Exterior Lighting. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Structure. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports2 fire reports0 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

2 reports

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7,347 miles · Oct 20, 2004

Air BagsFuel System, Gasoline

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MY SEAT SENSOR IN MY CAR FAILED AT 7000 MILES OF USE. I HAVE A LOW MILEAGE MERCEDES AND IT WILL COST ALMOST 875 DOLLARS TO REPLACE. THIS SENSOR DISABLES THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IN CASE OF A BABY SEAT. I HAVE NEVER USED A BABY SEAT IN MY CAR AND IT IS NOW IN THE LOCKED (OFF) POSITION MAKING THE CAR EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FOR THE PASSENGER. FORTUNATELY I RARELY HAVE A PASSENGER BUT I WANT SOMEONE TO INVESTIGATE HOW OFTEN THIS SENSOR FAILS. WHEN THE CAR WAS NEW IT WAS TOUTED AS A SUPER SAFE CAR IN CASE YOU HAVE A BABY. NOW THAT IT IS IN LOCKED OFF POSITION IT IS A SUPER UNSAFE CARE FOR AN ADULT. [XXX] [XXX] BY THE WAY THERE ARE ALSO OTHER DEFECTS IN THIS PARTICULAR CAR. THE AIR COMPRESSOR EXPLODED AT ABOUT 4K MILES. THAT WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER AT HIS COST. THE BATTERY DIED AT LESS THAN 3 YEARS BUT I HAD IT REPLACED BY THE DEALER AT 4 YEARS ALSO. AND... NOW THEY SAY THERE IS A POSSIBLE PROBLEM WITH MY FUEL TANK VERSUS A MALFUNCTIONING VALVE. THIS IS A LOT OF PROBLEMS FOR A 7347 MILEAGE CAR. [XXX] *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI #10096097

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999

Air Bags

AIR BAG CRASH SENSOR. YH

NHTSA ODI #607391

Official recalls

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

PE05051 · Brake Lamp Failure

Opened Sep 22, 2005 · Closed Dec 2, 2005

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights

IN ITS LETTER DATED OCTOBER 28, 2005, MERCEDES-BENZ USA STATED THAT IT WOULD CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO REMEDY DEFECTIVE BRAKE LAMP ASSEMBLIES IN MODEL YEAR 1998 THROUGH 2004 MERCEDES BENZ SLK VEHICLES.THE BASE OF THE BRAKE LAMP SOCKET CAN BE SUBJECT TO THERMAL DEFORMATION OVER TIME.THIS DEFORMATION CAN CAUSE MOVEMENT IN THE SOCKET-TO-BULB CONNECTION, WHICH MAY LEAD TO A LOOSENING OF THE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS IN THE SOCKET, AND FAILURE OF THE BULB TO ILLUMINATE.ALL REAR LAMP MODULES (WHICH CONTAIN BRAKE, TURN SIGNAL, TAIL AND BACKUP LAMPS) WILL BE REPLACED WITH REDESIGNED REAR LAMP MODULES WITH A MORE HEAT RESISTANT MATERIAL AND ENHANCED SOCKET HOLDER DESIGN TO WITHSTAND THE HEAT INSIDE THE REAR LAMP MODULE.SEE NHTSA RECALL NO. 05V505 FOR MORE INFORMATION.