Most common 2005 Mercedes-Benz SLK350 problems
Share of the 21 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mercedes-Benz SLK350 complaints by model year
Best SLK350 years: 2013, 2015, 2016. Compare all years →
What 2005 Mercedes-Benz SLK350 owners say
Transmission & drivetrain
the conductor plate along with its speed sensor is faulty. Luckily I just exit the highway, the transmission just stopped working, can't drive forward or reverse and when I apply gas on either D or R, just the RPM speed up as if the car is in neutral. I was stranded on the middle of the road. this happened a few time. after turning off the car and turn it back on usually reset it for a little bit. the first time, I have to replace the transmission.
transmission lines popping off popped off at 60 miles per hour tensed me up it stared smoking pushed the safety hazzard lights on and was able to limp it off the highway its happened 3 times after i repaired them afraid to even drive it now.no no no
Brakes
The contact owns a 2005 Mercedes-Benz SLK-350. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle eventually came to a rolling stop on the side of the road. In addition, the parking brake was activated; however, but failed to activate as intended. The contact stated that the low brake fluid warning light was illuminated. The contact refilled the brake fluid reservoir. The contact stated that the vehicle was almost involved in two crashes because of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the contact was informed that the repair was not covered under warranty. …
The brake lines are rusted from the rear sub Frame that was rusted And caused an accident. They told me the sub frame was the only item covered but that they could only bolt it and not weld if and then the exhaust and brake lines (rusted too bad to describe) weren't covered and since I couldn't afford it they only repaired the subframe and left the rest hanging ! My brakes failed on the way home. No one was injured but I can't believe they let me go home with that condition!
Suspension
The brake lines are rusted from the rear sub Frame that was rusted And caused an accident. They told me the sub frame was the only item covered but that they could only bolt it and not weld if and then the exhaust and brake lines (rusted too bad to describe) weren't covered and since I couldn't afford it they only repaired the subframe and left the rest hanging ! My brakes failed on the way home. No one was injured but I can't believe they let me go home with that condition!
A few days after a scheduled service visit at a local Mercedes-Benz (MB) dealer I noticed a creaking sound coming from the rear of my 2005 SLK350 that continued to get louder as time went by. I scheduled another appointment for post-inspection and I received the unfortunate news that corrosion of the subframe had resulted in a critical fracture rendering the vehicle unsafe to drive and that I was actually lucky to have not been involved in an accident from the mechanical failure. It is clear from the undercarriage photos that corrosion was localized to subframe junctions where other areas/parts in the vicinity did not experience debilitating fracture damage. I was surprised that a recently-serviced vehicle was now deemed unsafe to drive and required an entire rear subframe replacement. …
2005 Mercedes-Benz SLK350 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 7-speed automatic | RWD | 17 / 23 / 19 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 6-speed manual | RWD | 16 / 23 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Sports car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2005 Mercedes-Benz SLK350 a good car?
Based on 21 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2005 SLK350 rates average: 2.7× as many complaints as a typical year of the SLK350 at the same age. 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 2005 Mercedes-Benz SLK350?
The transmission & drivetrain — 6 complaints, 29% of all complaints for this model year, most often about manual transmission. Next are the brakes (5) and suspension (5).
How many recalls does the 2005 Mercedes-Benz SLK350 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2005 Mercedes-Benz SLK350. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mercedes-Benz SLK350?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2013, 2015 and 2016. See the full Mercedes-Benz SLK350 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2005 Mercedes-Benz SLK350 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 57,000 miles; 40% 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.