Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class Complaints

40 consumer complaints on file.

#11339870July 17, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK230. THE CONTACT STATED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE FAILED TO IMMEDIATELY START WHEN TURNING THE IGNITION KEY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER MERCEDES-BENZ OF BEAVERTON LOCATED AT 9275 SOUTH WEST CANYON RD PORTLAND OR 97225 WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 184,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11337084July 1, 2020
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11319353March 26, 2020
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY GEAR SHIFTER IS DEFECTIVE AS I HAVE PROBLEM TAKING IT OUT OF GEAR STATIONARY TO DRIVE AND ALSO THE CAR DOES NOT KNOW WHAT GEAR I SHIFT INTO CAUSING HIGH ENGINE REVIVE IN THE ENGINE AND SOMETIMES THE CAR WILL NOT DRIVE AS IT WON'T MOVE IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC ON THE LOCAL ROADS AND HIGHWAY WHILE IN MOTION FROM DRIVING.ALSO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11291035December 24, 2019
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK172. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V236000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED WALKER MERCEDES-BENZ (6655 COLISEUM BLVD, ALEXANDRIA, LA 71303, (318) 321-3316) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,005. THE VIN WAS INVALID.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11255826September 16, 2019
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK230. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE DEFECTIVE. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING TO WORK, A FELLOW MOTORIST FLAGGED HER DOWN AND ALERTED HER THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF NORTH OLMSTED (28450 LORAIN RD, NORTH OLMSTED, OH 44070, 440-716-2700) TO BE SERVICED. THE DEALER FOUND A NAIL INSIDE THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TIRE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V505000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,347.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11127886September 6, 2018
ENGINE
SIGNIFICANT TIMING CHAIN RATTLE WHILE DRIVING IN THE 2200-2900 RPM RANGE. ENGINE HAS LESS THAN 70K MILES AND IT SEEMS THAT THE CHAIN HAS STRETCHED OR IS TENSIONER IS FAILING. MERCEDES CLAIMS THEY CANNOT FIND SOURCE OF RATTLE AND REFUSES TO FIX IT, BUT ONLINE FORUMS INDICATE THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR THIS ENGINE. I FEEL THEY ARE DEFERRING THE ISSUE UNTIL THE WARRANTY EXPIRES. I FEEL EARLY FAILURE OF THE TIMING CHAIN OR RELATED PARTS IS IMMINENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11022603September 11, 2017
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY DOING ABOUT 55 MPH WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE CAR BRAKES BY IT SELF WITH NO WARNING WHATS SO EVER , THAT WAS A VERY SCARY SITUATION I HAD VEHICLES BEHIND ME AND THEY HAD TO BRAKE TOO, THAT WAS FOR ABOUT 3 TO 5 SECONDS , I WAS SHAKING AND SCARE BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HAPPEN, ANOTHER TIME AROUND THE CORNER FROM MY HOUSE AS I WAS TURNING IT DID IT AGAIN FOR LIKE TWO SECONDS, THIS IS VERY SCARY BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN IS IT GOING TO DO IT AGAIN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11019036August 22, 2017
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
BRAKES ARE APPLIED UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE TRAVELING DIFFERENT SPEEDS. I HAVE HAD THE CRAP SCARED OUT OF ME THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED WHILE TRAVELING AT ABOUT 50MPH. THE CAR LEFT SKID MARKS FOR ABOUT 50FT AND ALMOST CAUSED SOMEONE TO REAR END ME AS WELL AS MY CAR ALMOST GOING SIDEWAYS INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. SOMETHING N EDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE. MERCEDES CORPORATE WILL NOT DO ANYTHING NOR WILL THE DEALERSHIP. I AM SO SCARED TO DRIVE IT. I NOW HAVE IT PARKED UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS TO HAVE ME FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AGAIN. I HAVE ATTACHED A PICTURE OF THE SKID MARKS. I HAVE ADDITIONAL BUT IT WON'T ALLOW ME TO ATTACH MORE THAN ONE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10860868April 22, 2016
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10853090April 2, 2016
ENGINE
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10759238August 25, 2015
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES BENZ SLK 250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT ONE OF THE CYLINDERS MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10717847May 21, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10713479April 28, 2015
STRUCTURE
ROOF LEAKS PASSENGER SIDE. HAVE TAKEN IT INTO THE DEALER 4 TIMES BETWEEN NOV 2014 AND APR 2015 (2-1/2 MONTHS IN SHOP PLUS 97 MILES DRIVEN) AND STILL HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10689572February 20, 2015
AIR BAGS
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10639326September 26, 2014
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10592439May 19, 2014
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10579614April 14, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES BENZ SLK250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A RANDOM LEAK FROM THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED THE SEALANT TWICE BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE HARD TOP CONVERTIBLE ROOF WAS REPLACED WITH A PANO ROOF WITH A VINYL LINER BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT GLUE AS EXPOSED. THE WINDOWS WERE RATTLING ABNORMALLY AND THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE ROOF WAS STILL LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE MULTIPLE TIMES BUT PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10522696July 1, 2013
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES SLK250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS FUEL SEEN LEAKING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FUEL LINE CLAMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10494364January 22, 2013
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
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 ##
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10475510September 15, 2012
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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