NHTSA vehicle safety data

1998 Mercedes Benz SLK Recalls & Complaints

The 1998 Mercedes Benz SLK has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 2 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Mercedes Benz dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1998 Mercedes Benz SLK. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

1998 Mercedes Benz SLK owner complaints

Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Mercedes Benz SLK, describing incidents dated February 1, 2008 to February 2, 2009.

Most-cited components

Electrical System 1 complaint
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) 1 complaint
Tires 1 complaint

Together, the 2 complaints on file report 1 injury (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10258618 · Filed February 13, 2009
ON 02/02/2009 I HAD MY VEHICLE, A 1998 MERCEDES-BENZ 230SLK SERVICED FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE. DURING THAT SERVICE THE SERVICEMAN INSPECTED MY TIRES AND BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT THEY WERE BALD. THE TIRES IN QUESTION WERE THE THIRD SET OF DUNLOPS THAT THIS AUTO HAS HAD, THE FIRST BEING ORIGINAL…
ODI #10222373 · Filed March 26, 2008
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ALL THE SUDDEN AND WITHOUT WARNING, CAR STOPPED IN MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY, ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OF CAR WAS SHOT OUT AND COULD NOT OPERATE THE BRAKE STEERING AND CAR WAS TOWED TO A FACTORY TRAIED MERCEDES BENZ FACILITY, DIAGNOSIS (NO POWER TO ME2 CONTROL UNIT) THE K40 RELAY…

Read all 2 complaints

REAR LAMP MODULES

NHTSA #05V505000 · Exterior Lighting — Brake Lights · NHTSA notice

Reported November 1, 2005 · MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC.

Potentially affected: 69,278 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign 2006080005 · Owners notified September 12, 2006 · Vehicles built November 1, 1996 – April 30, 2004 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, FAILURE OF ONE OF THE SIDE BRAKE LIGHTS CAN OCCUR. THE BASE OF THE SOCKET CAN BE SUBJECT TO THERMAL DEFORMATION OVER TIME.

Safety consequence

THIS DEFORMATION CAN CAUSE MOVEMENT IN THE SOCKET-TO-BULB CONNECTION, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A LOOSENING OF THE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS IN THE SOCKET, AND FAILURE OF THE BULB TO ILLUMINATE.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR LAMP MODULES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2006, TO APPROXIMATELY 8,200 OWNERS. PHASE II MAILING IS SCHEDULE ON OR ABOUT NOVEMBER 3, 2006, AND PHASE III MAILING IS SCHEDULE FOR JANUARY 2007 FOR THE REMAINING OWNERS. OWNERS OF VEHICLES WITH THE UPDATED TRIM (POST-FACE LIFT) WILL GET AN INTERIM NOTICE DURING NOVEMBER 2006, ASKING THEM TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR REAR TAIL LAMP REPLACEMENT LATER IN 2007. HOWEVER, IF THEY EXPERIENCE AN ACTUAL REAR LAMP FAILURE BEFORE THEY RECEIVE THAT NOTICE, THEY SHOULD COME TO THEIR DEALER IMMEDIATELY FOR A FREE REPAIR. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.

Notes

MERCEDES-BENZ RECALL NO. 2006080005.CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 1998 Mercedes Benz SLK. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

2 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1998 Mercedes Benz SLK.

Tires

ODI #10258618

Incident: February 2, 2009 · Filed: February 13, 2009

ON 02/02/2009 I HAD MY VEHICLE, A 1998 MERCEDES-BENZ 230SLK SERVICED FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE. DURING THAT SERVICE THE SERVICEMAN INSPECTED MY TIRES AND BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT THEY WERE BALD. THE TIRES IN QUESTION WERE THE THIRD SET OF DUNLOPS THAT THIS AUTO HAS HAD, THE FIRST BEING ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT WHICH I HAD SUCCESS WITH SO I WAS A LOYAL DUNLOP CUSTOMER. WHEN IT WAS TIME FOR TIRE REPLACEMENT I NATURALLY PURCHASED THE SAME DUNLOP TIRES. TO MY SHOCK, THEY EXHIBITED PREMATURE TIRE WEAR WITHIN SIX-TO TWELVE MONTHS OF PURCHASE. ALTHOUGH I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD BE REPLACED FOR FREE BECAUSE THEY WERE DEFECTIVE, DUNLOP DID NOT MAKE GOOD ON SUCH OFFER OR WARRANTY. ON 10/22/2007 I PURCHASED TWO DUNLOP TIRES, 225/50R1692V, DOT DN 41 29W AND TWO DUNLOP TIRES 205/55R1691V, DOT DM CP 38W, ALL SPSPORT 2020E. WHILE DUNLOP FAILED TO STAND BY THE TIRE WARRANTY, I WAS ASSURED THAT IF I PURCHASED FOUR NEW DUNLOP TIRES THEY WOULD MAIL ME A CHECK FOR A PARTIAL REFUND. RESTING ON THEIR ASSURANCE THAT THEY WOULD STAND BY NEW TIRES, I HAD THEM INSTALLED ON MY VEHICLE. THE MILEAGE AT THE DATE OF INSTALLATION, 10/22/2007, WAS RECORDED BY THE TIRE DEALER AS 66,666 MILES. THE MILEAGE AT MY MOST RECENT DATE OF SERVICE WAS RECORDED AS +- 84,250 MILES MEANING THAT THESE DUNLOP TIRES LASTED ONLY 17,584 MILES! AT THE TIME OF SERVICE THE VEHICLE WAS DETERMINED TO BE IN ALIGNMENT AND NOT HAVE A SUSPENSION PROBLEM. ALL FOUR DUNLOP TIRES EXHIBITED THE SAME DEGREE OF WEAR. THE FOUR DUNLOP TIRES WERE REMOVED FROM MY VEHICLE AND I TRANSPORTED THEM TO MY GARAGE, WHERE THEY REMAIN. I ALLEGE THAT THESE DUNLOP TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE, AND FURTHERMORE I ALLEGE THAT DUNLOP HAS BREACHED THE IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY. I AM REQUESTING OF DUNLOP THAT THEY REFUND ME MY NET PURCHASE IN FULL AND IN EXCHANGE FOR SUCH I SHALL NOT SEEK RECOVERY IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT AS IS MY RIGHT. IT IS INDEED FORTUNATE THAT NO INJURY EITHER TO MYSELF OR OTHERS RESULTED AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THESE TIRES. *TR

Electrical System; Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

ODI #10222373

1 injury

Incident: February 1, 2008 · Filed: March 26, 2008

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ALL THE SUDDEN AND WITHOUT WARNING, CAR STOPPED IN MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY, ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OF CAR WAS SHOT OUT AND COULD NOT OPERATE THE BRAKE STEERING AND CAR WAS TOWED TO A FACTORY TRAIED MERCEDES BENZ FACILITY, DIAGNOSIS (NO POWER TO ME2 CONTROL UNIT) THE K40 RELAY MODULE WAS REPLACED WHILE IN GARAGE ANOTHER SLK MODEL WAS IN FOR SAME IDENTICAL PROBLEM SINCE THIS COULD BE A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE IS REPORTED TO YOU. *TR

Other Mercedes Benz SLK model years

Check your 1998 Mercedes Benz SLK VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Mercedes Benz SLK at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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