1998 Mercedes Benz SLK230 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other SLK230 years
- Far more complaints than other years 2nd of 7 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 34 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Mercedes Benz SLK230. That ranks 2nd out of 7 SLK230 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is exterior lighting (14 complaints, 41%), typically at around 39,000 miles. Complaints mention 2 fires. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 34owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1998 Mercedes Benz SLK230 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting | 14 | 41% | 39,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 6 | 18% | — | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 4 | 12% | 85,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 4 | 12% | 85,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 2 | 6% | 7,347 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 2 | 6% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 6% | 7,347 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 6% | 42,995 | — | — |
| Visibility | 2 | 6% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 3% | 81,059 | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1998 Mercedes Benz SLK230 recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 1998 Mercedes Benz SLK230.
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.
While driving, the steering column shaft sheared off completely leaving the car with no steering control. Thanks to god this occurred right after a highway exit and while turning into my driveway. If this shaft had sheared 10 minutes before on a highway at 60mph speed, it would have lead to a…
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 mercedes benz slk230. While driving at various speeds, the brake warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the base of the rear passenger side tail lamp melted and diagnosed that the brake light assembly needed to be…
The gray interior of the mercedes benz 1998 slk230 was peeling off the console and most of the rest of the interior. It seemed to be a gray plastic film which was put over what looked like black leather. The car's interior was awlful looking with these black places showing through the gray throught…
Tl*-the contact stated that in reference to the 1998 mercedes benz slk with current mileage: 85,000 a recall issued on the vehicle dealing with exterior rear brake lights. The contact stated that she called the dealership and gave them the information, they scheduled her an appointment, and told…
Rear brake lights have failed numerous times over the past several years. I have been told that this is a common problem in the slk. Replaced entire rear brake light assembly once under warranty. I have had to replace the sockets every few months for the entire time i've owned the car. Within 2…
Other Mercedes Benz SLK230 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 SLK230 | 4 | 0 |
| 2003 SLK230 | 5 | 0 |
| 2002 SLK230 | 5 | 0 |
| 2001 SLK230 | 31 | 0 |
| 2000 SLK230 | 22 | 0 |
| 1999 SLK230 | 59 | 0 |
| 1998 | 34 | 0 |
See all Mercedes Benz SLK230 problems by year, every Mercedes Benz model, or the Mercedes Benz VIN decoder.
Similar Mercedes Benz models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Mercedes Benz SLK230?
Owners most often report exterior lighting, structure, engine and engine cooling problems. The top one, exterior lighting, accounts for 14 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1998 Mercedes Benz SLK230?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 1998 Mercedes Benz SLK230 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other SLK230 model years, the 1998 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.