FaultScore

Worst years for a Mercedes Benz SLK

Owners have filed 96 complaints about the Mercedes Benz SLK with NHTSA across model years 1998 to 2009. More of them are about the windows, mirrors & wipers than anything else.

Avoid

2002 Mercedes Benz SLK

30 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly windows, mirrors & wipers.

Cleanest on record

2003 Mercedes Benz SLK

11 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every Mercedes Benz SLK year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
2009 4 0 0 Steering
2006 3 0 0 Transmission & Drivetrain
2005 8 1 0 6,000 Transmission & Drivetrain
2003 A 11 0 0 77,000 Electrical System
2002 C 30 1 0 34,062 Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
2001 C 23 0 0 78,000 Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
2000 5 0 0 Engine & Cooling
1999 9 0 0 70,000 Lights
1998 3 0 0 Electrical System

What breaks on a Mercedes Benz SLK

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 18 18.8%

Worst in 2002

Electrical System 13 13.5%

Worst in 2002

Lights 12 12.5%

Worst in 2002

Transmission & Drivetrain 9 9.4%

Worst in 2005

Engine & Cooling 7 7.3%

Worst in 2005

Brakes 7 7.3%

Worst in 2002

Acceleration & Cruise Control 7 7.3%

Worst in 2002

Stability & Traction Control 7 7.3%

Worst in 2002

Steering 4 4.2%

Worst in 2002

Body & Structure 3 3.1%

Worst in 1999

Fuel & Propulsion 3 3.1%

Worst in 2001

Tires 3 3.1%

Worst in 2002

Equipment & Accessories 2 2.1%

Worst in 2002

Seats 1 1.0%

Worst in 2002

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every Mercedes Benz SLK, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Jun 2003 peak 7 Jun 2014

Compare the Mercedes Benz SLK

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.