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Mercedes-Benz SLK280Model year report

2006 Mercedes-Benz SLK280 Problems

Complaints
18filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
78,905miles, 13 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
21 mpgcombined, 3.0L 6-cyl RWD · 18 city / 25 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2006 Mercedes-Benz SLK280 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 18 consumer complaints for the 2006 Mercedes-Benz SLK280. The part named most often is air bags, with 6 complaints (33% of the total), followed by electrical system (4) and exterior lighting (3). 13 of the complaints include a mileage, and 31% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 78,905 miles. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 58 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 3 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Electrical system complaints overlap with 8 technical service bulletins 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.

Also reported: Vehicle speed control (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “My car is a 2006 mercedes benz SLK280. The srs light indicator turned on and stayed on.. The garage said the cost of repair of the srs system would be over $400.00. I do not know if the restraint system / airbag will work if there is an accident, it may be a very hazardous condition if the mercedes impact protection system is not working. Many other SLK280 owners have also complained about this problem.”

NHTSA complaint #10692679, filed 2015-03, 97,000 miles

Electrical system: “Headlight wires (Inside Housing) are frayed / melted. Can cause fire. I was replacing my bulb when I noticed the wires in the plug were completely stripped with no shielding. I traced it back to the connector and the wire shields were either frayed or completely gone”

NHTSA complaint #11607894, filed 2024-08

Exterior lighting: “Electrical system faulty. Front lowbeam headlight warning light on. Mechanic changed headlight bulb but it still did not work. After about a week the warning indicator went off and headlight worked. A few days went by and the indicator came on again. The low beam did not work. This time the left side marker lamp indicator came on and the bulb wasn't working. Before I could take it in for repair the side marker was working again. It goes off and on about every other month. Also, the indicator for one of the bulbs above my license plate goes on and off, but it says bulb malfunction. …”

NHTSA complaint #11479715, filed 2022-08

Engine cooling: “The contact owns a 2006 mercedes benz SLK280. The contact stated that the check engine warning indicator illuminated continuously. The dealer stated that the intake manifold needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 48,000.”

NHTSA complaint #10640095, filed 2014-09, 48,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

31% of the 13 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 48,000 and 97,000 miles.

8%0–100%10–2523%25–5015%50–7538%75–1008%100–1508%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (13 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 78,905 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.

2009201332015320182024
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 2006 Mercedes-Benz SLK280 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
SLK280 RWD3.0L 6-cyl7-speed automatic182521$3,900
SLK280 RWD3.0L 6-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 2006 Mercedes-Benz SLK280 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.

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. 58 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 58 bulletins →

Other model years of the Mercedes-Benz SLK280

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2008827,0601—20—Not enough data
20072329,0002—20—Stable
20061878,9050—21—Falling

All Mercedes-Benz SLK280 model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2006 Mercedes-Benz SLK280 have?

NHTSA recorded 18 consumer complaints for the 2006 Mercedes-Benz SLK280 as of Nov 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2006 Mercedes-Benz SLK280 is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 6 complaints (33% of the total), followed by electrical system with 4.

Has the 2006 Mercedes-Benz SLK280 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 2006 Mercedes-Benz SLK280 get?

The EPA rates the 2006 Mercedes-Benz SLK280 (SLK280, 3.0L 6-cyl) at 21 mpg combined, 18 city and 25 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,900 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2006 Mercedes-Benz SLK280 reported?

Among the 13 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 78,905 miles and the middle half falls between 48,000 and 97,000 miles; 31% 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.