TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCEDES BENZ SLK230. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE BASE OF THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LAMP MELTED AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCEDES BENZ SLK230. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE BASE OF THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LAMP MELTED AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V505000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. UPDATED 8/21/15*CN
NHTSA ODI #10730611
85,000 miles · Mar 29, 2007
Exterior Lighting
TL*-THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN REFERENCE TO THE 1998 MERCEDES BENZ SLK WITH CURRENT MILEAGE: 85,000 A RECALL ISSUED ON THE VEHICLE DEALING WITH EXTERIOR REAR BRAKE LIGHTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND GAVE THEM THE INFORMATION, THEY SCHEDULED HER AN APPOINTMENT, AND TOLD HER TO COME BACK WHEN THEY RECE…
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TL*-THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN REFERENCE TO THE 1998 MERCEDES BENZ SLK WITH CURRENT MILEAGE: 85,000 A RECALL ISSUED ON THE VEHICLE DEALING WITH EXTERIOR REAR BRAKE LIGHTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND GAVE THEM THE INFORMATION, THEY SCHEDULED HER AN APPOINTMENT, AND TOLD HER TO COME BACK WHEN THEY RECEIVED THE PARTS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SAID THAT NOW THE FRONT LIGHTS WERE NOW BEING AFFECTED, AND THAT SHE HAD BEEN RECEIVING NUMEROUS TICKETS BECAUSE OF THIS MATTER.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10186508
101,500 miles · Sep 13, 2006
Exterior Lighting
REAR BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE FAILED NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE SLK. REPLACED ENTIRE REAR BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY ONCE UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE SOCKETS EVERY FEW MONTHS FOR THE ENTIRE TIME I'VE OWNED THE CAR. WITHIN 2 MONTHS OF THE CAR NO LONGER BE…
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REAR BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE FAILED NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE SLK. REPLACED ENTIRE REAR BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY ONCE UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE SOCKETS EVERY FEW MONTHS FOR THE ENTIRE TIME I'VE OWNED THE CAR. WITHIN 2 MONTHS OF THE CAR NO LONGER BEING UNDER WARRANTY, THE SOCKET FAILED AFTER ONLY 1 WEEK OF BEING REPLACED. WAS TOLD THEY WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY (AGAIN), BUT THIS WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THEY SAID THEY COULD KEEP REPLACING THE SOCKETS, BUT THAT WOULD ONLY BE A TEMPORARY FIX. DEALER PUT IN A NEW SOCKET, THIS TIME TWISTING OUT THE LEADS TO GET A BETTER CONTACT AND IT SEEMS TO BE HOLDING. (AT LEAST FOR NOW) THE FAULTY REAR BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY SHOULD BE A RECALLED ITEM AS IT COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT AND/OR DEATH. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10168166
85,000 miles · Apr 3, 2006
Exterior Lighting
REAR BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE FAILED NUMEROUS TIMES, REPLACED UP UNTIL THIS POINT AT OWNERS COST. A RECALL WAS ISSUED, AND I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE VIN IS NOT WITHIN THE RANGE THAT THEY ARE REPLACING. MY VEHICLE CAN NOT BE DRIVEN NOW AS IT HAS FAILED IT'S VEHICLE INSPECTION. THE LIGHTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT LEAST TWICE EACH AL…
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REAR BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE FAILED NUMEROUS TIMES, REPLACED UP UNTIL THIS POINT AT OWNERS COST. A RECALL WAS ISSUED, AND I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE VIN IS NOT WITHIN THE RANGE THAT THEY ARE REPLACING. MY VEHICLE CAN NOT BE DRIVEN NOW AS IT HAS FAILED IT'S VEHICLE INSPECTION. THE LIGHTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT LEAST TWICE EACH ALREADY. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10154421
10,000 miles · Mar 1, 2006
Exterior Lighting
REAR BRAKE LIGHT WILL STOP WORKING PERIODICALLY DUE TO MELTED SOCKET. OWNED THE CAR SINCE NEW AND DEALER REPLACE SOCKETS TWICE WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. SINCE WARRANTY EXPIRED I REPLACED THE SOCKET TWICE MORE ON EACH SIDE AT A COST OF $20. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10151503
Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 2006
Exterior Lighting
AFTER DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT BULB BURNED OUT I REPLACED BULB THREE TIMES BEFORE HAVING TO TAKE IT TO A MERCEDES SPECIALTY REPAIR SHOP. I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY. WHILE THERE IT WAS MENTIONED THAT ANOTHER CONSUMER HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10149052
25,000 miles · Sep 28, 2005
Exterior Lighting
REAR BRAKE LAMPS KEEPS BURNING OUT AND WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10137942
39,000 miles · Jul 15, 2005
Exterior Lighting
DT: BOTH BRAKE LIGHTS MALFUCTIONED AFTER EXTENDED USE. THE HEAT CAUSED THE SOCKET AND HOUSING TO DISTORT AND MELT, LEADING TO FAILURE OF THE LIGHTS. *AK CONSUMER STILL HAS DEFECTIVE PARTS FOR INSPECTIONS AND TESTING. IF NHTSA NEED THESE PARTS PLEASE CONTACT CONSUMER.*SB *NM
NHTSA ODI #10124557
39,000 miles · Jun 8, 2005
Exterior Lighting
TAILLIGGHT ASSEMBLY BECOMES HEATED AND CAUSES FAILURE OF THE BRAKE LIGHT SOCKET/HOUSING. DEALER STATES THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND THEY CAN NOT KEEP THE PARTS IN STOCK FAST ENOUGH TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM
NHTSA ODI #10124556
31,000 miles · May 20, 2005
Exterior Lighting
I HAVE A 1998 MERCEDES BENZ SLK 230. THE BRAKE LIGHTS MALFUNCTION ON A REGULAR BASIS. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALER INFORMS ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE OF THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. IT SEEMS THAT WOULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI #10121690
Official recalls
0
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
1
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.
1998 Mercedes Benz SLK230 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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