Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2005 Mercedes-Benz SLK, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Power train4
- Engine and engine cooling3
- Service brakes, hydraulic1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Engines
The most common engines in 2005 Mercedes-Benz SLK cars on Dutch roads are the 1.8 petrol (120 kW, 161 hp), 3.5 petrol (200 kW, 268 hp) and 3.0 petrol (170 kW, 228 hp), out of 4 versions with at least 20 cars.
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 1.8 petrol | 120 kW 161 hp | 529 |
| 3.5 petrol | 200 kW 268 hp | 204 |
| 3.0 petrol | 170 kW 228 hp | 52 |
| 5.4 petrol | 265 kW 355 hp | 51 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
843 first registered in 2005 are on Dutch roads; 71% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €63,777.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde419
- Band onvoldoende profiel242
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm184
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld160
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm129
- Veer gebroken of gescheurd113
- Fusee(kogel) te veel speling102
- Richtingaanwijzers kleur wijkt af/niet toegestaan97
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
3,591 cars built in 2005 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 1,352 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 5,012 of these cars first registered in 2005 took their annual MOT test. 67% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2005 the figure was 56%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2005 |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 18.0% | 17.3% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 10.4% | 21.5% |
| Brakes | 8.2% | 13.7% |
| Tyres | 5.3% | 7.0% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 4.7% | 6.8% |
| Visibility | 3.2% | 7.5% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
226 of these cars first registered in 2005 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 163,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
315 2005 cars are on the New Zealand register; 76% arrived as used imports, 21% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 1 variant: combined 14.4 L/100 km (about 16 mpg US), CO₂ 331 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLK 55 AMG · Two-seater · Premium gasoline | 16.7 | 11.5 | 14.4 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
MERCEDES-BENZ IS RECALLING MY 2006-2008 M-CLASS, R-CLASS, MY 2005-2009 SLK-CLASS, MY 2005-2008 C-CLASS, MY 2003-2004 AND 2006-2008 CLK-CLASS, MY 2003-2008 E-CLASS, MY 2004 AND 2008 CL-CLASS, MY 2008 CLS-CLASS, MY 2004 AND 2007-2008 S-CLASS, MY 2003 G-CLASS, AND MY 2003-2004, 2006 AND 2009 SL-CLASS VEHICLES. A SOFTWARE CALIBRATION NUMBER (SCN) CODING RECEIVED ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES DURING A RECENT WORKSHOP VISIT WAS INCORRECT. DEPENDING ON THE MODEL YEAR AND MODEL AFFECTED, THE RESULTS OF AN INCORRECT SCN CODING CAN AFFECT A NUMBER OF VEHICLE SAFETY AND EMISSION FUNCTIONS INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF FUNCTIONS: (1) THE FUEL GAUGE READINGS MAY BE INCORRECT; (2) A STUCK FUEL-LEVEL SENSOR MAY NOT BE DISPLAYED IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER; (3) THE OBD SYSTEM MAY CAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE INCORRECTLY; AND, (4) THE SPEEDOMETER MAY BE OUT OF TOLERANCE.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Mercedes-Benz told its dealers about the 2005 Mercedes-Benz SLK: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10037653 | MERCEDES-BENZ: THERE ARE ELECTRICAL PRODUCTION QUALITY ISSUES THAT CAUSE THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. *RM |
| 10030929 | MERCEDES: CORROSION PROTECTION COATINGS FOR BRAKE COMPONENTS AND HARDWARE MAY BE DAMAGED AND OR STRIPPED AWAY IF HIGHLY CONCENTRATED ACID BASED CLEANERS ARE USED. ONCE THE CORROSION PROTECTION IS DAMAGED OR REMOVED THE BRAKE COMPONENTS AND OR HARDWARE CAN BEGIN TO CORRODE. INCLUDE ALL MODELS AND MODEL YEARS. *PE |
| 10025842 | MERCEDES BENZ: MODEL 171.454, 456 (2005-2008) SLK CLASS; 204.054, 056, 081 (2008) C CLASS; 211.022, 056, 072, 087, 090 (2006-2008) E CLASS. VEHICLES PRODUCED BETWEEN 2/21/08 AND 4/3/08 WITH DIFFERENTIAL SERIAL NUMBER 1824214 TO 1865328. CLUNKING NOISE DURING LOAD CHANGE AT REAR AXLE DIFFERENTIAL. *PE |
| 10022893 | CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON / FAULT CODES FC1200 / FC1208 STORED IN ME-SFI CONTROL UNIT. MERCEDES-BENZ MODEL C230, C280, C350, SLK280, SLK350, CLK350, CLK550, E350, E550, CLS550, S600, AND SL550. EQUIPPED WITH M272 ENGINE OR M273 ENGINE. *NJ UPDATED 8/28/08. *PE |
| 10020186 | HARSH ENGAGEMENT WHEN SHIFTING. *TT |
| 10019647 | INSPECT ROUTING OF ENGINE FAN WIRING HARNESS AND CORRECT IF NECESSARY. *TT |
| 10018931 | LEARNING IN SELECTION RANGE SENSOR NOT POSSIBLE AFTER EHS REPLACEMENT. *TT |
| 10016009 | THE RUBBER BOOT ON THE RACK AND PINION MAY HAVE BEEN DEFORMED DURING ASSEMBLY. DEALERS ARE TO CHECK THE BOOTS AND REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION IF NECESSARY. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)