2013 Mercedes-Benz SLK250: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
8 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
28,750 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 8 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 12.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 12.5% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 2 |
| Structure:Body | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 |
| Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars | 1 |
| Unknown Or Other | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 |
Engine: 2; Structure:Body: 2; Air Bags: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1; Fuel/Propulsion System: 1; Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars: 1; Unknown Or Other: 1; Vehicle Speed Control: 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 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 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 |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2018: 1; 2020: 1; 2022: 1; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 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 10522696 · 2013-07-01 (July 1, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES SLK250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS FUEL SEEN LEAKING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FUEL LINE CLAMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10522696 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10579614 · 2014-04-14 (April 14, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES BENZ SLK250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A RANDOM LEAK FROM THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED THE SEALANT TWICE BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE HARD TOP CONVERTIBLE ROOF WAS REPLACED WITH A PANO ROOF WITH A VINYL LINER BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT GLUE AS EXPOSED. THE WINDOWS WERE RATTLING ABNORMALLY AND THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE ROOF WAS STILL LEAKING. THE VEHICLE W…
Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10579614 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10759238 · 2015-08-25 (August 25, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES BENZ SLK 250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT ONE OF THE CYLINDERS MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,500.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10759238 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11127886 · 2018-09-06 (September 6, 2018)
SIGNIFICANT TIMING CHAIN RATTLE WHILE DRIVING IN THE 2200-2900 RPM RANGE. ENGINE HAS LESS THAN 70K MILES AND IT SEEMS THAT THE CHAIN HAS STRETCHED OR IS TENSIONER IS FAILING. MERCEDES CLAIMS THEY CANNOT FIND SOURCE OF RATTLE AND REFUSES TO FIX IT, BUT ONLINE FORUMS INDICATE THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR THIS ENGINE. I FEEL THEY ARE DEFERRING THE ISSUE UNTIL THE WARRANTY EXPIRES. I FEEL EARLY FAILURE OF THE TIMING CHAIN OR RELATED PARTS IS IMMINENT.
Owner-reported narrative. 57,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11127886 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11383526 · 2020-12-15 (December 15, 2020)
COMPLAINT CONCERNS THE ROOF TOP PANEL PROBLEM ON A 2013 MERCEDES BENZ SLK 250. THE ROOF ISSUE OCCURRED IN JULY 2020 WHEN THE SLK 250 HAD ABOUT 36,000 MILES. THE ROOF PANEL ON THE CONVERTIBLE TOP SEPARATED FROM THE UNDERLYING CROSS-SUPPORT MEMBER CAUSING THE ROOF PANEL TO EXPAND AND SEPARATE WHICH THEN CAUSES THE FRONT PART OF THE ROOF PANEL TO BOW NOTICEABLY WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES ARE ABOVE APPROXIMATELY 85 DEGREES. WHEN THE ROOF PANEL BOWS IT CREATES CONSIDERABLE WIND NOISE, AND RAISES POSSIBLE CONCERNS OF WATER ENTERING THE INTERIOR IF …
Owner-reported narrative. 36,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11383526 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11496637 · 2022-12-08 (December 8, 2022)
The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz SLK250. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the convertible roof cover started to pull away from the cross-support members connected to the windshield. The contact stated that the separation failure of the roof top become more pronounced, and water there was water leaking into the vehicle, causing an electrical short circuit of the convertible roof controls and the courtesy lights located in the overhead panel. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed an…
Owner-reported narrative. 74,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11496637 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11735326 · 2026-05-03 (May 3, 2026)
While passing a vehicle on a two lane road, my vehicle lost power and went into limp mode nearly causing a head on accident. The check engine light came on and i immediately went to O'Reilly's Auto parts store and had their OBD scanner read the code. AP0002 code was read. I immediately returned home and the check engine light automatically cleared. I scanned the OBD again and found code P0002 and a second code P000277 that was listed as stored and current Both codes refer to an issue with the high pressure fuel pump. I just recently purchased …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11735326 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11745474 · 2026-06-21 (June 21, 2026)
The anti whip lash prevention malfunctioned and the headrest was launched forwards
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11745474 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
13V236000 · Electrical System:Software | Air Bags
Reported: 2013-06-04 (June 4, 2013)
Mercedes-Benz (Mercedes) is recalling certain model year 2013 SLK250 and SLK350 vehicles manufactured October 9, 2012, through November 20, 2012. These vehicles are equipped with an occupant classification system (OCS) that may not correctly differentiate between a child seat or a very light person being in the front passenger seat.
Consequence: If the OCS incorrectly classifies a very light person as being a child seat, in the event of a crash necessitating airbag deployment, the system would deactivate the passenger airbag, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Mercedes will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side seat cushion including the OCS. The recall began on July 26, 2013. Owners may contact Mercedes at 1-201-573-0600.
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V787000 · Communication
Reported: 2019-11-01 (November 1, 2019)
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2013-2017 vehicles due to a software fault that may cause the date and time for the emergency call system (eCall) to differ from the actual date and time, potentially relaying an inaccurate vehicle location. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V787-4620.pdf
Consequence: An inaccurate vehicle location may delay emergency responders, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: MBUSA has initiated an Over the Air (OTA) remote update. MBUSA will also notify owners, and dealers will check software for a successful OTA or update the communication module software as needed, free of charge. The recall began December 23, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2019120008.
NHTSA campaign record ↗