2003 Mercedes Benz SLK Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other SLK years
- Not enough data 3rd of 13 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Mercedes Benz SLK. That ranks 3rd out of 13 SLK model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (3 complaints, 33%), typically at around 70,000 miles. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 9owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2003 Mercedes Benz SLK problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 3 | 33% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 22% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 2 | 22% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 11% | 116,223 | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 11% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 11% | 116,223 | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 11% | 52,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2003 Mercedes Benz SLK recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Exterior lighting:brake lights
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles, failure of one of the side brake lights can occur. The base of the socket can be subject to thermal deformation over time.
Risk: This deformation can cause movement in the socket-to-bulb connection, which could lead to a loosening of the electrical contacts in the socket, and failure of the bulb to illuminate.
Fix: Dealers will replace the rear lamp modules. The recall began on september 12, 2006, to approximately 8,200 owners. Phase ii mailing is schedule on or about november 3, 2006, and phase iii mailing is schedule for january 2007 for the remaining owners. Owners of vehicles with the updated trim (post-face lift) will get an interim notice during november 2006, asking them to schedule an appointment for rear tail lamp replacement later in 2007. However, if they experience an actual rear lamp failure before they receive that notice, they should come to their dealer immediately for a free repair. Owners may contact mercedes-benz at 1-800-367-6372.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Brake lamp failure (PE05051) — opened Sep 22, 2005, closed Dec 2, 2005, led to recall 05V505000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
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…
2003 slk 230 tail light still defective after recall repair was performed. *tr
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…
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 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…
Other Mercedes Benz SLK years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 SLK | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 SLK | 2 | 1 |
| 2008 SLK | 0 | 1 |
| 2007 SLK | 0 | 1 |
| 2006 SLK | 2 | 1 |
| 2005 SLK | 6 | 1 |
| 2004 SLK | 0 | 1 |
| 2003 | 9 | 1 |
| 2002 SLK | 25 | 2 |
| 2001 SLK | 19 | 2 |
| 2000 SLK | 3 | 2 |
| 1999 SLK | 6 | 1 |
| 1998 SLK | 2 | 1 |
See all Mercedes Benz SLK problems by year, every Mercedes Benz model, or the Mercedes Benz VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Mercedes Benz SLK?
Owners most often report electrical system, exterior lighting, visibility problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 3 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Mercedes Benz SLK?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2003 Mercedes Benz SLK a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other SLK model years, the 2003 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.