAL STRIPS. FAILED BRAKE LAMPS ARE A SAFETY HAZARD; DEFECTIVE PRODUCT CAN ALSO LEAD TO ARCING OF CONTACTS AND FIRE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 26,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10157397 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10163338 · 2006-07-24 (July 24, 2006)
TAIL LAMP FOR MERCEDES BENZ SLK230 KEEPS FAILING. NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 05V-505. WHEN IS MB GOING TO HAVE A RECALL OF THIS DESIGN FAILURE? *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10163338 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10178625 · 2007-01-13 (January 13, 2007)
MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC SENT A SAFETY RECALL # 2006-080005. I MADE AN APPT AT MERCEDES BENZ AT KEARNY MESA, SAN DIEGO, THE SERVICE WRITER (ALFONSO) SAID THAT THEY WILL ONLY REPLACE THE TAIL BRAKE LIGHT IF IT FAILS, BUT THE RECALL CLEARLY STATES THAT DUE TO THE HIGH HEAT CREATED BY THE TAIL BRAKE LIGHT THE BASE OF THE LAMP SOCKET CAN BE SUBJECT TO THERMAL DEFORMATION OVER TIME, THUS WHEN YOU PUSH THE BRAKE PEDAL THE TAIL BRAKE LIGHT WILL NOT WORK BECAUSE THERE IS NO ELECTRICAL CONTACT. THE RECALL ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE REPLACEMENT MATERIAL IS M…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10178625 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.