Most common 1999 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 problems
Share of the 59 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mercedes-Benz SLK230 complaints by model year
Best SLK230 years: 2002, 2003, 2000. Years to avoid: 1999, 1998. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 1999 Mercedes-Benz SLK230:
Refueling spit back
Two owners of the subject vehicles have had trouble refueling the vehicle due to excessive click-offs and spit-backs.Both owners have reported being completel soaked when gasoline sprayed from the tank.
Brake lamp failure
In its letter dated October 28, 2005, Mercedes-Benz USA stated that it would conduct a safety recall to remedy defective brake lamp assemblies in model year 1998 through 2004 Mercedes Benz slk vehicles.the base of the brake lamp socket can be subject to thermal deformation over time.this deformation can cause movement in the socket-to-bulb connection, which May lead to a loosening of the electrical contacts in the…
What 1999 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 owners say
Windows, wipers & sunroof all 22 →
For my slk 230 1999 , sport package, the red and black interiors, fade away constantly , the red paint on dash and center console is very delicate, it will scratch all the way deep enough to see the black original color of the same... Cardan joints have been changed four times and keeps breaking , I have a brand new one in my trunk because the 4th one is already broken...then the asr light turns on" avoiding for the asr system to work properly, can become very dangerous on wet road.. I had an accident and almost totaled my SLK230...
My inside rear view mirror has failed. There is no manual backup. The fluid in the mirror, which causes the automatic self-dimming, has leaked out. The mirror now fails to provide dimming for rear approaching headlights resulting in a blinded driver or non-use; both eliminating rear view capability. The electrochromic self-dimming mirrors are standard equipment in my 1999 Mercedes-Benz slk 230, model r170. I have researched and found many documented cases of the exact mirrors failing in the same way. The mirror manufacture, magna donnelly, was replacing these mirrors for free under some kind of warranty program in the past, but stopped for unknown reasons. The problem has gotten so bad that their warranty department direct number [phone]) now has a recorded message directing people to another web site that sells discounted replacement mirrors.
Lights
Brake lights burn out frequently on my 1999 Mercedes slk 230. Light sockets burn with discoloration and plastic melts at the socket and circuit board on the rear of the taillight. It is very difficult to remove the burned socket from the fixture. The intent of the design is to use finger pressure to twist the socket out. Due to the melting it requires the use of a wrench that then damages the socket sometimes to an unusable condition requiring replacement at owner cost. Dash "bulb out" warning light is too dim to notice and hidden from view behind the steering wheel. Bulb out warning light illuminates sometimes when there are no lights burned out so this makes it useless to determine what bulb is actually out if any. My car was in the Mercedes shop for 30 days and returned to me with the comment ''condition could not be duplicated'' in regards to the taillight. …
There is a defect in 1998 - 2001 Mercedes Benz slk model cars tail lights and brake lights. The socket which houses the bulbs does not provide sufficient pressure to maintain electrical contact. The result of this is burned conctats, melted bulb housings and burned out tail and brake lights. This can lead to a fire or an accident in the event of failure. This defect has been reported by hundreds/thousands of slk owners to the manufacturer. The maufacturer refuses to acknowledge this defect and will do nothing to correct it if the vehicle is out of warrenty. The defect, if discovered by the owner prior to warranty expiration is corrected, but if the defect is not discovered in warranty the manufacturer will do nothing to correct it. Subsequent (post 2001) models have had this defect corrected but the pre 2001 vehicles still have this defect.
Electrical system
For my slk 230 1999 , sport package, the red and black interiors, fade away constantly , the red paint on dash and center console is very delicate, it will scratch all the way deep enough to see the black original color of the same... Cardan joints have been changed four times and keeps breaking , I have a brand new one in my trunk because the 4th one is already broken...then the asr light turns on" avoiding for the asr system to work properly, can become very dangerous on wet road.. I had an accident and almost totaled my SLK230...
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Mercedes-Benz SLK230. While driving 70 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact coasted the vehicle to the side of the road. The contact was able to restart the vehicle after a few minutes and continued driving. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 125,000. The VIN was not available.
1999 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3L 4-cyl supercharged | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 19 / 27 / 22 |
| 2.3L 4-cyl supercharged | 5-speed manual | RWD | 19 / 28 / 22 |
EPA ratings. Class: Sports car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 a good car?
Based on 59 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 SLK230 rates avoid: 2.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the SLK230 at the same age. It is one of the SLK230 years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1999 Mercedes-Benz SLK230?
The windows, wipers & sunroof — 22 complaints, 37% of all complaints for this model year, most often about rearview mirrors/devices › interior. Next are the lights (17) and electrical system (14).
How many recalls does the 1999 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1999 Mercedes-Benz SLK230. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mercedes-Benz SLK230?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2002, 2003 and 2000. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1999 and 1998. See the full Mercedes-Benz SLK230 years comparison.
At what mileage do 1999 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 65,000 miles; 27% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.