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Mercedes-Benz SLK230Model year report

2002 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 Problems

Complaints
5filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
120,400miles, 4 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
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 2002 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 5 consumer complaints for the 2002 Mercedes-Benz SLK230. The part named most often is brakes, with 2 complaints (40% of the total), followed by electronic stability control (2) and transmission and drivetrain (2). 4 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 120,400 miles. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 31 technical service bulletins for this model year. Brakes complaints overlap with 1 NHTSA investigation and 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

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

Brakes: “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.”

NHTSA complaint #11022603, filed 2017-09, 120,000 miles

Electronic stability control: “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. …”

NHTSA complaint #11019036, filed 2017-08, 120,800 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “The transmission on my 26700 miles car did not shift and the car wouldn’t move on the intersection as well as on the highway where the car would just roll without accepting the gas pedal. Most dangerous on the intersection where cars behind mine would just go without making sure my mercedes is moving(which it didn’t). The mechanic mentioned that transmission fluid may have contaminated other parts of the engine and contaminated various sensors giving erroneous readings error codes all related to electrical issues. …”

NHTSA complaint #11486974, filed 2022-09

Mileage when problems were reported

0% of the 4 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 120,000 and 120,800 miles.

0%0–100%10–250%25–500%50–750%75–100100%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (4 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 120,400 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

20172202022022
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 2002 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 2002 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. 31 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 31 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 2002 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 have?

NHTSA recorded 5 consumer complaints for the 2002 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2002 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 is reported most often?

Brakes is named most often, in 2 complaints (40% of the total), followed by electronic stability control with 2.

Has the 2002 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 2002 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 get?

The EPA rates the 2002 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 2002 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 reported?

Among the 4 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 120,400 miles and the middle half falls between 120,000 and 120,800 miles; 0% 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.