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Mercedes-Benz SLK230Model year report

2001 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 Problems

Complaints
31filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
61,320miles, 28 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
23 mpgcombined, 2.3L 4-cyl RWD · 20 city / 27 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2001 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 31 consumer complaints for the 2001 Mercedes-Benz SLK230. The part named most often is exterior lighting, with 10 complaints (32% of the total), followed by electronic stability control (7) and visibility (7). 28 of the complaints include a mileage, and 32% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 61,320 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 24 technical service bulletins for this model year. Exterior lighting complaints overlap with 1 NHTSA investigation and 5 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

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.

Example complaints

Exterior lighting: “More often than not, when I start up my vehicle an indicator for a light out appears on my dash. I have been pulled over several times for a right rear brake light being out. I have replaced the bulb numerous times. I was recommended to look on your web sight and I saw that a recall had been issued campaign id 05v505000 on my make/model for this problem. However when I put in my VIN number it produced zero recalls. How do I know if this vehicle has ever had the recall issue corrected? Also, what I can do to get the issue rectified?”

NHTSA complaint #11150316, filed 2018-11, 126,731 miles

Electronic stability control: “My vehicle would would suddenly come to an abrupt stop without applying the brakes. It would do this at any speed. It was happening everyday. We had to stop driving it. We towed it to the dealer and they told us the yaw sensor was bad. There are many complaints about this on the internet. It is dangerous and could cause a deadly accident. The cost to repair was $1000.”

NHTSA complaint #10914998, filed 2016-10, 80,000 miles

Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): “Vehicle type is 2001 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 #10567829, filed 2014-03, 160,259 miles

Brakes: “The mercedes benz slk 230 2001 model brakes randomly with the front tires left or right or both, engine performance goes down to super slow for a fraction of a second. The car turns to the left or right and slows down abruptly and only due to my fast reaction I am able to avoid traffic accidents ! This can happen at any time and any speed and any place. The last time at about 1mph on a parking lot, before at about 75mph on the interstate !”

NHTSA complaint #11065704, filed 2018-01, 101,375 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

32% of the 28 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 39,000 and 80,000 miles.

4%0–107%10–2521%25–5029%50–7521%75–10014%100–1504%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (28 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 61,320 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

’01’0544’07’09’12’16’19
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2001 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).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
SLK230 Kompressor RWD2.3L 4-cyl5-speed automatic202723$3,550
SLK230 Kompressor RWD2.3L 4-cyl6-speed manual182721$3,900

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 2001 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. 24 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 24 bulletins →

Other model years of the Mercedes-Benz SLK230

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2003587,4000—22—Not enough data
20025120,4000—23—Not enough data
20013161,3200—23Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20002250,0000—22—Rising
19995965,0000—22Not compared (before 2008)Falling
19983440,9980——Not compared (before 2008)Falling

All Mercedes-Benz SLK230 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2001 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 have?

NHTSA recorded 31 consumer complaints for the 2001 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 as of Nov 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2001 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 is reported most often?

Exterior lighting is named most often, in 10 complaints (32% of the total), followed by electronic stability control with 7.

Has the 2001 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 2001 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 get?

The EPA rates the 2001 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 (SLK230 Kompressor, 2.3L 4-cyl) at 23 mpg combined, 20 city and 27 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,550 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2001 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 reported?

Among the 28 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 61,320 miles and the middle half falls between 39,000 and 80,000 miles; 32% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Nov 1, 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.