1998 MERCEDES BENZ SLK230 Problems & Recalls

WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT SHEARED OFF COMPLETELY LEAVING THE CAR WITH NO STEERING CONTROL. THANKS TO GOD THIS OCCURRED RIGHT AFTER A HIGHWAY EXIT AND WHILE TURNING INTO MY DRIVEWAY. IF THIS SHAFT HAD SHEARED 10 MINUTES BEFORE ON A HIGHWAY AT 60MPH SPEED, IT WOULD HAVE LEAD TO A POSSIB...

Mileage: 81,059

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCEDES BENZ SLK230. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE BASE OF THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LAMP MELTED AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLA...

Mileage: 125,000

THE GRAY INTERIOR OF THE MERCEDES BENZ 1998 SLK230 WAS PEELING OFF THE CONSOLE AND MOST OF THE REST OF THE INTERIOR. IT SEEMED TO BE A GRAY PLASTIC FILM WHICH WAS PUT OVER WHAT LOOKED LIKE BLACK LEATHER. THE CAR'S INTERIOR WAS AWLFUL LOOKING WITH THESE BLACK PLACES SHOWING THROUGH THE GRAY THRO...

TL*-THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN REFERENCE TO THE 1998 MERCEDES BENZ SLK WITH CURRENT MILEAGE: 85,000 A RECALL ISSUED ON THE VEHICLE DEALING WITH EXTERIOR REAR BRAKE LIGHTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND GAVE THEM THE INFORMATION, THEY SCHEDULED HER AN APPOINTMENT, AND TOLD H...

Mileage: 85,000

TL*-THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN REFERENCE TO THE 1998 MERCEDES BENZ SLK WITH CURRENT MILEAGE: 85,000 A RECALL ISSUED ON THE VEHICLE DEALING WITH EXTERIOR REAR BRAKE LIGHTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND GAVE THEM THE INFORMATION, THEY SCHEDULED HER AN APPOINTMENT, AND TOLD H...

Mileage: 85,000

REAR BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE FAILED NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE SLK. REPLACED ENTIRE REAR BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY ONCE UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE SOCKETS EVERY FEW MONTHS FOR THE ENTIRE TIME I'VE OWNED THE CAR. WITHIN 2 ...

Mileage: 101,500

REAR BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE FAILED NUMEROUS TIMES, REPLACED UP UNTIL THIS POINT AT OWNERS COST. A RECALL WAS ISSUED, AND I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE VIN IS NOT WITHIN THE RANGE THAT THEY ARE REPLACING. MY VEHICLE CAN NOT BE DRIVEN NOW AS IT HAS FAILED IT'S VEHICLE INSPECTION. THE LIGHTS HAVE BEEN R...

Mileage: 85,000

REAR BRAKE LIGHT WILL STOP WORKING PERIODICALLY DUE TO MELTED SOCKET. OWNED THE CAR SINCE NEW AND DEALER REPLACE SOCKETS TWICE WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. SINCE WARRANTY EXPIRED I REPLACED THE SOCKET TWICE MORE ON EACH SIDE AT A COST OF $20. *JB

Mileage: 10,000

AFTER DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT BULB BURNED OUT I REPLACED BULB THREE TIMES BEFORE HAVING TO TAKE IT TO A MERCEDES SPECIALTY REPAIR SHOP. I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY. WHILE THERE IT WAS MENTIONED THAT ANOTHER CONSUMER HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

REAR BRAKE LAMPS KEEPS BURNING OUT AND WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. *JB

Mileage: 25,000

DT: BOTH BRAKE LIGHTS MALFUCTIONED AFTER EXTENDED USE. THE HEAT CAUSED THE SOCKET AND HOUSING TO DISTORT AND MELT, LEADING TO FAILURE OF THE LIGHTS. *AK CONSUMER STILL HAS DEFECTIVE PARTS FOR INSPECTIONS AND TESTING. IF NHTSA NEED THESE PARTS PLEASE CONTACT CONSUMER.*SB *NM

Mileage: 39,000

TAILLIGGHT ASSEMBLY BECOMES HEATED AND CAUSES FAILURE OF THE BRAKE LIGHT SOCKET/HOUSING. DEALER STATES THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND THEY CAN NOT KEEP THE PARTS IN STOCK FAST ENOUGH TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM

Mileage: 39,000

I HAVE A 1998 MERCEDES BENZ SLK 230. THE BRAKE LIGHTS MALFUNCTION ON A REGULAR BASIS. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALER INFORMS ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE OF THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. IT SEEMS THAT WOULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE.

Mileage: 31,000

ENGINE THREW A ROD THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE BLOCK AT 84,000 MILES FOR NO REASON.*AK

Mileage: 85,000

ENGINE THREW A ROD THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE BLOCK AT 84,000 MILES FOR NO REASON.*AK

Mileage: 85,000

BRAKE LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CIRCUIT BOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.THIS INFORMATION WAS PROVIDE BY MRS. MARGO'S HUSBAND LENOR KARSTADT.*AK

BRAKE LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CIRCUIT BOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.THIS INFORMATION WAS PROVIDE BY MRS. MARGO'S HUSBAND LENOR KARSTADT.*AK

MY SEAT SENSOR IN MY CAR FAILED AT 7000 MILES OF USE. I HAVE A LOW MILEAGE MERCEDES AND IT WILL COST ALMOST 875 DOLLARS TO REPLACE. THIS SENSOR DISABLES THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IN CASE OF A BABY SEAT. I HAVE NEVER USED A BABY SEAT IN MY CAR AND IT IS NOW IN THE LOCKED (OFF) POSITION MAKING THE CAR ...

Mileage: 7,347

MY SEAT SENSOR IN MY CAR FAILED AT 7000 MILES OF USE. I HAVE A LOW MILEAGE MERCEDES AND IT WILL COST ALMOST 875 DOLLARS TO REPLACE. THIS SENSOR DISABLES THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IN CASE OF A BABY SEAT. I HAVE NEVER USED A BABY SEAT IN MY CAR AND IT IS NOW IN THE LOCKED (OFF) POSITION MAKING THE CAR ...

Mileage: 7,347

I PURCHASED THE CAR WITH 1,000 MILES ON IT, I WAS THE 3RD OWNER. 1ST OWNER WAS DEALER IN NJ, 2-ND OWNER WAS MY FATHER. THE PROBLEM STARTED AROUND 15,000 MILES AND HAS CONTINUED. THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE REAR BRAKE3 LIGHT ASSEMBLY. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS A "KNOWN DEFECT" THAT HAS NOT BEEN RE...

Mileage: 15,000

WHILE BRAKING TAIL LIGHTS FAILED. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE TAIL LIGHTS. HOWEVER, PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

Mileage: 22,000

WHILE DRIVING TAIL LIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALERSHIP MECHANIC SAID THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY BURNING UP. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *NLM DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY WITH NEWER VERSION. MECHANIC STATED THE ORI...

Mileage: 51,000

PASSENGER DOOR OPENED UP WHEN THE VEHICLE WENT OVER A BUMP. THE DOOR BUTTONS OPENED ON THEIR OWN WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER HAD CONSISTENT PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *MR *CB *JB

Mileage: 42,995

CONSUMER STATES THAT DOOR LATCH IS INOPERATIVE. CONSUMER HAS TO REACH OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE TO OPEN DRIVER'S DOOR.*JB

THE CAR HAD A BAD LEFT DOOR PANEL THAT WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY LAST YEAR. THIS SUMMER I NOTICED THAT IT WAS LOOSE AT THE TOP SO I HAD MY WIFE TAKE IT IN TO BE FIXED. THEY FIXED THE PANEL AND MY DROVE HOME. WHEN MY WIFE GOT HOME SHE WAS LOCKED IN THE CAR AND THE LEFT DOOR WOULD ONLY OPEN IF SHE PUT ...

THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A FULL INSPECTION, THE CONSUMER ASKED THAT THE DEALER PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE FLUIDS, AFTER INSPECTION THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE CONSUMER, WITHIN 15 MIN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL AND BLACK SMOKE FUMED SMELLING OF ANTIFREEZE, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL I...

THIS MODEL HAS BEEN EVOLVED SEVERAL TIMES BY THE MANUFACTURER MORE TO MARKET AND IN A HASTILY TIME,PERHAPS AT THE EXPENSE OF THE CONSUMER AND REQUIRES THOROUGH INVESTIGATION. NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK

THIS MODEL HAS BEEN EVOLVED SEVERAL TIMES BY THE MANUFACTURER MORE TO MARKET AND IN A HASTILY TIME,PERHAPS AT THE EXPENSE OF THE CONSUMER AND REQUIRES THOROUGH INVESTIGATION. NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK

THIS MODEL HAS BEEN EVOLVED SEVERAL TIMES BY THE MANUFACTURER MORE TO MARKET AND IN A HASTILY TIME,PERHAPS AT THE EXPENSE OF THE CONSUMER AND REQUIRES THOROUGH INVESTIGATION. NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK

THIS MODEL HAS BEEN EVOLVED SEVERAL TIMES BY THE MANUFACTURER MORE TO MARKET AND IN A HASTILY TIME,PERHAPS AT THE EXPENSE OF THE CONSUMER AND REQUIRES THOROUGH INVESTIGATION. NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK

TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. VEHICLE WILL START TO LOSE POWER. ALSO, THERE IS SOME FLUID LEAKAGE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK *TT

ALL 4 DUNLOP TIRES HAD EXTREME WEAR AT 11000 MILES (DUNLOP FRONT-205/55R21691V REAR-225/50R16 2000E). NLM

HYDRAULICS, TRUNK LID.

TURBO

FUEL INJECTOR, IGNITION TRANSPONDER.

FUEL INJECTOR, IGNITION TRANSPONDER.

TRUNK LID DOES NOT CLOSE ALL THE WAY.

ROOF OF CONVERTIBLE IS LEAKING. YH

AIR BAG CRASH SENSOR. YH

ROOF DEVELOPED RUST. NLM

POWER WINDOW FAILED. YH

TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING. YH