NHTSA vehicle safety data

1998 Mercedes Benz SLK230 Recalls & Complaints

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 1998 Mercedes Benz SLK230 right now, so this page doesn't state a recall count — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for current campaigns. 34 owner complaints are on file.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1998 Mercedes Benz SLK230.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

1998 Mercedes Benz SLK230 owner complaints

Owners have filed 34 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Mercedes Benz SLK230, describing incidents dated June 1, 1998 to March 14, 2021.

Most-cited components

Exterior Lighting 14 complaints
Structure 6 complaints
Engine 4 complaints
Power Train 4 complaints
Air Bags 2 complaints
Electrical System 2 complaints

Of the 34 complaints on file, 2 report a fire (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11403158 · Filed March 15, 2021
WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT SHEARED OFF COMPLETELY LEAVING THE CAR WITH NO STEERING CONTROL. THANKS TO GOD THIS OCCURRED RIGHT AFTER A HIGHWAY EXIT AND WHILE TURNING INTO MY DRIVEWAY. IF THIS SHAFT HAD SHEARED 10 MINUTES BEFORE ON A HIGHWAY AT 60MPH SPEED, IT WOULD HAVE LEAD TO A…
ODI #10730611 · Filed June 26, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCEDES BENZ SLK230. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE BASE OF THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LAMP MELTED AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE…
ODI #10196214 · Filed July 12, 2007
THE GRAY INTERIOR OF THE MERCEDES BENZ 1998 SLK230 WAS PEELING OFF THE CONSOLE AND MOST OF THE REST OF THE INTERIOR. IT SEEMED TO BE A GRAY PLASTIC FILM WHICH WAS PUT OVER WHAT LOOKED LIKE BLACK LEATHER. THE CAR'S INTERIOR WAS AWLFUL LOOKING WITH THESE BLACK PLACES SHOWING THROUGH THE GRAY THROUGHT…

Read all 34 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 1998 Mercedes Benz SLK230 in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Preliminary Evaluation PE05-051: BRAKE LAMP FAILURE
Closed December 2, 2005
- Recall 05V-505

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 1998 Mercedes Benz SLK230 right now — this is not a confirmed "no recalls". Check the VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls for the official status.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 1998 Mercedes Benz SLK230. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

34 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1998 Mercedes Benz SLK230.

Steering

ODI #11403158

Incident: March 14, 2021 · Filed: March 15, 2021

WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT SHEARED OFF COMPLETELY LEAVING THE CAR WITH NO STEERING CONTROL. THANKS TO GOD THIS OCCURRED RIGHT AFTER A HIGHWAY EXIT AND WHILE TURNING INTO MY DRIVEWAY. IF THIS SHAFT HAD SHEARED 10 MINUTES BEFORE ON A HIGHWAY AT 60MPH SPEED, IT WOULD HAVE LEAD TO A POSSIBLE FATALITIES AND SEVERE MULTI CARS ACCIDENT ON A PUBLIC HIGH WAY TRAVELING WELL OVER 65 MPH SPEED.

Exterior Lighting

ODI #10730611

Incident: May 1, 2015 · Filed: June 26, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCEDES BENZ SLK230. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE BASE OF THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LAMP MELTED AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V505000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. UPDATED 8/21/15*CN

Structure

ODI #10196214

Incident: January 1, 2005 · Filed: July 12, 2007

THE GRAY INTERIOR OF THE MERCEDES BENZ 1998 SLK230 WAS PEELING OFF THE CONSOLE AND MOST OF THE REST OF THE INTERIOR. IT SEEMED TO BE A GRAY PLASTIC FILM WHICH WAS PUT OVER WHAT LOOKED LIKE BLACK LEATHER. THE CAR'S INTERIOR WAS AWLFUL LOOKING WITH THESE BLACK PLACES SHOWING THROUGH THE GRAY THROUGHT MOST OF THE INTERIOR. I DIDN'TT THINK THE INTERIOR OF A MERCEDES BENZ SHOULD SHRED AND PEEL NO MATTER HOW OLD THE CAR WAS. *AK

Exterior Lighting

ODI #10186508

Incident: September 1, 2006 · Filed: March 29, 2007

TL*-THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN REFERENCE TO THE 1998 MERCEDES BENZ SLK WITH CURRENT MILEAGE: 85,000 A RECALL ISSUED ON THE VEHICLE DEALING WITH EXTERIOR REAR BRAKE LIGHTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND GAVE THEM THE INFORMATION, THEY SCHEDULED HER AN APPOINTMENT, AND TOLD HER TO COME BACK WHEN THEY RECEIVED THE PARTS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SAID THAT NOW THE FRONT LIGHTS WERE NOW BEING AFFECTED, AND THAT SHE HAD BEEN RECEIVING NUMEROUS TICKETS BECAUSE OF THIS MATTER.*AK

Exterior Lighting

ODI #10168166

Incident: August 1, 2006 · Filed: September 13, 2006

REAR BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE FAILED NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE SLK. REPLACED ENTIRE REAR BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY ONCE UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE SOCKETS EVERY FEW MONTHS FOR THE ENTIRE TIME I'VE OWNED THE CAR. WITHIN 2 MONTHS OF THE CAR NO LONGER BEING UNDER WARRANTY, THE SOCKET FAILED AFTER ONLY 1 WEEK OF BEING REPLACED. WAS TOLD THEY WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY (AGAIN), BUT THIS WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THEY SAID THEY COULD KEEP REPLACING THE SOCKETS, BUT THAT WOULD ONLY BE A TEMPORARY FIX. DEALER PUT IN A NEW SOCKET, THIS TIME TWISTING OUT THE LEADS TO GET A BETTER CONTACT AND IT SEEMS TO BE HOLDING. (AT LEAST FOR NOW) THE FAULTY REAR BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY SHOULD BE A RECALLED ITEM AS IT COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT AND/OR DEATH. *NM

Exterior Lighting

ODI #10154421

Incident: March 10, 2006 · Filed: April 3, 2006

REAR BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE FAILED NUMEROUS TIMES, REPLACED UP UNTIL THIS POINT AT OWNERS COST. A RECALL WAS ISSUED, AND I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE VIN IS NOT WITHIN THE RANGE THAT THEY ARE REPLACING. MY VEHICLE CAN NOT BE DRIVEN NOW AS IT HAS FAILED IT'S VEHICLE INSPECTION. THE LIGHTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT LEAST TWICE EACH ALREADY. *NM

Exterior Lighting

ODI #10151503

Incident: November 10, 2005 · Filed: March 1, 2006

REAR BRAKE LIGHT WILL STOP WORKING PERIODICALLY DUE TO MELTED SOCKET. OWNED THE CAR SINCE NEW AND DEALER REPLACE SOCKETS TWICE WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. SINCE WARRANTY EXPIRED I REPLACED THE SOCKET TWICE MORE ON EACH SIDE AT A COST OF $20. *JB

Exterior Lighting

ODI #10149052

Incident: July 30, 2005 · Filed: January 30, 2006

AFTER DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT BULB BURNED OUT I REPLACED BULB THREE TIMES BEFORE HAVING TO TAKE IT TO A MERCEDES SPECIALTY REPAIR SHOP. I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY. WHILE THERE IT WAS MENTIONED THAT ANOTHER CONSUMER HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

Exterior Lighting

ODI #10137942

Incident: March 1, 2001 · Filed: September 28, 2005

REAR BRAKE LAMPS KEEPS BURNING OUT AND WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. *JB

Exterior Lighting

ODI #10124557

Incident: January 1, 2005 · Filed: July 15, 2005

DT: BOTH BRAKE LIGHTS MALFUCTIONED AFTER EXTENDED USE. THE HEAT CAUSED THE SOCKET AND HOUSING TO DISTORT AND MELT, LEADING TO FAILURE OF THE LIGHTS. *AK CONSUMER STILL HAS DEFECTIVE PARTS FOR INSPECTIONS AND TESTING. IF NHTSA NEED THESE PARTS PLEASE CONTACT CONSUMER.*SB *NM

Check your 1998 Mercedes Benz SLK230 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Mercedes Benz SLK230 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Mercedes Benz VIN