MERCEDES-BENZ SLK280 · model year

2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK280

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

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2008MERCEDES-BENZSLK280 carries 10 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, 1 injury, 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 2008 SLK280 is air bags with 4 filings, followed by electrical system (2) and tires (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 2008 SLK280. 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.

10
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

10 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
AIR BAGS4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
TIRES1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1
STRUCTURE:BODY1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1

Recent Complaints

20171106AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL NOTIFIED OVER A YEAR AGO OF RECALL. WE HAVE CALLED 4 TIMES TO DEALER SINCE WE RECEIVED NOTICE AND THEY STILL CANNOT TELL US ANYTHING. NOW I SEE THEY HAVE FILED BANKRUPCY. I HAVE A CAR THAT I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING AND CANNOT PUT ANYONE IN THE OTHER SEAT.

20161026AIR BAGS

"TAKATA RECALL" - MY 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK280 HAS NOT HAD THE AIRBAG REPLACED AS OF OCT. 26, 2016. MY VEHICLE HAS AN AIRBAG WITH A TAKATA MADE INFLATOR, ACCORDING TO THE RECALL NOTICE.

20160628AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL#16V-081 TRYING TO GET HELP FROM DEALERSHIP HAVING DIFFICULTIES. I'M UNCERTAIN IF I HAVE OTHER UNKNOWN ISSUES AS CHECKED MARKED. THIS IS THE 2ND RECALL. I AM HAVING A SAFETY CONCERN ON THIS VEHICLE I PURCHASED AND MANAGEMENT IS NOT COOPERATING/ ASSISTING UPSET OVER A PREVIOUS DEFECTIVE BATTERY. I AM UNCERTAIN IF THE SAME ISSUE IS RECURRING AND OR EFFECTING THE DOOR LOCKS, DOME LIGHTS, ELECTRONICS, LIGHTS, VEHICLE WILL NOT START.

20160628ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TAKATA RECALL#16V-081 TRYING TO GET HELP FROM DEALERSHIP HAVING DIFFICULTIES. I'M UNCERTAIN IF I HAVE OTHER UNKNOWN ISSUES AS CHECKED MARKED. THIS IS THE 2ND RECALL. I AM HAVING A SAFETY CONCERN ON THIS VEHICLE I PURCHASED AND MANAGEMENT IS NOT COOPERATING/ ASSISTING UPSET OVER A PREVIOUS DEFECTIVE BATTERY. I AM UNCERTAIN IF THE SAME ISSUE IS RECURRING AND OR EFFECTING THE DOOR LOCKS, DOME LIGHTS, ELECTRONICS, LIGHTS, VEHICLE WILL NOT START.

20160628UNKNOWN OR OTHER

TAKATA RECALL#16V-081 TRYING TO GET HELP FROM DEALERSHIP HAVING DIFFICULTIES. I'M UNCERTAIN IF I HAVE OTHER UNKNOWN ISSUES AS CHECKED MARKED. THIS IS THE 2ND RECALL. I AM HAVING A SAFETY CONCERN ON THIS VEHICLE I PURCHASED AND MANAGEMENT IS NOT COOPERATING/ ASSISTING UPSET OVER A PREVIOUS DEFECTIVE BATTERY. I AM UNCERTAIN IF THE SAME ISSUE IS RECURRING AND OR EFFECTING THE DOOR LOCKS, DOME LIGHTS, ELECTRONICS, LIGHTS, VEHICLE WILL NOT START.

20141030STRUCTURE:BODY

THE CONVERTIBLE HARD TOP HYDRAULIC SYSTEM START TO LEAK OIL TO DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT. THE HARD TOP DOES NOT MOVE AND DIFFICULT TO CLOSE. I HAVE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FROM SEVERAL OWNERS THAT IT IS A CURRENT PROBLEM OF ALL VEHICLES OF MODELS. THIS IS AN UNSAFELY PROBLEM, SINCE THE HARD TOP, REAR GLASS AND TRUNK HAS PROBLEM TO BE LOCKED COMPLETELY. APPARENTLY THE MERCEDES BENZ MANUFACTURER KNOW THAT THE HYDRAULIC CYLINDERS SEALS FAIL, ONCE THE MINERAL OIL LOSE ITS PROPERTY. THIS MEAN THAT HYDRAULIC SYSTEM GET NOT PROTECTED AFTER SUCH OIL IS INAPPROPRIATE TO PROTECT THE SEAL, RESULTING ON LEAKING AND CAR FINISH WITHOUT PROTECTION,. IF IT HAPPEN WHEN IT IS SNOWING OR RAINING OR FAR AWAY, IT WILL BECOME IN A POTENTIAL SAFETY HARMFUL PROBLEM FOR THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS. I REQUESTED A SERVICE TO MERCEDES BENZ AND THE ANSWER VWAS THE REPAIR WILL BE ALMOST $ 5000.00 MERCEDS BENZ SHOULD REPAIR ALL THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM FOR HARD TOP UNDER A RECALL. *TR

Mileage: 29,120

20140131CrashAIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ SLK280. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, HE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED CHEST INJURIES FROM THE SEAT BELT. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END AND WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER FOR REPAIRS. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

Mileage: 56,000

20130822ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ SLK280. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE HARD CONVERTIBLE TOP WOULD NOT RELEASE OPEN WHEN ACTIVATED BY THE CONTROL DEVICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT OF A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V303000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED O THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 10,000

20110720POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

OWNED A BRAND NEW 2007 MERCEDES SLK 280 AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS PUSHING AND PULLING TO THE POINT THAT IT WENT OUT AND HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED; AND ULTIMATELY, IT WAS A 'BUY-BACK.' AFTERWARDS, I HAD ANOTHER NEW MERCEDES 280, NOW A 2008, AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON THAT ONE TOO. BIG MISTAKE ON MY PART; WHAT ARE THE ODDS THAT ANOTHER NEW ONE WOULD GO BAD? THE MERCEDES 7 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS WAS A COMPLETE NIGHTMARE EXPERIENCE FOR ME. SINCE 2008, EVERY TIME I SEE A MERCEDES SLK, I SOMETIMES ATTEMPT TO TAKE A MOMENT AND ASK THE DRIVER OF THE CAR: "HEY, HOW'S THE TRANSMISSION?" *KB

20100629TIRES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ SLK280. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH BRIDGESTONE POTENZA TIRES, TIRE SIZE 225/4.5/17. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH WHEN HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT BOTH REAR TIRES EXHIBITED UNEVEN TREAD WEAR. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE TIRE DEALER ON SIX SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE VEHICLE REQUIRED AN ALIGNMENT AND TIRE ROTATION. AN ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY INFORMED THAT THE TIRES WERE NOT DESIGNED TO BE INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE. THERE HAD BEEN NO ADDITIONAL REPAIR OR TIRE REPLACEMENT AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT WAS DISPLEASED TO KNOW THAT THE INCORRECT TIRES WERE INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE BY THE TIRE DEALER. THE F

Mileage: 25,000

Compare 2008MERCEDES-BENZSLK280 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK280 have?
The 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK280 has 10 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK280?
The most-complained component for the 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK280 is AIR BAGS with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and TIRES.
Is the 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK280 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.