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U.S. public vehicle records

2001 Mercedes Benz SLK320: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

26 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

79,861 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 19 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 26 complaints (46.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior1661.5%
Transmission and shifting13.8%
Engine operation13.8%
Electrical and battery issues13.8%
Steering behavior13.8%

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.

Service Brakes
12
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
10
Exterior Lighting
8
Electrical System
6
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2
Steering
2
Unknown Or Other
2
Vehicle Speed Control
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Service Brakes12
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)10
Exterior Lighting8
Electrical System6
Service Brakes, Hydraulic2
Steering2
Unknown Or Other2
Vehicle Speed Control2

Service Brakes: 12; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 10; Exterior Lighting: 8; Electrical System: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 2; Steering: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
1
25,000 to 49,999
4
50,000 to 74,999
4
75,000 to 99,999
4
100,000 to 149,999
5
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0001
25,000 to 49,9994
50,000 to 74,9994
75,000 to 99,9994
100,000 to 149,9995
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 1

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 7 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.

2010
1
2011
1
2012
3
2013
3
2014
4
2015
4
2016
2
2017
1
2018
1
2020
2
2022
1
2023
1
2024
1
2025
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20101
20111
20123
20133
20144
20154
20162
20171
20181
20202
20221
20231
20241
20251

2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 3; 2013: 3; 2014: 4; 2015: 4; 2016: 2; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2020: 2; 2022: 1; 2023: 1; 2024: 1; 2025: 1

Pattern summary

Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 16 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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 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 10436485 · 2011-11-20 (November 20, 2011)

WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED WITH WEATHER CONDITIONS CLEAR. THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL LOCKED UP FOR A SPLIT SECOND CAUSING CAR TO SEVERELY PULL TO THE RIGHT INTO OTHER LANE, LUCKILY NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE AROUND AND ESP/BAS LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON UNTIL RESTART. PROBLEM THEN REAPPEARED AGAIN AT SPEED AND WEATHER CLEAR TRIGGERING ON AND OFF MAKING VEHICLE UNDRIVABLE AGAIN LUCKILY NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS AS IT IS NOT JUST HAPPENING ON THIS MODEL VEHICLE OF MERCEDES BENZ. I HAVE SEARCH ONLINE(ESP/BAS PROBLEMS) AT BENZWOR…

Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10436485 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 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 10458158 · 2012-05-11 (May 11, 2012)

THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE CAME ON FOR A FEW SECONDS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 105,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10458158 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10519700 · 2013-06-13 (June 13, 2013)

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ALONG A STRAIGHT PAVED ROAD UNDER CLEAR CONDITIONS, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE SUDDENLY LOCKED. THERE WAS A LOUD SCREECH FROM THE TIRE. THE CAR IMMEDIATELY FISHTAILED AND SWUNG THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE INTO THE ONCOMING LANE AND DIRECTED THE CAR TOWARDS THE SIDEWALK WHERE PEDESTRIANS WERE WALKING. THANKFULLY, I WAS NOT TRAVELING FAST! AFTER SOME RESEARCH, THIS SEEMS TO BE AN VERY DANGEROUS, YET RELATIVELY COMMON, ISSUE WITH MERCEDES. DESPITE THE COMPLAINTS, A NHTSA INVESTIGATION INTO THE FAULTY YAW SENSOR (TURN RA…

Owner-reported narrative. 98,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10519700 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10532783 · 2013-07-31 (July 31, 2013)

FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST MERCEDES BENZ ( HOUSE OF IMPORT IN BUENA PARK , CA). THE VEHICLE THAT I HAVE IS 2001 SLK 320 MODEL. THE VEHICLE IS UNDER RECALL CAMPAIGN , CAMPAIGN # 2006080005. THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN INITIATED DUE TO THE HEAT GENERATED BY THE BRAKE LAMPS OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. THE BASE OF THE SOCKET CAN BE SUBJECT TO THERMAL DEFORMATION OVER TIME. THIS CAN CAUSE A FAILURE OF EITHER BRAKE LIGHT. A FAILURE OF THE BRAKE LAMP BULBS TO ILLUMINATE COULD LEAD TO A REAR END CRASH. I TOOK MY VEHICLE I…

Owner-reported narrative. 51,310 miles reported. Look up ODI 10532783 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10548345 · 2013-10-18 (October 18, 2013)

REAR BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE DUE TO HEAT DEFORMED BULB SOCKET. RECALL PERFORMED APPROX 2008. REPLACED PARTS WITH NO IMPROVEMENT IN DESIGN OR MATERIALS. CONTACTED MBUSA, WOULD NOT HELP. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 130,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10548345 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.