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

TAKATA RECALL NOTIFIED OVER A YEAR AGO OF RECALL. WE HAVE CALLED 4 TIMES TO DEALER SINCE WE RECEIVED NOTICE AND THEY STILL CANNOT TELL US ANYTHING. NOW I SEE THEY HAVE FILED BANKRUPCY. I HAVE A CAR THAT I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING AND CANNOT PUT ANYONE IN THE OTHER SEAT.

"TAKATA RECALL" - MY 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK280 HAS NOT HAD THE AIRBAG REPLACED AS OF OCT. 26, 2016. MY VEHICLE HAS AN AIRBAG WITH A TAKATA MADE INFLATOR, ACCORDING TO THE RECALL NOTICE.

TAKATA RECALL. RECALL IN FEBRUARY 2016, NOTIFIED IN MAY 2016, AND WAS ADVISED RECENTLY BY LOCAL MERCEDES DEALERSHIP THAT PARTS TO REPAIR ARE STILL NOT AVAILABLE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE, OTHER BRANDS (HONDA) HAVE EXCESS PARTS BUT MERCEDES HAS NONE. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR FOR OVER 4 MONTHS DUE TO THIS DEADLY SAFETY RECALL.

TAKATA RECALL: RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FROM MERCEDES BENZ IN FEBRUARY, BUT THEY HAVE NO REPLACEMENT PART AT THIS TIME. I NEED THE USE OF VEHICLE, BUT AM AFRAID TO USE BECAUSE OF THE RECALL. MERCEDES BENZ IS NOT DOING ANYTHING FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS AS THEY ARE SAYING THE CAR SHOULD BE SAFE TO DRIVE. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO GET A LOANER VEHICLE OR GET MB AND TAKATA TO COME UP WITH REPLACEMENT PART OR REIMBURSEMENT FOR LOST USE OF VEHICLE?

TAKATA RECALL#16V-081 TRYING TO GET HELP FROM DEALERSHIP HAVING DIFFICULTIES. I'M UNCERTAIN IF I HAVE OTHER UNKNOWN ISSUES AS CHECKED MARKED. THIS IS THE 2ND RECALL. I AM HAVING A SAFETY CONCERN ON THIS VEHICLE I PURCHASED AND MANAGEMENT IS NOT COOPERATING/ ASSISTING UPSET OVER A PREVIOUS DEFECTIVE BATTERY. I AM UNCERTAIN IF THE SAME ISSUE IS RECURRING AND OR EFFECTING THE DOOR LOCKS, DOME LIGHTS, ELECTRONICS, LIGHTS, VEHICLE WILL NOT START.

THE CONVERTIBLE HARD TOP HYDRAULIC SYSTEM START TO LEAK OIL TO DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT. THE HARD TOP DOES NOT MOVE AND DIFFICULT TO CLOSE. I HAVE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FROM SEVERAL OWNERS THAT IT IS A CURRENT PROBLEM OF ALL VEHICLES OF MODELS. THIS IS AN UNSAFELY PROBLEM, SINCE THE HARD TOP, REAR GLASS AND TRUNK HAS PROBLEM TO BE LOCKED COMPLETELY. APPARENTLY THE MERCEDES BENZ MANUFACTURER KNOW THAT THE HYDRAULIC CYLINDERS SEALS FAIL, ONCE THE MINERAL OIL LOSE ITS PROPERTY. THIS MEAN THAT HYDRAULIC SYSTEM GET NOT PROTECTED AFTER SUCH OIL IS INAPPROPRIATE TO PROTECT THE SEAL, RESULTING ON LEAKING AND CAR FINISH WITHOUT PROTECTION,. IF IT HAPPEN WHEN IT IS SNOWING OR RAINING OR FAR AWAY, IT WILL BECOME IN A POTENTIAL SAFETY HARMFUL PROBLEM FOR THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS. I REQUESTED A SERVICE TO MERCEDES BENZ AND THE ANSWER VWAS THE REPAIR WILL BE ALMOST $ 5000.00 MERCEDS BENZ SHOULD REPAIR ALL THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM FOR HARD TOP UNDER A RECALL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ SLK280. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE HARD CONVERTIBLE TOP WOULD NOT RELEASE OPEN WHEN ACTIVATED BY THE CONTROL DEVICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT OF A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V303000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED O THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

OWNED A BRAND NEW 2007 MERCEDES SLK 280 AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS PUSHING AND PULLING TO THE POINT THAT IT WENT OUT AND HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED; AND ULTIMATELY, IT WAS A 'BUY-BACK.' AFTERWARDS, I HAD ANOTHER NEW MERCEDES 280, NOW A 2008, AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON THAT ONE TOO. BIG MISTAKE ON MY PART; WHAT ARE THE ODDS THAT ANOTHER NEW ONE WOULD GO BAD? THE MERCEDES 7 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS WAS A COMPLETE NIGHTMARE EXPERIENCE FOR ME. SINCE 2008, EVERY TIME I SEE A MERCEDES SLK, I SOMETIMES ATTEMPT TO TAKE A MOMENT AND ASK THE DRIVER OF THE CAR: "HEY, HOW'S THE TRANSMISSION?" *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ SLK280. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH BRIDGESTONE POTENZA TIRES, TIRE SIZE 225/4.5/17. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH WHEN HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT BOTH REAR TIRES EXHIBITED UNEVEN TREAD WEAR. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE TIRE DEALER ON SIX SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE VEHICLE REQUIRED AN ALIGNMENT AND TIRE ROTATION. AN ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY INFORMED THAT THE TIRES WERE NOT DESIGNED TO BE INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE. THERE HAD BEEN NO ADDITIONAL REPAIR OR TIRE REPLACEMENT AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT WAS DISPLEASED TO KNOW THAT THE INCORRECT TIRES WERE INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE BY THE TIRE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000. DOT NUMBER WAS 7GH8L4T2108.

I am submitting this complaint to report a serious high‑pressure fuel system failure on my 2015 Mercedes‑Benz SLK 250 equipped with the M274 2.0L turbocharged engine, which resulted in a sudden and dangerous loss of propulsion. While accelerating to pass another vehicle at roadway speed, the engine abruptly lost power, stalled, and the vehicle immediately entered limp mode, leaving me exposed to active traffic with no warning and unable to complete the maneuver safely. The incident triggered diagnostic fault code P000277, consistent with a fuel pressure or fuel control system malfunction. This failure created an immediate safety hazard, as loss of engine power during acceleration significantly increases the risk of rear‑end or side‑impact collisions. Of particular concern is that Mercedes‑Benz has previously acknowledged fuel system safety defects in the same M274 engine family, as documented in NHTSA Safety Recall Campaign No. 18V‑837, which addressed known vulnerabilities in the fuel delivery system that could lead to engine malfunction. Although my specific vehicle may not have been included in that recall, the symptoms and failure mode I experienced are consistent with those known fuel system issues. A sudden and complete loss of engine power during normal driving conditions represents an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety. I respectfully urge NHTSA to investigate this failure pattern to determine whether additional vehicles using this engine platform are affected and to take appropriate action to prevent injuries or fatalities. Can you please give me a document so I can go to Mercedes and get this fixed? this first happened in June 2024 and I am since clearing the code myself and I just found out this problem.

THIS IS THE PROBLEM I AM HAVING WITH MY VEHICLE: Nature of the Problem: The recall involves the ESC system software, which may incorrectly keep the brakes slightly applied. This can cause the brake components to heat up over time, potentially affecting braking performance and increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, the dragging brakes may overheat, raising the risk of a fire. Recall Initiation: The recall began on June 9, 2017. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is responsible for notifying owners and will update the ESC system software free of charge. I GOT THIS INFORMATION WHEN I DID A SEARCH FOR MY PARTICULAR PROBLEM. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, MY BRAKES GO "SOFT" AND I HAVE TO PUSH THE BRAKE PEDAL WAY DOWN TO STOP THE CAR. ALSO, THEY HEAT UP AND SOMETIMES SMOKE. THIS HAPPENS ONCE IN A WHILE NOT ALL THE TIME. THE LAST TIME WAS YESTERDAY 10/09/2025 I CALLED MERCEDES AND THEY TOLD ME MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED ON THE RECALL FOR SOME REASON. THEY TOLD ME TO REPORT THE PROBLEM HERE AND HAVE MY VEHICLE ADDED TO THE RECALL. THANK YOU

Good afternoon, My GPS just shut down. i've never had a car do this! Its a Becker by Harman [XXX] Modelno. : Becker Map Pilot P/N 2710171 EC:104 Assembly date 2025 Type BMP M077 A 166 900 58 15 ZGS(ZB)001 A 172 901 48 04 zgs(HW)001 A 166 902 10 07 ZGS(SW)001 Can it be replaced? my dealership said they went out of business and can't be replaced? thank you [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

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.