Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | |||
| 02/23/2010 | 1 | ||
| Hello, this is a pre-emptive report of a problem with a component in 1998-2000 mercedes-benz slk 230 roadsters. the failure of this component has many symptoms but one serious symptom is complete loss of power at highway speeds which can be dangerous. i am hoping that you don't actually have to wait for crashes and deaths before you investigate. i ask that you consider the documented problem here and see the potential for a serious safety issue and ask the manufacturer to address it. the problem arises from a poor design/manufacturing of soldering on a k40 relay module which is an electronic component and part of the electronics of the car that controls the engine operation. certain soldered points have a tendency to get corroded/burnt out over time that affects the engine operations. the three pictures below show the affected part, the pcb inside and a closeup of the soldered joints that show the problem. http://www.openpresence.org/slk/k40-1.jpg http://www.openpresence.org/slk/k40-2.jpg http://www.openpresence.org/slk/k40-3.jpg the manufacturer has not acknowledged this problem and while the oed throws up repeatable codes once this part starts to deteriorate - p1420, p1236, p1235, and p1525, the mb dealer service centers have not been told about these codes and they tell customers that it is undefined and probably due to low batter voltage and send them with this problem still there until the problem gets big. if the customer is lucky, then it just results in a starting problem or stumbling but in some cases can result in loss of power while driving. this is the dangerous part. this part was redesigned in slks from 2001 onwards but the manufacturer has done nothing to fix this problem in earlier slks or to equip their authorized service centers to catch this problem before it creates a serious safety issue. my car is currently at the stage of having been misdiagnosed for the above codes. *tr | |||
| 01/31/2007 | 77000 | 2 | 04/15/2004 |
| Tl* - the contact owns a 1999 mercedes benz slk230. the contact received a recall notice for the exterior lighting:brake lights. the mercedes mechanic replaced the lights at the contacts home. prior to replacing the lights per the recall, the lights were working. however, the lights no longer worked, and the vehicle did not start. the dealer did not want to address the failures and make the necessary repairs. the contact talked to the manager of mercedes and he was unsuccessful at gaining assistance. *ak | |||
| 10/08/2005 | 26000 | 5 | 10/15/2001 |
| Brake light failure. i have had to change the complete socket numerous times. each time the socket has melted. mbusa tells me they know of the problem, but do not see any reason to fix it. each repair runs about $300. i have had mine changed no less than 5 times in the past three years. *nm | |||
| 10/06/2000 | 6 | ||
| Vehicle has been to dealer 6 times for electrical problems. dashboard lights and rear exterior license light are on same fuse. fuse keeps blowing. dealer cannot remedy. *ak *slc | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | |||
| 06/01/1998 | 1 | 05/25/1997 | |
| Alternator failed. *yc | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS | |||
| 10/06/2000 | 6 | ||
| Vehicle has been to dealer 6 times for electrical problems. dashboard lights and rear exterior license light are on same fuse. fuse keeps blowing. dealer cannot remedy. *ak *slc | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION | |||
| 01/22/1999 | 1 | ||
| Spark plug failed caused engine to stall. yh | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - MODULE | |||
| 11/24/1999 | 1 | 12/01/1998 | |
| Hard top convertible will not open -- the micron chip has been replaced twice by the dealer. hard top convertible squeaking noise -- i have taken the car in 6 times for the same problem; only occurs when car sits in direct sunlight at 85 degrees or hotte( dot number: ) | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - STARTER ASSEMBLY | |||
| 06/19/2005 | 82000 | 40 | 07/25/2002 |
| When in traffic and idling, especially summer weather, the car stalls ocassionally and won't restart. most times, when driving to a destination, turning the engine off, running an errand, and returning to start the engine, the engine won't start. the panel lights all light up, a click, but no crank or turning over. after letting the engine cool down or sit for a while and/or playing w/ the key / ignition, the engine eventually turns over. i've spent nearly $3,000 in repairs and the dealer cannot isolate the problem. everything has been replaced except for the starter and electronic ignition module (if one exists). i'm extremely frustrated. the car has stalled in traffic numerous times causing traffic jams in manhattan, the lincoln tunnel, and i can't tell you the number of times i receive negative comments re mercedes benz supposing to be a reliable expensive car. this is my 5th mercedes, and i'm about to give up permanently. in the last 3 years i have spent almost $9,000 service and repairs and am fed up and feel as if i'm being sucked dry. | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING | |||
| 12/15/2004 | 27000 | 5 | 12/15/1998 |
| 1999 mb slk230 - taillight assembly shorts out and brake light fails. this has happened 5 times, the most recent involving both taillights at the same time! they have not fixed the problem in the defective part now in 5 years. they keep replacing a defective part with a defective part! *nm | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | |||
| 10/02/2002 | 19000 | 4 | 08/09/1998 |
| Rearview mirror has fog inside the glass,making it impossible to see out of it. brake lights and headlights continue to fail. also, dash lights failed. *ak | |||
| 09/14/2003 | 56000 | 12 | 04/20/1999 |
| I've had a dozen bulbs/fuses blow during the life of this vehicle. i've owned other vehicles that never blew a single bulb or fuse over their lifetime. i just wonder if this is a way for mercedes benz to increase service revenues. they want over $100 to replace each bulb. | |||
| 08/20/2003 | 65000 | 1 | |
| When the vehicle was started the dashboard caught on fire. the fire department determined that the fire was started by an electrical short under the dash. the vehicle could not be driven. *ak *scc *nlm | |||