Total Complaints
4 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ SLK · model year
2009 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK
4 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2009MERCEDES-BENZSLK carries 4 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 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 2009 SLK is tires with 1 filings, followed by steering (1) and electronic stability control (esc) (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 2009 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.
4
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| TIRES | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20120701STEERING
ON 3/22/2012 WITHIN A FEW HUNDRED FEET OF LEAVING A DRIVEWAY, THE RIGHT WHEEL SLOWLY SEIZED (WITHIN 100 FEET), ABS AND ESC WARNINGS APPEARED AND THE CAR BECAME IMMOBILIZED. THE CAR WAS FLAT-BEDDED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE RIGHT STEERING KNUCKLE AND RELATED WHEEL/PARTS WERE REPLACED. ON 6/23/2012 AT ABOUT 25 MPH, THE ABS, ESC WARNINGS SHOWED, THE CAR PULLED TO THE RIGHT ON BRAKING. THE CAR WAS PULLED OVER AND PARKED, AND AGAIN FLAT-BEDDED TO THE DEALER. THE LEFT STEERING KNUCKLE AND RELATED PARTS WERE REPLACED. IN SHORT, THE RIGHT STEERING KNUCKLE FAILED, AT LOW SPEED FORTUNATELY, AND THREE MONTHS LATER THE RIGHT FAILED IN THE SAME MANNER. HAD THESE FAILURES OCCURRED AT HIGHER SPEED, THEY WOULD HAVE PRESENTED A SERIOUS STEERING CONTROL PROBLEM. *TR
Mileage: 29,657
20120701ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
ON 3/22/2012 WITHIN A FEW HUNDRED FEET OF LEAVING A DRIVEWAY, THE RIGHT WHEEL SLOWLY SEIZED (WITHIN 100 FEET), ABS AND ESC WARNINGS APPEARED AND THE CAR BECAME IMMOBILIZED. THE CAR WAS FLAT-BEDDED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE RIGHT STEERING KNUCKLE AND RELATED WHEEL/PARTS WERE REPLACED. ON 6/23/2012 AT ABOUT 25 MPH, THE ABS, ESC WARNINGS SHOWED, THE CAR PULLED TO THE RIGHT ON BRAKING. THE CAR WAS PULLED OVER AND PARKED, AND AGAIN FLAT-BEDDED TO THE DEALER. THE LEFT STEERING KNUCKLE AND RELATED PARTS WERE REPLACED. IN SHORT, THE RIGHT STEERING KNUCKLE FAILED, AT LOW SPEED FORTUNATELY, AND THREE MONTHS LATER THE RIGHT FAILED IN THE SAME MANNER. HAD THESE FAILURES OCCURRED AT HIGHER SPEED, THEY WOULD HAVE PRESENTED A SERIOUS STEERING CONTROL PROBLEM. *TR
Mileage: 29,657
20120701SERVICE BRAKES
ON 3/22/2012 WITHIN A FEW HUNDRED FEET OF LEAVING A DRIVEWAY, THE RIGHT WHEEL SLOWLY SEIZED (WITHIN 100 FEET), ABS AND ESC WARNINGS APPEARED AND THE CAR BECAME IMMOBILIZED. THE CAR WAS FLAT-BEDDED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE RIGHT STEERING KNUCKLE AND RELATED WHEEL/PARTS WERE REPLACED. ON 6/23/2012 AT ABOUT 25 MPH, THE ABS, ESC WARNINGS SHOWED, THE CAR PULLED TO THE RIGHT ON BRAKING. THE CAR WAS PULLED OVER AND PARKED, AND AGAIN FLAT-BEDDED TO THE DEALER. THE LEFT STEERING KNUCKLE AND RELATED PARTS WERE REPLACED. IN SHORT, THE RIGHT STEERING KNUCKLE FAILED, AT LOW SPEED FORTUNATELY, AND THREE MONTHS LATER THE RIGHT FAILED IN THE SAME MANNER. HAD THESE FAILURES OCCURRED AT HIGHER SPEED, THEY WOULD HAVE PRESENTED A SERIOUS STEERING CONTROL PROBLEM. *TR
Mileage: 29,657
20080923TIRES
NOT A FAILURE, BUT I NOTICED A SIGNIFICANT LABELING DISCREPANCY ON MY 2009 MERCEDES BENZ SLK300. THE TIRE LABEL ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR INCORRECTLY LISTS THE OEM TIRE SIZE AS 205-55-16 FRONT AND 225-50-16 REAR. THE VEHICLE IN REALITY IS FITTED WITH 225-45-17 FRONT AND 245-40-17 REAR; THESE ARE NOT OPTIONAL TIRES/WHEELS EITHER - THEY ARE THE STANDARD SIZE AND WERE LISTED ON THE WINDOW STICKER AS SUCH. THEREFORE, IT IS ALSO NOT CLEAR TO ME IF THE SIZE DISCREPANCY ON THE LABEL ALSO MAY MEAN THAT THE LISTED TIRE PRESSURE DO OR DO NOT APPLY TO MY VEHICLE. *TR
Mileage: 533
Compare 2009MERCEDES-BENZSLK to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK have?▼
The 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK has 4 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK?▼
The most-complained component for the 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK is TIRES with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STEERING and ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC).
Is the 2009 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.