1999 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 Problems
- Complaints
- 59filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 65,000miles, 33 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 22 mpgcombined, 2.3L 4-cyl RWD · 19 city / 27 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1999 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
Owners of this model year most often report two things: the self-dimming rear-view and side mirrors losing their reflectivity or dimming function, and repeated brake/tail light failures traced to the bulb sockets at the rear lamps. Electrical trouble of various kinds — stalling, no-start conditions, blown fuses and lighting circuits — also appears in a meaningful share of the sampled complaints, typically at higher mileages than the mirror and lighting reports.
- Exterior lighting
Brake/tail light sockets overheat and lights fail
- 15 complaints (25%)
- median 60,000 mi at 7.0 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
- filed 2004–2007
Complaints describe tail and brake lights going out repeatedly, with the bulb socket contacts discoloured, scorched or melted and sometimes fused to the lamp assembly. Owners say the lights work intermittently or fail again shortly after a bulb change, and several report being quoted for socket or full assembly replacement. Some complaints mention a safety recall covering the brake lamp bulb sockets and describe difficulty getting the parts or reimbursement from the dealer. Reported from under 30,000 up to about 90,000 miles, often on cars several years old at the time of filing.
What to check: Remove the rear lamp bulb holders and look for brown or melted plastic and scorched contacts; check that all brake and tail lights work, and ask whether the brake lamp socket recall work was ever completed.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Driver side brake light fails. Took to mercedes several times. They tell me it is a known issue with the mercedes slk 230 from 1998 to present. I searched online and found hundreds of complaints of the same issue. Mercedes is waiting for a death to occur as a result of a faulty tail light assembly before they decide to recall and fix the problem whick will certainly occur in time.”
NHTSA complaint #10075098, filed 2004-06, 68,000 miles“Brake light failure. I have had to change the complete socket numerous times. Each time the socket has melted. Mbusa tells me they know of the problem, but do not see any reason to fix it. Each repair runs about $300. I have had mine changed no less than 5 times in the past three years.”
NHTSA complaint #10139157, filed 2005-10, 26,000 miles - Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
Self-dimming rear-view/side mirror goes dark or blurry
- 14 complaints (24%)
- median 62,010 mi at 9.8 yrs old (13 state mileage)
- filed 2004–2011
Owners describe the electrochromic inside mirror, and sometimes the driver's side mirror, gradually turning dark, smoky, spotted or blurry, in some cases after the internal fluid leaks. With the auto-dimming function gone, some report being glared by headlights from behind or having to tilt the mirror away and lose the rear view. Complaints say the mirror has no manual dimming backup, and that dealers either quoted a replacement part or said the behaviour was normal or unknown to them. Reported from roughly 39,000 to 107,000 miles, with many between 50,000 and 95,000 miles.
What to check: Look at both mirrors in daylight for dark patches, fogging or a smoky tint, and check whether the auto-dimming still responds to a light source behind the car; ask whether either mirror has been replaced.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Mercedes benz 1999 slk 230 -rear view mirror failed ,the inside rear view mirror is an electrochromic self dimming mirror that has no manual backup. The mirrors are completely useless. I know of many documented cases of these mirrors failing including my own. Some fail by just quitting working while others leak the internal fluid. Both inside and driver side mirrors have failed . …”
NHTSA complaint #10360522, filed 2010-10, 78,000 miles“In the resent month I noticed my rearview mirror on the inside to appear to be leaking. It also has stopped dimming. Everything I see from my mirror appears very foggy and hard to see. It difficult to back up looking through it. The mirror never works properly since this leaking has happened. I have not done anything to fix this problem yet. The oem mirror is $180 at the mercedes dealer.”
NHTSA complaint #10251914, filed 2008-12, 107,000 miles - Electrical system
Engine cuts out while driving, then restarts after a wait
- 5 complaints (8%)
- median 117,500 mi at 19.3 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
- filed 2005–2021
Owners describe the engine stopping without warning at speed or while idling in traffic, then restarting after the car sits for several minutes. Several complaints also describe a no-crank condition after a short stop, where the panel lights come on but the engine will not turn over until it cools or the key is cycled. Owners report dealers being unable to reproduce or identify the fault, and some mention that a related service bulletin exists for control-unit and power-supply faults. Mostly reported between about 80,000 and 125,000 miles, in a few cases at highway speed.
What to check: Ask whether the car has ever cut out or failed to restart hot, and have a specialist check the control-unit area under the seats for moisture and the battery/charging condition before buying.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“This vehicle stops dead in the road while driving and will not restart until it sits several minutes or more. It does not do this every time it is driven but this is very dangerous. After doing research, we find this is a common problem with this model, as well as a few other models of mercedes. We have contacted the NHTSA but they will not respond as promised. We have called numerous mercedes dealers and they offer no solution except to bring it in and they will check it out for a big price. …”
NHTSA complaint #11406379, filed 2021-04, 115,000 miles“Hello, this is a pre-emptive report of a problem with a component in 1998-2000 Mercedes-Benz slk 230 roadsters. The failure of this component has many symptoms but one serious symptom is complete loss of power at highway speeds which can be dangerous. I am hoping that you don't actually have to wait for crashes and deaths before you investigate. I ask that you consider the documented problem here and see the potential for a serious safety issue and ask the manufacturer to address it. …”
NHTSA complaint #10315330, filed 2010-03 - Electrical system
Blown bulbs and fuses, dash and lighting electrical faults
- 5 complaints (8%)
- median 58,000 mi at 5.6 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
- 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2001–2006
Owners report repeated bulb and fuse failures, with dash illumination and rear licence-plate lighting sharing a circuit that keeps blowing. Complaints describe multiple dealer visits without a lasting fix and costs quoted for bulb replacement. One complaint describes an electrical short under the dashboard that started a fire while the car was being started. Spread from about 26,000 to 107,000 miles, with several reports in the 50,000-80,000 mile range.
What to check: Check that all interior and exterior lights work, look for a history of repeated fuse replacement, and ask whether any wiring or control-unit water intrusion has been investigated.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“I've had a dozen bulbs/fuses blow during the life of this vehicle. I've owned other vehicles that never blew a single bulb or fuse over their lifetime. I just wonder if this is a way for mercedes benz to increase service revenues. They want over $100 to replace each bulb.”
NHTSA complaint #10038923, filed 2003-09, 56,000 miles“When the vehicle was started the dashboard caught on fire. The fire department determined that the fire was started by an electrical short under the dash. The vehicle could not be driven.”
NHTSA complaint #10034220, filed 2003-10, 65,000 miles
Buying note. On a car of this age, the mirrors and rear lamp sockets are the most frequently reported items and are simple to inspect in person. Ask for service records covering lighting repairs and any history of the engine cutting out or failing to restart, since the latter can be intermittent and hard to diagnose.
Summary written with AI from a sample of 52 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.
NHTSA recorded 59 consumer complaints for the 1999 Mercedes-Benz SLK230. 33 of the complaints include a mileage, and 27% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 65,000 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 11 technical service bulletins for this model year.
Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Exterior lighting16 27%
- Electrical system14 24%
- Equipment3 5.1%
- Fuel system3 5.1%
- Other or unknown3 5.1%
- Engine2 3.4%
- Body and structure2 3.4%
- Air bags1 1.7%
Also reported: Engine cooling (1), Interior lighting (1), Suspension (1), Tires (1).
Example complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): “1999 mercedes benz SLK230. The inside rear view mirror is a self dimming mirror that has no manual backup. The mirrors fail losing their ability to provide dimming against rear approaching headlights causing the driver to either be blinded or to have to turn the mirror up and have no rear view capability. I know of many documented cases of these mirrors failing including my own. Some fail by just quitting working while others leak the internal fluid.”
NHTSA complaint #10250898, filed 2008-12, 55,000 milesExterior lighting: “Re: NHTSA campaign # 05v-505. The manufacturer indicated in a letter to NHTSA that it would start owner notification no sooner than second quarter of 2006. It is now third quarter 2006 and when asked, the manufacturer still says there are no active recalls on this vehicle. I feel that the manufacturer needs to provide an updated schedule for compliance with this recall campaign.”
NHTSA complaint #10162382, filed 2006-07, 15,000 milesElectrical system: “For my slk 230 1999 , sport package, the red and black interiors, fade away constantly , the red paint on dash and center console is very delicate, it will scratch all the way deep enough to see the black original color of the same... Cardan joints have been changed four times and keeps breaking , I have a brand new one in my trunk because the 4th one is already broken...then the asr light turns on avoiding for the asr system to work properly, can become very dangerous on wet road.. I had an accident and almost totaled my SLK230...”
NHTSA complaint #10217894, filed 2008-02, 107,000 milesEquipment: “My inside rear view mirror has failed. There is no manual backup. The fluid in the mirror, which causes the automatic self-dimming, has leaked out. The mirror now fails to provide dimming for rear approaching headlights resulting in a blinded driver or non-use; both eliminating rear view capability. The electrochromic self-dimming mirrors are standard equipment in my 1999 Mercedes-Benz slk 230, model r170. I have researched and found many documented cases of the exact mirrors failing in the same way. …”
NHTSA complaint #10262061, filed 2009-03, 89,982 milesMileage when problems were reported
27% of the 33 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 39,125 and 90,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1999 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SLK230 Kompressor RWD | 2.3L 4-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 19 | 27 | 22 | $3,750 |
| SLK230 Kompressor RWD | 2.3L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 19 | 28 | 22 | $3,750 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1999 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA investigations
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 11 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 10135628Oct 14, 2014Equipment. iPhone mobile phone: Various complaints after software update to iOS8
- 10166099Jul 10, 2014Seats. Pneumatic comfort systems with insufficient performance, entirely inoperative or leaky.
- 10167525Mar 3, 2014Equipment. Apple products (iPhone or iPod) are not charged via the serial USB interface of the COMAND Online control unit (A40/3) in the stowage compartment of the center console.
- 10167002Feb 25, 2014Steering. Creaking noise when making vertical or longitudinal adjustment to electrical steering column
- 10167557Jul 25, 2013Body and structure. Water entry through front section of retractable hardtop with the following localization: - Partial water entry in the area of the side seals to the A-pillar (for area see Fig. 1) when…
- 10167564Jul 12, 2013Electrical system. Customer experiences low battery conditions, resulting in jump starts, and eventually requiring battery replacement.
- 10167563Jul 8, 2013Electrical system. The COMAND unit does not start or the COMAND display remains dark. The COMAND unit cannot be operated. Note: The problem disappears after a lengthy idle period (>6h) or after interrupting the power…
- 10135917Feb 22, 2013Electrical system. Malfunctions of various control units and/or on-board power supply problems caused by water in the control unit tray under the driver/front passenger seat (dislocated, pinched or leaking…
- 10033070Dec 16, 2009Engine cooling, Electrical system. Xentry (mercedes): engine warning lamp is currently on or was on and a delay fault of the camshaft adjust to current or stored in the engine control unit. Models 171, 203, 209, 211, 219, 221, 216…
- 10030929Jun 15, 2009Brakes. Mercedes: corrosion protection coatings for brake components and hardware may be damaged and or stripped away if highly concentrated acid based cleaners are used. Once the corrosion protection is…
Other model years of the Mercedes-Benz SLK230
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 5 | 87,400 | 0 | — | 22 | — | Not enough data |
| 2002 | 5 | 120,400 | 0 | — | 23 | — | Not enough data |
| 2001 | 31 | 61,320 | 0 | — | 23 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2000 | 22 | 50,000 | 0 | — | 22 | — | Rising |
| 1999 | 59 | 65,000 | 0 | — | 22 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1998 | 34 | 40,998 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
All Mercedes-Benz SLK230 model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1999 Mercedes-Benz SLK230?
Owners of this model year most often report two things: the self-dimming rear-view and side mirrors losing their reflectivity or dimming function, and repeated brake/tail light failures traced to the bulb sockets at the rear lamps. The issues reported most often: Brake/tail light sockets overheat and lights fail; Self-dimming rear-view/side mirror goes dark or blurry; Engine cuts out while driving, then restarts after a wait.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1999 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 have?
NHTSA recorded 59 consumer complaints for the 1999 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1999 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 is reported most often?
Visibility is named most often, in 22 complaints (37% of the total), followed by exterior lighting with 16.
Has the 1999 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1999 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 get?
The EPA rates the 1999 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 (SLK230 Kompressor, 2.3L 4-cyl) at 22 mpg combined, 19 city and 27 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,750 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1999 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 reported?
Among the 33 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 65,000 miles and the middle half falls between 39,125 and 90,000 miles; 27% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.