2001 Mercedes-Benz SLK320 problems
NHTSA has received 47 complaints about the 2001 Mercedes-Benz SLK320, and 30% of them involve brakes. After that come stability control (21%) and lighting (17%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 47 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Brakes 30% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 3 and 1
- Injuries and deaths
- 0 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 80,000 miles 33 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 | 2 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 0 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 13 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 2 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 6 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 3 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 6 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 1 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 33 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 80,000 miles. For brakes specifically, the median reported mileage is about 88,000 miles (11 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 3 complaints mention a crash; 1 complaint mentions 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.
Driving about 30 miles with the hard top down (convertible) on my way home then start smelling something like plastic burning then notice someone from behind me waving/honking her horn, I pull my car aside and a lot of smoke coming inside the engine hood, got out of the car and saw flame coming out underneath from the drivers side.my car is totally engulf in flames.
Tl*the contact owns a 2001 mercedes benz slk320. When the brakes were applied the vehicle stalled. He was unable to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to his residence where an independent mechanic informed him that transmission fluid was leaking. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 70,000. The VIN was unavailable.
While driving at speed with weather conditions clear. The right front wheel locked up for a split second causing car to severely pull to the right into other lane, luckily no other vehicles were around and esp/bas light came on and stayed on until restart. Problem then reappeared again at speed and weather clear triggering on and off making vehicle undrivable again luckily no other vehicles were involved. Please investigate this as it is not just happening on this model vehicle of mercedes benz.
Rear brake light failure due to heat deformed bulb socket. Recall performed approx 2008. Replaced parts with no improvement in design or materials. Contacted mbusa, would not help.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 mercedes benz slk320. The contact stated that the tail light failed to illuminate. The contact mentioned that the vehicle had been serviced 7 years ago under recall NHTSA campaign number: 05v505000 (exterior lighting). The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician stated that the tail light assembly would need to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 45,000.
Other model years of the SLK320
- 2004
- 2003
- 2002
- 2001