1999 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) Problems
- Complaints
- 22about this part
- Share
- 37%of 59 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 61,505miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 22 complaints about the visibility of the 1999 Mercedes-Benz SLK230, 37% of the 59 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 61,505 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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“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 miles“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 miles“Vehicle type is 1999 mercedes benz SLK230 (r170 model). The inside rear view mirror is an electrochromic 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 #10235333, filed 2008-07, 39,125 miles“Vehicle type is 1999 mercedes benz SLK230 (r170 model). The inside rear view mirror is an electrochromic 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 #10250802, filed 2008-12, 62,010 milesVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): other model years
Other parts of the 1999 Mercedes-Benz SLK230
16 complaintsElectrical system
14 complaintsEquipment
3 complaintsFuel system
3 complaintsOther or unknown
3 complaintsEngine
2 complaintsBody and structure
2 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
2 complaintsAir bags
1 complaintsEngine cooling
1 complaintsInterior lighting
1 complaintsSuspension
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1999 Mercedes-Benz SLK230
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.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology