2001 Mercedes-Benz SLK320 Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 2about this part
- Share
- 8%of 26 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 40,900miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 2 complaints about the steering of the 2001 Mercedes-Benz SLK320, 8% of the 26 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 40,900 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“While driving it, the car will act like I slammed on the brakes and the bas/esp light will come on. I am not hitting the brakes when this happens, I am just driving along. Initially, these events happened at low speeds, more recently it happened at 50mph in the rain. There seems to be no connection to speed, acceleration, turning, or anything other than random faults. Dealer read an esp code c1120-004, 016 esp yaw sensor plausibility occurred 1 time and erased code. They could not duplicate the condition in a short test drive. …”
NHTSA complaint #10681952, filed 2015-02, 40,900 miles“There is a deadly issue with the 2001 SLK320 and similar models/years, in regards to the lateral speed sensor and the yaw sensor. When these sensors go faulty, they engage the brakes on the car while the car is in motion. The lateral speed sensor triggers the brakes while driving straight forward, and the yaw sensor triggers the brakes when making a right or left turn. This is extremely dangerous, as the car is stopped while it is in motion, regardless of speed. This has happened to me over a handful of times from december 2013 when I purchased the car, up until yesterday, september 22, 2014. …”
NHTSA complaint #10638360, filed 2014-09Related service bulletins
- 10167002Feb 25, 2014Creaking noise when making vertical or longitudinal adjustment to electrical steering column
Steering: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 2 | 8% |
Other parts of the 2001 Mercedes-Benz SLK320
14 complaintsElectronic stability control
10 complaintsExterior lighting
8 complaintsElectrical system
6 complaintsOther or unknown
2 complaintsVehicle speed control
2 complaintsSeats
1 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
1 complaintsWheels
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2001 Mercedes-Benz SLK320
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.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology