Mercedes BENZ SLK Class Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data

The roof panel on my car separated from the body of the vehicle during normal highway driving. This failure is similar to recent prior recalls on other Mercedes Benz models where, due to failed glue bonding, sliding panels on those models detached from vehicles during driving conditions. At least one news article described those component failures as being due to a "defect." In my case, the entire roof panel separated from and blew off the car. The loss of a roof from the body of a car during driving conditions creates obvious safety issues for the occupants of the vehicle and for those in other vehicles or otherwise using the road. I have regularly maintained my car at a certified Mercedes Benz dealer and this potential issue was never raised or identified to me.

My mechanic says it's the fuel filter and it has been discontinued. I am a single woman and I am now afraid to drive my car. l am stressed about breaking down or being killed. Please help me. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK350. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, a loud noise was heard coming from the rear of the vehicle. The contact stated that as she pulled over and parked the vehicle, the low tire pressure warning light illuminated for the driver's side rear tire. When the contact exited the vehicle, she saw that the rim hub cap had detached from the driver's side rear wheel. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic who removed the tire and sent it to a local dealer. The mechanic at the local dealer made the contact aware of a crack on the side wall. Additionally, the contact stated that the tire was taken to the original place of purchase, and the claims team determined the failure was caused by damage from the rim and advised the contact to call the vehicle manufacturer for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired; however, the spare tire was installed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 105,000.

The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK350. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the front passenger’s side headrest erroneously deployed. During the failure no crash had occurred, and no passenger was seated in the vehicle. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure but not assistance was offered. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 48,000.

GLOVE BOX FACING HAS DETACHED FROM THE LOWER SIDE. IT HANGS FURTHER OUT THAN THE GLOVE BOX AND COULD BE A DANGER TO THE PASSENGER IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT OR EVEN A HARD STOP. IT STARTED COMING APART 3 YEARS AGO. FROM MY RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL CAR. IT CAME APART OVER TIME FROM HEAT AND SUB-STANDARD GLUE. *TR

ELECTRIC STEERING WHEEL LOCKS, WHEN YOU GO BACK TO THE CAR ALL THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING THE CAR IS DEAD AS DEAD, IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE IN A BAD NEIGHBORHOOD YOUR LIFE IS IN DANGER, THE CAR MUST BE TOWED TO THE MERCEDES DEALER, PRACTICALLY WHAT HAPPEN TO SO MANY CAR OWNER I KNOW IS THAT EIS / ESL THE EIS MODULE WHERE YOU INSERT KEY TO START AND THE ESL STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY LOCATE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE COLUMN THAT FAILS. THE COST OF REPAIR ($1700.) AS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE RISK YOU TAKE TO BE STRANDED ANYWHERE WITH NO PRIOR DIAGNOSTIC FLAG. MERCEDES STEERING LOCKS IS NOT AN INCONVENIENCE , BUT A SAFETY CONCERNS OR HARDSHIP THAT THIS ISSUE PRESENTS. THIS IS HAPPEN FOR THE MODEL 08+ AS MY SELF AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER AND INSPECT THIS ESL UNIT THE DECLINE OF WORKMANSHIP IN THE ASSEMBLY BY PRESSURING TWO PARTS TO ESTABLISH AN ELECTRIC CONTACT TO THE MOTOR THAT RELEASE ON/OFF THE STEERING COLUMN IS ASININE & STUPID, AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AND CORRECTED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ SLK350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A BAD ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TREATED (CLEANED, VAPORIZED, FILTERS WERE CHANGED, INTERIOR WAS IONIZED) BY THE DEALER; HOWEVER, THE ODOR RECURRED CONTINUOUSLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ SLK350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,800.

MOVED FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO PALM SPRINGS, UPON BEING IN THE DESERT WITH INCREASED TEMPERATURES, MY CAR STARTED EMITTING STRONG FUMES THAT SMELL LIKE BURNING CRAYONS, THOUGHT IT WAS COMING FROM EXHAUST BECAUSE IT WAS BURNING MY EYES AND CAUSING HEADACHES. TOOK INTO DEALER AT PALM SPRINGS MERCEDES, AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE DUE TO THE WAX THAT IS IN THE BODY OF CAR TO PROTECT FROM CORROSION. THEY STATED THAT WHEN THE WAX HEATS UP IT MELTS AND CAUSES THIS ODOR. THEY REMOVED THE WAX FROM THE INTERIOR OF DOORS, BUT THIS DID NO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. THEY HAVE DOCUMENTED THAT THE ODOR IS STILL THERE, BUT REFUSE TO WORK ON THE CAR ANYMORE. I WANT THEM TO BUY OUT THE LEASE BUT THEY ARE REFUSING. THE MERCEDES DEALER TOLD ME TO GET A LAWYER. HE INFORMED ME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENEND SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE, BUT MBUSA IS REFUSING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. I CAN'T DRIVE THE CAR WITHOUT GETTING HEADACHES AND BURNING EYES. WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT THIS. PLEASE HELP. I DID NOT PAY FOR A CAR THAT YOU CAN'T DRIVE WITHOUT THESE PROBLEMS. I AM ALSO CONCERED ABOUT THE CHEMICALS THAT ARE BURNING AND IF THESE FUMES ARE TOXIC OR DAMAGING TO THE HEALTH. I CANT FIND THE NAME OF THE WAX TO LOOK UP THE MSDS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ SLK 350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POP FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SWERVED TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT BOTH CONTROL ARMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000.

TRANSMISSION WOULDN'T GO INTO GEAR. CAR LOST POWER ON FREEWAY. MANY REPAIRS LAST ONE BEING ELECTRONIC GAS PEDAL. *TR ## VIN PASSED ## MERCEDES SLK350 2012 ##

I PARKED MY CAR WITH AN ALMOST FULL TANK OF GAS WHILE I WAS AT WORK. AFTER LEAVING WORK, I STARTED THE CAR AND WHILE I WAS DRIVING I SMELLED A STRONG GASOLINE ODOR, AND IN ABOUT 3 MILES THE ENGINE ACTED LIKE IT WAS RUNNING OUT OF FUEL, THEN DIED ON A FREEWAY OFF-RAMP DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. A CALTRANS (OR SAN JOSE) FREEWAY SAFETY CAR CAME BY AND PUT ABOUT 2 GALLONS OF GAS IN MY TANK, BUT AS SOON AS THE ENGINE STARTED WE BOTH SMELLED RAW GASOLINE. I THEN DROVE ABOUT 1/8 OF A MILE TO THE NEAREST PARKING LOT AND STOPPED, AND WE BOTH SMELLED VERY STRONG GASOLINE ODOR AND FOUND FUEL LEAKING ONTO THE GROUND, WHERE IT POOLED IN A LARGE PUDDLE. THERE WAS NO FIRE, BUT EASILY COULD HAVE BEEN. A TOW TRUCK CARRIED THE CAR TO SMYTHE EUROPEAN IN SAN JOSE, WHERE THE NEXT DAY THEY SAY THEY REPAIRED THE LEAK, WHICH THEY DESCRIBED ON THE REPAIR ORDER AS FOLLOWS: 'LOW PRESSURE HOSE CAME OFF HIGH PRESSURE PUMP @ BACK OF CYL HEAD. VERIFIED FUEL IS LEAKING FROM LOW PRESSURE HOSE @ HIGH PRESSURE PUMP CONNECTION. REINSTALLED HOSE & INSTALLED NEW HOSE CLAMP. CLEARED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT & LOW PRESSURE CODES.' NOTE: SUBSEQUENT TO TAKING DELIVERY OF CAR, AN OVERPOWERING GASOLINE ODOR PERSISTED AND WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED IN OUR FARAGE, THE SMELL PENETRATED THE HOUSE. I TOOK CAR BACK TO SMYTHE EUROPEAN THE NEXT DAY, AND WAS MET WITH RESISTANCE TO FURTHER REPAIRS. THEY FINALLY ACCEPTED THE CAR AND WHEN THEY CALLED LATER, SAID THAT GASOLINE HAD SATURATED THE BELLY PAN INSULATION/PADDING AND ANOTHER PART, WHICH THEY ARE ORDERING. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTROUS FIRE. UNKNOWN WHETHER GASOLINE HAS PENETRATED COCKPIT OR OTHER PARTS UNTIL REPAIRS ARE COMPLETED. *TR

MARS RED PAINT FAILURE-

THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR TO AIR INTER-COOLER DESIGN THAT CAUSES WATER TO COLLECT AND THEN BE INGESTED INTO THE ENGINE UNDER SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE INGESTION OF THE WATER CAUSES THE COMPUTER TO BELIEVE THERE IS AN ENGINE PROBLEM AND PUTS IT INTO "LIMP MODE"; SUDDENLY AND SEVERELY CUTTING POWER. WHEN THIS HAPPENS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (60/70 MPH), IN TRAFFIC, IT CAUSES SITUATIONS THAT ARE POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS. THE PROBLEM IS EXACERBATED AT NIGHT AND/OR DURING BAD WEATHER WHERE VISIBILITY IS BAD AND ROAD CONTROL IS REDUCED. NOTE THAT THIS ONLY HAPPENS DURING VERY HUMID (RAINY/FOGGY/MISTY/..) WEATHER AND IT CAN TAKE TWO PLUS HOURS OF CONSTANT DRIVING, DEPENDING ON SPEED AND HUMIDITY, FOR WATER TO COLLECT TO A POINT WHERE THE PROBLEM CAN OCCUR. MERCEDES IS AWARE. A BULLETIN HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE SOUTH EAST US BUT NO FIX IS AVAILABLE OR PLANNED. THIS AFFECTS ALL R172 SLK250, FROM LATE 2012 THROUGH 2015. WE HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN 3 TIMES OVER TWO YEARS (OCT/13, NOV/14, NOV/15) AND WE'VE ONLY RECENTLY DISCOVERED REASON FOR THE OCCURANCES. THE LAST TWO EVENTS WERE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, IN RAIN, ON INTERSTATES, AT 65/70 MPH AND BOTH VERY NEARLY RESULTED IN ACCIDENTS. WE FEEL THAT THIS IS A SEROUS SAFETY PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE FIXED. WE HAVE TALKED TO OUR DEALER (VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW) AND BASICALLY TOLD TO SELL/TRADE OR LIVE WITH IT. NOTE ALSO THAT THIS PROBLEM ALSO OCCURS ON SOME MERCEDES BENZ C300 MODELS FOR WHICH A 'HACK' HAS BEEN ISSUED. A HOLE, SIZE UNKNOWN BUT PROBABLY IN THE 2-4 MM RANGE, IS DRILLED IN THE LOW POINT IN THE INTER-COOLER ALLOWING THE WATER TO BE BLOWN OUT BY THE COMPRESSED AIR. THIS 'HACK' IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE SLK 250.