IllustrationVEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALER 6 TIMES FOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. DASHBOARD LIGHTS AND REAR EXTERIOR LICENSE LIGHT ARE ON SAME FUSE. FUSE KEEPS BLOWING. DEALER CANNOT REMEDY. *AK *SLC
1999 Mercedes Benz SLK230
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1999 Mercedes Benz SLK230 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 31.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all SLK230 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
30–25K
625–50K
1150–75K
775–100K
5100–150K
1150K+
33 reports with mileage · 26 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Visibility. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports1 fire reports2 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
14 reportsHARD TOP CONVERTIBLE WILL NOT OPEN -- THE MICRON CHIP HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE BY THE DEALER. HARD TOP CONVERTIBLE SQUEAKING NOISE -- I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN 6 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM; ONLY OCCURS WHEN CAR SITS IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT AT 85 DEGREES OR HOTTE( DOT NUMBER: )
WHEN REMOVING THE FUEL NOZZLE FROM THE FUEL TANK, FUEL SHOOTS OUT OF THE TANK LIKE A FOUNTAIN. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THERE IS PRESSURE IN THE TANK WHICH CAUSES THE FUEL TO SHOOT OUT OF THE TANK FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS. WIHLE DRIVING HOME FOLLOWING THIS INCIDENT, THE ENGINE BUCKED, SURGED AND STALLED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE IS B…
Read full complaint
WHEN REMOVING THE FUEL NOZZLE FROM THE FUEL TANK, FUEL SHOOTS OUT OF THE TANK LIKE A FOUNTAIN. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THERE IS PRESSURE IN THE TANK WHICH CAUSES THE FUEL TO SHOOT OUT OF THE TANK FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS. WIHLE DRIVING HOME FOLLOWING THIS INCIDENT, THE ENGINE BUCKED, SURGED AND STALLED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE IS BEING CHECKED BY THE DEALER. *AK *ML
ALTERNATOR FAILED. *YC
Official recalls
0No 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
2PE05051 · 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.
PE99055 · Refueling Spit Back
Opened Aug 30, 1999 · Closed Nov 17, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
Two owners of the subject vehicles have had trouble refueling the vehicle due to excessive click-offs and spit-backs.Both owners have reported being completel soaked when gasoline sprayed from the tank.