2003 Mercedes Benz Slk problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Electrical System (2) · Visibility:rearview Mirrors/Devices (1) · Visibility (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Mercedes Benz Slk model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year (campaigns announced since 2010).
Service bulletins (2)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder 2009-06-15 · TSB-42-10-109 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
mercedes: corrosion protection coatings for brake components and hardware may be damaged and or stripped away if highly concentrated acid based cleaners are used. once the corrosion protection is damaged or removed the brake components and or hardware can begin to corrode. include all models an
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine 2008-04-24 · 033008 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
check engine light on / fault codes fc1200 / fc1208 stored in me-sfi control unit. mercedes-benz model c230, c280, c350, slk280, slk350, clk350, clk550, e350, e550, cls550, s600, and sl550. equipped with m272 engine or m273 engine. *nj updated 8/28/08. *pe
What owners report
2011-08-22 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · 116,223 mi“i own a 2003 mercedes slk 230 , which brakes on it's own at all different speeds . after the car brakes to the right for a couple of second the bas/esp light comes on . i have had this happen on the highway at 60 mph (very scary). i have since had the brake switch changed , and wheel sensors and new battery. i have since picked my car up and no pro…”
2010-09-03 · Exterior Lighting · 80,000 mi“2003 slk 230 tail light still defective after recall repair was performed. *tr…”
2010-06-29 · Electrical System · 74,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2003 mercedes slk320 ( n/a). while driving at various speeds , the vehicle loses power without any warning and after the vehicle loses power all the lights illuminates on the instrument panel. the vehicle was towed to his residence.this has occurred 10 additional times. the dealer was contacted and they concluded that it was…”
2010-06-29 · Visibility:rearview Mirrors/Devices“the inside rear view mirror in my 2003 mercedes-benz slk 230 (r170 model) is an electro chromic self-dimming mirror that has no manual backup. the mirror contained a fluid which leaked out causing the self-dimming mirror to fail to provide dimming against rear approaching headlights resulting in the driver to either be blinded or to have to turn th…”
2010-06-07 · Visibility · 90,000 mi“the interior rearview mirror in a 2003 mercedes benz slk230 (r170) had a fluid leak. the mirror is supposed to be a chromatic auto-dimming device. due to the fluid leak all of the darkening agent has migrated to the center of the mirror. the mirror no longer auto dims, it creates multiple objects due to glare and internal reflection. it is complet…”
2010-04-14 · Electrical System · 23,000 mi“mercedes with 23,000 ignition switch will not turn. i reported the issue of intermittent problem to dealer and attempted to have it resolved while under extended warranty period. the dealer said it had not failed. well, the warranty is gone and the failing part failed. it is expensive and appears to be a known issue based on my discussion with …”
2008-11-15 · Electrical System:ignition:switch · 70,000 mi“i inserted the key in the ignition switch and was unable to turn the key or remove the key and the car would not start. i was left stranded in a bad section of town and had to wait for flat bed to take the car to the dealership. i had to rent a car for three days while the dealership replaced the entire ignition switch. *tr…”
2007-02-22 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights“nhtsa campaign number is 05v505000. mercedes benz usa has not provided information to correct the failure after informing me of a potential safety hazard with the tail lamp assembly in slk motor vehicles. subsequently both my tail lights are not functioning and causing safety hazard. dealerships contacted have no information from mbusa on how to …”
2006-11-23 · Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:power Steering Fluid · 52,000 mi“at approx. 52,000 miles on my car, i took it to get serviced by a non mercedes dealer ship, since the warranty was out. they found the power steering leaking and the reservoir was empty. i had just taken the car in for a service three weeks earlier for warranty work, and this problem was not found. fluid was leaking around the power steering pum…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.