Owners have filed 12 complaints
about the 2007 Mercedes Benz SLK350 with NHTSA between 2014 and 2018.
The largest single group is the airbags.
Across this model's run it ranks 3 of 3 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 29
Against the median year of the Mercedes Benz SLK350. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 0
0% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 57
33% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
How 2007 compares with every other Mercedes Benz SLK350
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2007 Mercedes Benz SLK350
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Airbags
975.0%
Median failure at 40,000 miles
Engine & Cooling
216.7%
Median failure at 83,000 miles
Seats
18.3%
Median failure at 12,000 miles
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
10,000 – 24,999 miles
233.3%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
116.7%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
233.3%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
116.7%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Nov 2014peak 4Feb 2018
NHTSA investigations into the 2007 Mercedes Benz SLK350
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.C...
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 115,000 milesColumbia, SC
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK350. WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED LIT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HENDRICK MOTORS OF CHARLOTTE-MERCEDES BENZ (5201 E INDEPENDENCE BLVD, CHARLOTTE, NC 28212) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BALANCE SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11075038 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jackson, MS
AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS). THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE THE REMEDY AND PART WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME. THE CONTACT CALLED MERCEDES-BENZ OF JACKSON (455 STEED RD, RIDGELAND, MS 39157, (601) 956-4211) A SECOND TIME AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED. AFTER WAITING FOR OVER TWO HOURS, THE DEALER RESCHEDULED THE APPOINTMENT MORE THAN ONCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DUE TO THE SEAT BELT INDICATOR ILLUMINATING, THE FAILURE NEEDED TO BE CORRECTED BEFORE THE RECALL REPAIR COULD BE PERFORMED. THE DEALER INITIALLY STATED THAT THE PART WAS AVAILABLE AND THEN INDICATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THEIR SYSTEM WAS DOWN AND WOULD FOLLOW-UP TO DETERMINE WHEN THE REMEDY AND PARTS WOULD BE SUPPLIED TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
NHTSA complaint #11074548 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Young America, MN
AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR AS THE RECALL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED OVER A YEAR AGO. THE DEALER (FELDMANN IMPORTS, 4901 AMERICAN BLVD W, BLOOMINGTON, MN 55437, (952) 837-6300) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS UNABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A POSTCARD FROM TK HOLDINGS, ALERTING HER THAT THEY FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11056579 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Port Washington, WI
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL "REMEDY NOT YET AVAILABLE". PROBLEM KNOWN FOR YEARS. I PAID THOUSANDS FOR DEFECTIVE SAFETY EQUIPMENT WHICH HAS PUT MY FAMILY'S LIVES IN DANGER. CAR IS UNSAFE AND HAS HARDLY BEEN DRIVEN BECAUSE OF IT. CAR HAS DIMINISHED VALUE AND IS NEAR IMPOSSIBLE AND ILLEGAL TO SELL AND NOT ROAD WORTHY. JUST AN EXPENSIVE AND USELESS ITEM.
NHTSA complaint #11047114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 13,037 milesSAN Rafael, CA
AIR BAGS
"TAKATA RECALL"
NHTSA complaint #11045437 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 50,000 milesHolland, PA
AIR BAGS
I HAVE HAD TO HAVE REPLACEMENT PARTS INSTALLED INTO MY CAR 3 TIMES SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE. EACH TIME, I GET A MESSAGE THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR ABG IS NOT FUNCTIONING.
NHTSA complaint #11043649 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 40,000 milesCincinnati, OH
AIR BAGS
IN FEBRUARY, 2016 A RECALL WAS MADE ON THE 2007 MERCEDES SLK 350 CONCERNING A DEADLY DEFECT IN ITS DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG MADE BY TAKATA. COMING ON ON TWO YEARS AND MERCEDES STILL HAS NOT PROVIDED A FIX. THERE ARE SO FEW OF THESE CARS ON THE ROAD, IT DOES NOT APPEAR THAT THIS FIX IS A PRIORITY FOR MERCEDES. HOW LONG DOES A CAR MANUFACTURER HAVE TO PROVIDE A REMEDY FOR A POSSIBLY DEADLY DEFECT.
NHTSA complaint #11043127 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LAS Vegas, NV
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL
NHTSA complaint #11040252 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Columbia, SC
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL MY VEHICLE HAS A ACTIVE RECALL ON THE AIRBAGS THAT MAY RESULT IN DEATH. I JUST RECEIVED NOTIFICATION IN THE MAIL TODAY.
NHTSA complaint #11035813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NYA, MN
AIR BAGS
I WON'T DRIVE MY CAR DUE TO THE RECALL LETTER I RECEIVED IN MAY 2016 AND I CAN'T SELL IT . SO WHAT AM I SUPPOSE TO DO WITH IT? I WAS TOLD THAT I AM ON A VERY LONG LIST AND BASICALLY TO BAD. SO I HAVE A CAR I CAN'T DRIVE( OR SHOULDN'T) AND CAN'T SELL BUT I NEED TO INSURE IT....I THINK THE MANUFACTURE SHOULD BUY THESE CARS BACK. I WOULD LIKE A CAR I CAN DRIVE.
NHTSA complaint #10910005 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 51,000 milesSAN Francisco, CA
ENGINE
EXITED ONTO FREEWAY OFFRAMP AND CAR ENGINE SHUT OFF (THERE WAS A LITTLE SHAKING PRIOR AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON). WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR AGAIN AND DRIVE 1/2 MILE TO LOOK FOR PARKING SPOT. WHEN BACKING INTO PARKING SPOT, CAR ENGINE SHUT OFF AGAIN. WE WERE ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR BACK HOME - ON FREEWAY - AND DROP AT REPAIR SHOP - BUT, WE WERE SCARED TO DEATH. AFTER RESEARCHING WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED, WE LEARNED OUR CHOICE TO DRIVE WAS NOT WISE AS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED DUE TO THIS TYPE OF DEFECT - 13 DEATHS. SEE HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERREPORTS.ORG/CRO/NEWS/2014/03/WHAT-TO-DO-IF-YOUR-ENGINE-DIES-WHEN-YOU-RE-DRIVING/INDEX.HTM. I LOCATED A FINAL APPROVAL OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT RELATED TO THIS DEFECT - FOR WHICH OUR VEHICLE QUALIFIES - HOWEVER - MANY PEOPLE DO NO KNOW ABOUT IT AND/OR CANNOT AFFORD THE HIGH COST OF THE REPAIR AS THE SETTLEMENT COVERS NOTHING FOR OLDER CARS AND THE REPAIR CAN BE AS MUCH AS $9,000. OTHER COVERAGE AMOUNTS ARE LIMITED TO 70% OR 37.5%. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS DEFECT THAT COULD EASILY CAUSE INJURY AND/OR LOSS OF LIFE. A RECALL IS NEEDED. HERE IS A QUOTE FROM ANOTHER OWNER: "FOR APPROXIMATELY A YEAR NOW, MY CAR HAS NOT BEEN OPERATING CORRECTLY. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE DONE SOME REPAIR WORK THAT SEEMS TO CORRECT THE ISSUE FOR AWHILE ONLY TO HAVE IT REOCCUR. RECENTLY, THE ISSUES ARE MANIFESTING THEMSELVES MORE OFTEN. GEARS SHIFT ON THEIR OWN WHILE THE CAR IS IN OPERATION. I HAVE LOST COMPLETE POWER WHILE ON THE FREEWAY AND MAJOR SURFACE STREETS. MY CAR IS A 2006 SLK 350 WITH 65,000 MILES. SOMEONE IS GOING TO LOSE THEIR LIFE BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM" OTHER QUOTES CAN BE FOUND HERE: HTTP://GOTACLASSACTION.COM/MERCEDES-BENZ-NAMED-IN-CLASS-ACTION-OVER-SAFETY-ISSUES-RELATED-TO-ITS-M272-OR-M273-ENGINES/
NHTSA complaint #10888967 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 12,000 milesWayne, PA
SEATS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ SLK350. THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BECAME INOPERABLE. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.
NHTSA complaint #10653469 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.