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Mercedes-Benz SLK230Years to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 160 NHTSA owner complaints across 7 model years, no Mercedes-Benz SLK230 year stands out as one to avoid, and the strongest years are 1998 and 2001.

Years to avoidNoneUse caution: 1999Best years'98 '01Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints160Top: Exterior lightingSafety recalls01998–2004 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

Mercedes-Benz SLK230 years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the SLK230 median. Tap a year for its full report.

'98'99'00'01'02'03'04
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2004Not rated–/1004 complaints · 0 recalls2003Not rated–/1005 complaints · 0 recalls2002Not rated–/1005 complaints · 0 recalls2001Solid54/10031 complaints · 0 recalls2000Not rated–/10022 complaints · 0 recalls1999Caution36/10059 complaints · 0 recalls1998Solid50/10034 complaints · 0 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common Mercedes-Benz SLK230 problems

All model years combined: 160 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Exterior lighting530
Visibility322
Electrical system233
Structure100
Electronic stability control (ESC)90
Engine and engine cooling81
Power train84
Service brakes80
Air bags63
15 other systems331
0 recalls

Mercedes-Benz SLK230 recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

2 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the SLK230

  1. BRAKE LAMP FAILUREPE05051 · 1998–2004 · closed Dec 2, 2005
    Led to recall 05V-505
  2. REFUELING SPIT BACKPE99055 · 1999 · closed Nov 17, 1999
    No recall