MERCEDES-BENZ SLK · model year

2005 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK

8 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2005MERCEDES-BENZSLK carries 8 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2005 SLK is engine and engine cooling:engine with 2 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (1) and power train:automatic transmission:control module (tcm/pcm/tecm) (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 15 investigation files overlapping the 2005 SLK. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

8
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

8 filings

Crashes Reported

1 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC1
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION1
POWER TRAIN1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1

Recent Complaints

20111005POWER TRAIN

TOOK MY CAR IN, IT WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE, THEN THE ENGINE WAS WINDING OUT REALLY HI ON THE TACHOMETER, MERCEDES SAID IT WAS THE VALVE BODY MODULE IN TRANSMISSION, OK- THEN THEY TOLD ME MY ENGINE BALANCE SHAFT WAS NOT WORKING AND THE LABOR WAS 5628.00 THEY HAVE NOT YET QUOTED ME A PRICE ON THE PARTS FOR EITHER ISSUE. SAID THE ENGINE WILL JUST SEIZE UP WHEN DRIVING, I LOOKED THIS UP ON INTERNET AND THERE SEEMS TO BE A CLASS ACTION SUIT GOING ON WITH THIS BALANCE SHAFT ISSUE.IS THIS A SAFETY ISSUE THEY OVERLOOKED POSSIBLY ? MILES AS LOW AS 62K HAVING SAME ISSUE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 91,000

20111005ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TOOK MY CAR IN, IT WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE, THEN THE ENGINE WAS WINDING OUT REALLY HI ON THE TACHOMETER, MERCEDES SAID IT WAS THE VALVE BODY MODULE IN TRANSMISSION, OK- THEN THEY TOLD ME MY ENGINE BALANCE SHAFT WAS NOT WORKING AND THE LABOR WAS 5628.00 THEY HAVE NOT YET QUOTED ME A PRICE ON THE PARTS FOR EITHER ISSUE. SAID THE ENGINE WILL JUST SEIZE UP WHEN DRIVING, I LOOKED THIS UP ON INTERNET AND THERE SEEMS TO BE A CLASS ACTION SUIT GOING ON WITH THIS BALANCE SHAFT ISSUE.IS THIS A SAFETY ISSUE THEY OVERLOOKED POSSIBLY ? MILES AS LOW AS 62K HAVING SAME ISSUE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 91,000

20070218POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

[XXX] 2005 SLK 350 I HAVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION IT IS HARD TO GET INTO FIRST GEAR FROM NEUTRAL WHERE IT SLIPS INTO REVERSE. THE DEALER HAS NOT SO FAR BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THIS. I FOUND ONLINE THAT THERE IS A TSB ON THIS. THEY SAY UNLESS THE CAN DUPLICATE THIS THEY WILL NOT PROCEED WITH IT. I INFORMED THE DEALER EARLIER THAT I HAD A WRITTEN NOTE FROM MY FRIEND WHO WAS WITH ME ONCE WHEN IT HAPPENED, THEY DID NOT CARE. TSB TELLS THE DEALER IF YOU RECEIVE CUSTOMER REPORTS IN THE ABOVE MODEL VEHICLES OF FIRST OR REVERSE GEARS BEING DIFFICULT TO ENGAGE FROM NEUTRAL AND/OR THE SHIFTER CATCHING BETWEEN GEARS DURING THE UPSHIFT, THIS MAY BE DUE TO INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION OF THE TRANSMISSION INPUT SHAFT NOT ALLOWING THE CLUTCH DISC TO MOVE FREELY. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT HAPPENED FIVE TIMES. MERCEDES HAD THERE REGIONAL REP LOOK AT THE CAR AND HE COULD NOT DUPLICATE IT FOR THE SHORT DRIVE HE DID. THE TECH STATED THE SAME BUT THEN THIS IS THE SAME TECH WHO CLAIMED HE FIXED TWO OTHE

Mileage: 3,500

20061214CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

CAR CONTINUES TO ROLL AT STOP LIGHT AFTER I APPLY PRESSURE TO BRAKE TO STOP CAR. MUST STOP CAR FURTHER AWAY FROM CAR IN FRONT TO PREVENT POSSIBLE CONTACT. *NM

20060530POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 50MPH AND ACCELERATING THE VEHICLE GOES TO NEUTRAL AND LOOSES POWER. THE VEHICLE MUST BE PUT INTO PARK, TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED TO REGAIN POWER. THERE IS NOT A DELAY FROM THE TIME IT IS TURNED OFF UNTIL START UP. THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN ALERTED AND REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE ETC ON MAY 16TH, THE PROBLEM RETURNED ON MAY 27, 2006. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN UNABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN IN TOUCH WITH A SERVICE ADVISOR WHO EXPLAINED THEY NEED TO SPEAK WITH SOMEONE REGARDING THE ISSUE BEFORE THEY INSPECT THE VEHICLE AGAIN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY THE SALES DEALER BECAUSE OF THE DISTANCE TO THE REPAIR SHOP. THE SALES DEALER INSTRUCTED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER SERVICE DEALER NEAR THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED. THE VEHICLE IS A CLK320.*AK

Mileage: 10,000

20051228ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE CAR WAS BURNING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL. THE VEHICLE USED TWO QUARTS OF OIL AT ONLY 5, 500 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE VALVES WERE NOT SEATED. ALSO, AT TIMES WHILE PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THE VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE IT WILL ONLY REV THE ENGINE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED, THEY TOLD HER THE NEXT TIME THIS OCCURRED TO SHUT THE ENGINE BY PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNING THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION TO MAKE ANY CORRECTIONS. *AK UPDATED 2/24/2006 - THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TOT HE DEALER ON 1/26/2006 AND TOLD THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT AT THE DEALER FOR THE REPAIRS TO BE MADE. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE CONSUMER. ON 1/26/2006 THE VEHICLE AGAIN SUDDENLY STOPPED MOVING FORWARD WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 55 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER. THE

Mileage: 6,000

20051228POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE CAR WAS BURNING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL. THE VEHICLE USED TWO QUARTS OF OIL AT ONLY 5, 500 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE VALVES WERE NOT SEATED. ALSO, AT TIMES WHILE PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THE VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE IT WILL ONLY REV THE ENGINE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED, THEY TOLD HER THE NEXT TIME THIS OCCURRED TO SHUT THE ENGINE BY PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNING THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION TO MAKE ANY CORRECTIONS. *AK UPDATED 2/24/2006 - THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TOT HE DEALER ON 1/26/2006 AND TOLD THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT AT THE DEALER FOR THE REPAIRS TO BE MADE. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE CONSUMER. ON 1/26/2006 THE VEHICLE AGAIN SUDDENLY STOPPED MOVING FORWARD WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 55 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER. THE

Mileage: 6,000

20050923ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION 7 - 8 QUARTS IN 6800 MILES . *NM

Mileage: 1,846

Compare 2005MERCEDES-BENZSLK to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK have?
The 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK has 8 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK?
The most-complained component for the 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION and POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM).
Is the 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.