NHTSA vehicle safety data

1999 Mercedes Benz SLK230 Recalls & Complaints

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 1999 Mercedes Benz SLK230 right now, so this page doesn't state a recall count — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for current campaigns. 59 owner complaints are on file.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1999 Mercedes Benz SLK230.

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1999 Mercedes Benz SLK230 owner complaints

Owners have filed 59 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Mercedes Benz SLK230, describing incidents dated June 1, 1998 to June 12, 2020.

Most-cited components

Visibility/Wiper 22 complaints
Exterior Lighting 16 complaints
Electrical System 14 complaints
Engine 3 complaints
Equipment 3 complaints
Unknown or Other 3 complaints

Of the 59 complaints on file, 2 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 59 complaints, owners report 2 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11406379 · Filed April 5, 2021
THIS VEHICLE STOPS DEAD IN THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING AND WILL NOT RESTART UNTIL IT SITS SEVERAL MINUTES OR MORE. IT DOES NOT DO THIS EVERY TIME IT IS DRIVEN BUT THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. AFTER DOING RESEARCH, WE FIND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL, AS WELL AS A FEW OTHER MODELS OF MERCEDES. WE…
ODI #11398425 · Filed March 1, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ SLK230. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10- 15 MINUTES. THE FAILURE RECURRED…
ODI #10957410 · Filed February 27, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK230. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER A FEW MINUTES AND CONTINUED DRIVING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE…

Read all 59 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 1999 Mercedes Benz SLK230 in 2 investigations. 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
Preliminary Evaluation PE99-055: REFUELING SPIT BACK
Closed November 17, 1999

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 1999 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 1999 Mercedes Benz SLK230. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

59 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1999 Mercedes Benz SLK230.

Unknown or Other; Engine

ODI #11406379

Incident: June 12, 2020 · Filed: April 5, 2021

THIS VEHICLE STOPS DEAD IN THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING AND WILL NOT RESTART UNTIL IT SITS SEVERAL MINUTES OR MORE. IT DOES NOT DO THIS EVERY TIME IT IS DRIVEN BUT THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. AFTER DOING RESEARCH, WE FIND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL, AS WELL AS A FEW OTHER MODELS OF MERCEDES. WE HAVE CONTACTED THE NHTSA BUT THEY WILL NOT RESPOND AS PROMISED. WE HAVE CALLED NUMEROUS MERCEDES DEALERS AND THEY OFFER NO SOLUTION EXCEPT TO BRING IT IN AND THEY WILL CHECK IT OUT FOR A BIG PRICE. THE PROBLEM WITH THIS IS THE CAR HAS TO MALFUNCTION WHILE THEY ARE CHECKING IT AND IT DOES NOT MALFUNCTION EVERY TIME IT IS DRIVEN. THEY SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL THESE CARS AS THIS IS A COMMON DANGEROUS PROBLEM. WE CANNOT FEEL SAFE AS LONG AS THIS CAR SHUTS DOWN WITH NO WARNING.

Engine

ODI #11398425

Incident: January 1, 2019 · Filed: March 1, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ SLK230. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10- 15 MINUTES. THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY 20 TIMES. THE CONTACT HAD CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALER MERCEDES-BENZ OF AKRON (1361 E MARKET ST, AKRON, OH 44305, (330)733-7511) WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

Electrical System

ODI #10957410

Incident: February 13, 2017 · Filed: February 27, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK230. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER A FEW MINUTES AND CONTINUED DRIVING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Power Train; Air Bags

ODI #10671221

Crash 1 injury

Incident: September 10, 2014 · Filed: January 9, 2015

I,, WAS AT THE INTERSECTION OF I35 AND SCHERTZ PARKWAY, IN SCHERTZ. WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED, I SAW NO VEHICLES ENTERING INTO Y LANE, SO I PROCEEDED TO CROSS THE INTERSECTION. I FELT A BIG HIT, AND AT FIRST I COULDNOT FIGURE OUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED. IFELT MY FACE BLEEDING AND HURTING. WHEN EMS ARRIVED THEY GAVE ME FIRST AIDE FOR MY BURN. I, TOOK PAIN MEDICINE AND WENT TO SEE MY DERMATOLOGIST FOR TREATMENT. *TR

Tires

ODI #10473406

Incident: August 1, 2012 · Filed: August 28, 2012

1999 SLK230 MERCEDES BENZ. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH BRIDGESTONE POTENZA TIRES *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED ALMOST FROM THE DAY HE PURCHASED THE TIRES, ONE OF THEM HAD A SLOW LEAK. HIS MECHANIC CHECKED IT A NUMBER OF TIMES, BUT WAS UNABLE TO ASCERTAIN THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK. THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO GET THE TIRE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT NO ONE WANTED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. *JB

Visibility

ODI #10428360

Incident: October 1, 2010 · Filed: October 3, 2011

REAR VIEW MIRROR STAY AT NIGHT VIEW , AND THE DRIVER MIRROR IS HALF & HALF. *TR

Visibility

ODI #10423897

Incident: May 15, 2010 · Filed: September 6, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ SLK230. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT NOTICED THERE WAS A DARK SPOT IN THE CENTER OF THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. WHENEVER LIGHT WAS SHINING ON THE MIRROR THE CONTACTS VISION WAS DISTORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE REAR VIEW MIRROR HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

Unknown or Other

ODI #10371727

Incident: December 1, 2010 · Filed: December 22, 2010

1999 SLK230 MERCEDES BENZ. CONSUMER STATES CLEAR COAT WAS PEELING ON SEVERAL AREAS OF VEHICLE *TGW THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE BODY SHOP TO CONTACT MERCEDES BENZ, BECAUSE THE PAINT JOB DONE ON THE VEHICLE WAS POORLY DONE. *JB

Visibility

ODI #10360522

Incident: July 1, 2010 · Filed: October 14, 2010

MERCEDES BENZ 1999 SLK 230 -REAR VIEW MIRROR FAILED ,THE INSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR IS AN ELECTROCHROMIC SELF DIMMING MIRROR THAT HAS NO MANUAL BACKUP. THE MIRRORS ARE COMPLETELY USELESS. I KNOW OF MANY DOCUMENTED CASES OF THESE MIRRORS FAILING INCLUDING MY OWN. SOME FAIL BY JUST QUITTING WORKING WHILE OTHERS LEAK THE INTERNAL FLUID. BOTH INSIDE AND DRIVER SIDE MIRRORS HAVE FAILED . THERE IS NO WAY ONE CAN SEE - THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE - MERCEDES DEALER AND MERCEDES USA SAY THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A PROBLEM - DEALER SAYS IT IS NORMAL WEAR. THESES ARE MIRRORS - NOT TIRES. COMPANY THAT MADE THE MIRROR HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE PROBLEM FOR YEARS SINCE THEY OFFERED REPLACEMENTS PREVIOUS YEARS. *TR

Visibility

ODI #10332507

Incident: May 17, 2010 · Filed: May 27, 2010

MY 1999 MERCEDES SLK 230 INTERIOR AND DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR HAVE DISCOLORED TILL THEY ARE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO USE. *TR

Check your 1999 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