1998 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 problems
Owners have filed 42 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Mercedes-Benz SLK230. Lighting is the most reported problem area, at 36% of complaints. Next are body & structure (14%) and transmission (10%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 42 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Lighting 36% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 0 and 5
- Injuries and deaths
- 0 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 43,000 miles 19 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 4 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 5 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 2 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 0 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 6 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 1 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 1 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 19 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 43,000 miles. For lighting specifically, the median reported mileage is about 39,000 miles (13 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 5 complaints mention a fire.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
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.
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.
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 original part would malfunction at any time without the driver being aware. Consumer stopped driving the vehicle until part was replaced. *nlm
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 possible fatalities and severe multi cars accident on a public high way traveling well over 65 MPH speed.