Mercedes Benz SLK230 vs Hyundai Santa FE Hybrid

Both cars' complete complaint records, side by side.

Read the totals carefully. NHTSA publishes no sales figures, so the car that sold more collects more complaints regardless of quality. The rows worth weighing are the proportions — the share of complaints that involved harm, and which part dominates.

Measure Mercedes Benz SLK230 Hyundai Santa FE Hybrid
Complaints on file 190 474
Model years covered 1998–2004 2021–2026
Worst model year 1999 2025
Best model year 2001 2021
Crashes reported 8 12
Fires reported 8 0
Injuries reported 7 10
Deaths reported 0 0
Most complained-about part Lights Engine & Cooling
Share of complaints involving harm 12.1% 4.6%

Mercedes Benz SLK230 by year

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks

Lights 56 29.5%
Electrical System 22 11.6%
Engine & Cooling 11 5.8%
Body & Structure 10 5.3%
Transmission & Drivetrain 8 4.2%
Fuel & Propulsion 8 4.2%
Brakes 7 3.7%

Hyundai Santa FE Hybrid by year

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks