2005 Mercedes Benz SLK350: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
21 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
54,426 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 10 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 21 complaints (28.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 28.6% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 19.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 14.3% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 4.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 4.8% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 6 |
| Service Brakes | 5 |
| Suspension | 5 |
| Power Train | 4 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
Unknown Or Other: 6; Service Brakes: 5; Suspension: 5; Power Train: 4; Electrical System: 2; Engine: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Fuel/Propulsion System: 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 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 2
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 11 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 |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2007: 2; 2009: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2020: 2; 2022: 1; 2023: 5; 2024: 2; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 6 complaint narratives. Braking behavior 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 10186885 · 2007-03-30 (March 30, 2007)
4/3/2007. 2005 MERCEDES BENZ SLK 350. CONSUMER STATES THAT OCCASIONALLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN NEUTRAL AT A STOP LIGHT IT IS EXTREMELY HARD TO GO INTO FIRST GEAR. *MC THE CONSUMER STATED HE SOMETIMES HAS TO APPLY ADDITIONAL PRESSURE ON THE STICK, AND WHEN DOING SO THE STICK GOES INTO REVERSE. THE PROBLEM HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY, THEREFORE, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE CONSUMERS COMPLAINT. A TSB HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THE EXACT PROBLEM THE CONSUMER WAS EXPERIENCING. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10186885 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10197418 · 2007-07-25 (July 25, 2007)
I BOUGHT A CAR IN DECEMBER OF 2004 FROM MERCEDES BENZ AND NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS UNTIL A YEAR LATER. I STARTED TO GET TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, THE CAR WOULD START JERKING WHEN I COME TO A STOP, AND THE RPM ON THE CAR WOULD GO HIGHER THAN NORMAL WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS PETAL AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR INTO AUTOBAHN NUMEROUS OF TIMES TO TRY AND GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED, BUT THE PROBLEM KEEPS OCCURRING AND NEVER SEEMS TO BE FIXED COMPLETELY. THE FIRST TIME AROUND THEY HAD REPLACED MY TRANSMISSION, AND FIXED THE TAP THREADS …
Owner-reported narrative. 20,723 miles reported. Look up ODI 10197418 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10270108 · 2009-05-27 (May 27, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ SLK350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF TWICE WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. THERE WAS PLENTY OF FUEL IN THE VEHICLE DURING BOTH FAILURES. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED ONCE IT SHUT OFF. DURING THE SECOND FAILURE, THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP IN THE CENTER LANE OF A BUSY ROAD. AS A RESULT, HIS VEHICLE WAS REAR-ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. FLORIDA PALM BEACH GARDEN POLICE REPORT NUMBER 06569673 WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AFTER BOTH …
Owner-reported narrative. 56,851 miles reported. Look up ODI 10270108 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10393907 · 2011-03-31 (March 31, 2011)
ON FEBRUARY 18/2011 AND WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 SLK 350 START SHAKING AND THE LIGHT "CHECK ENGINE" TURNED ON. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND IT WAS RETURNED A COUPLE OF DAYS AFTER AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR IS OK. THERE IS/ WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE AND THE LIGHT WAS RESET TO NORMAL. AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS THE CAR START SHAKING AGAIN AND THE LIGHT "CHECK ENGINE" WAS ON AGAIN. THE CAR WAS TAKING TO MERCEDES DEALER AND SAME ANSWER THE CAR IS OK OR WE HAVE NOT FOUND ANY PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE AND THE LIGHT WAS RESET BACK TO NORMAL...…
Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10393907 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10482114 · 2012-10-24 (October 24, 2012)
FIRST INCIDENT I WAS DRIVING DOWN A MOUNTAIN (MALIBU CANYON ROAD) AROUND 10:30PM AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WENT OUT OF GEAR BY ITSELF AND I HAD NO FORWARD CONTROL. THE ENGINE REVVED BUT THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT ENGAGED. I WAS GOING DOWNHILL BUT IT TOOK ME AWHILE TO FIND A PLACE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. THERE WAS NO CELLPHONE SERVICE IN THAT LOCATION SO I WAITED FOR A FEW MINUTES TO FLAG SOMEONE DOWN. NO ONE CAME BY SO I RESTARTED MY CAR AND WAS ABLE TO GET IT BACK INTO GEAR. THE SECOND INCIDENT MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING ON THE 101 FREEWAY…
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10482114 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10566444 · 2014-02-28 (February 28, 2014)
IGNITION SWITCHES INADVERTENTLY TURN FROM "RUN" TO "ACCESSORY" POSITION WHILE CAR IS DRIVEN AND I HAVE TO RESTART THE CAR TO KEEP GOING. I WOKE UP TO READ IN THE NEWSPAPER TODAY (2/28/2014) THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE GM FAULTED IGNITION DEATHS AND THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM DESCRIBED IS IN MY CAR AND STILL EXISTS IN THIS VEHICLE. I LOVE THIS CAR BUT IT SCARES ME. I TOLD THE LOCAL NEW CAR DEALERSHIP ON THIS AND THEY SAID IT WOULD COST ABOUT $2,000.00 TO FIX IT AND I SHOULD WAIT TILL IT GETS WORSE BEFORE FIXING IT. PLEASE ADVISE ON ANY HELP I C…
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10566444 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10667301 · 2014-12-19 (December 19, 2014)
JUST GOT OFF THE HIGH WAY AND DRIVE ONTO A LOCAL STREET, THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR FORWARD OR REVERSE. END UP HAVING TO TOW THE CAR. LUCKILY IT DIDN'T HAPPEN WHILE I WAS AT THE HIGHWAY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 67,501 miles reported. Look up ODI 10667301 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10743294 · 2015-07-24 (July 24, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ SLK350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10743294 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.