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Mercedes-Benz SLK230Model year report

2003 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 Problems

Complaints
5filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
87,400miles, 5 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
22 mpgcombined, 2.3L 4-cyl RWD · 19 city / 26 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 5 consumer complaints for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz SLK230. The part named most often is exterior lighting, with 2 complaints (40% of the total), followed by brakes (1) and electrical system (1). 5 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 87,400 miles. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 29 technical service bulletins for this model year. Exterior lighting complaints overlap with 1 NHTSA investigation and 10 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. 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

Exterior lighting: “My drivers side brake light has been repaired or replaced 11 times. The recall to fix it failed and mercedes wont correct the tail light system. No brake light is extremely dangerous in traffic, in making left turns especially! Braking is the most important light function on any vehicle!”

NHTSA complaint #11365763, filed 2020-10, 87,400 miles

Brakes: “When driving at normal speed the front passenger side wheel locks up. This has happened at 40 MPH (in town) and also 65 MPH (on highway), almost causing me to hit another car and run off the road. Its happens twice for only 3 seconds at a time. The bas, sap and emergency lights all come on at this time.”

NHTSA complaint #11343969, filed 2020-08, 56,418 miles

Electrical system: “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.”

NHTSA complaint #11339870, filed 2020-07, 184,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

0% of the 5 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 80,347 and 112,000 miles.

0%0–100%10–250%25–5020%50–7540%75–10020%100–15020%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (5 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 87,400 miles.

Complaints by year filed

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

2019202032021
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 2003 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 automatic192622$3,750
SLK230 Kompressor RWD2.3L 4-cyl6-speed manual172520$4,100

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 2003 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. 29 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 29 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 2003 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 have?

NHTSA recorded 5 consumer complaints for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2003 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 is reported most often?

Exterior lighting is named most often, in 2 complaints (40% of the total), followed by brakes with 1.

Has the 2003 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 2003 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 get?

The EPA rates the 2003 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 (SLK230 Kompressor, 2.3L 4-cyl) at 22 mpg combined, 19 city and 26 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 2003 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 reported?

Among the 5 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 87,400 miles and the middle half falls between 80,347 and 112,000 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.