MERCEDES-BENZ SLK32 · model year

2004 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK32

2 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2004MERCEDES-BENZSLK32 carries 2 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 2004 SLK32 is engine with 1 filings, followed by exterior lighting (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 2004 SLK32. 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.

2
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

2 filings

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

ComponentCount
ENGINE1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING1

Recent Complaints

20200520EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ SLK32. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH REAR BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE AS DESIGNED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. UPON RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V505000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) WHICH HE LINKED TO HIS FAILURE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH MERCEDES-BENZ OF EASTON 4300 MORSE CROSSING, COLUMBUS, OH 43219 ABOUT THE RECALL AND WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WAS AN OLDER RECALL AND THAT MANUFACTURER WAS NO LONGER OBLIGATED TO REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35,000.

Mileage: 35,000

20151008ENGINE

THE CAR STALLED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AFTER 15-MINUTES DRIVE. STARTER TURNED THE ENGINE JUST FINE, BUT THE ENGINE WON'T START. AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR. NEXT DAY IT HAPPENED AGAIN - AFTER A DRIVE CAR WAS PARKED AT THE STORE PARKING LOT AND IT WON'T START ONCE I RETURNED TO IT 10 MINUTES. AFTER UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO START THE ENGINE FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES, I WAS ABLE TO DO SO AGAIN. BOTH TIME THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND OBD CODE WAS "P0335 - CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR A CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION". I'M DEEPLY CONCERNED WITH THIS SAFETY ISSUE, WHICH APPEARS TO BE QUITE COMMON FOR THE MERCEDES-BENZ CARS.

Mileage: 46,000

Compare 2004MERCEDES-BENZSLK32 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK32 have?
The 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK32 has 2 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK32?
The most-complained component for the 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK32 is ENGINE with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include EXTERIOR LIGHTING.
Is the 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK32 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.