2001 Mercedes Benz Slk320: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 47 complaints
47
Total Complaints
79,861mi
Median Mileage
SERVICE BRAKES
Top Issue
3
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

49,500 25th Percentile
79,861 Median Mileage
110,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

SERVICE BRAKES
12
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
10
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
8
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
6
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2
STEERING
2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1
WHEELS
1

Severity Assessment

3
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ SLK320. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE VEHICLE STALLED. HE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE WHERE AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INFORMED HIM THAT TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILUR..."
"WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED WITH WEATHER CONDITIONS CLEAR. THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL LOCKED UP FOR A SPLIT SECOND CAUSING CAR TO SEVERELY PULL TO THE RIGHT INTO OTHER LANE, LUCKILY NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE AROUND AND ESP/BAS LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON UNTIL RESTART. PROBLEM THEN REAPPEARED AGAIN AT SPEED AND ..."
"WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED WITH WEATHER CONDITIONS CLEAR. THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL LOCKED UP FOR A SPLIT SECOND CAUSING CAR TO SEVERELY PULL TO THE RIGHT INTO OTHER LANE, LUCKILY NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE AROUND AND ESP/BAS LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON UNTIL RESTART. PROBLEM THEN REAPPEARED AGAIN AT SPEED AND ..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

When Were Complaints Filed?

Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.

When Does Each Component Fail?

Median mileage at complaint for top components.

SERVICE BRAKES 12 complaints
25th: 49,500 mi Median: 88,000 mi 75th: 105,000 mi
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 10 complaints
25th: 45,000 mi Median: 98,000 mi 75th: 122,000 mi
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 8 complaints
25th: 51,310 mi Median: 53,000 mi 75th: 88,000 mi

Where Are Complaints Coming From?

Top states by complaint count.

CA: 17 FL: 5 MD: 4 HI: 3 NH: 3 NM: 3 SC: 3 TN: 2 MA: 2 VA: 1

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28