Model year record
2001 Mercedes-Benz SLK320 recalls & problems
The 2001 Mercedes-Benz SLK320 has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 26 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is service brakes (12 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2001 Mercedes-Benz SLK320.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Fuel economy
SLK320
| City / highway | 18 / 25 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Premium Gasoline |
3.2 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,900/year to fuel
SLK320
| City / highway | 16 / 25 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Premium Gasoline |
3.2 L · 6 cyl · Manual 6-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,350/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 12 | 88,000 mi |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 10 | 98,000 mi |
| Exterior lighting | 8 | 53,000 mi |
| Electrical system | 6 | — |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 2 | — |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | — |
| Steering | 2 | — |
| Unknown or other | 2 | — |
| Power trainAutomatic transmission | 1 | — |
| Wheels | 1 | — |
| Seats | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Electrical system
rear lights malfunction and UNKNOWN
- Electronic stability control (esc)
Driving low speed, about 30 MPH, right front wheel begins braking in anti-lock mode. Car pulls right. BAS/ESP light comes on. Was just driving, never touched the brake pedal.
- Vehicle speed control
while driving on the highway/freeway system in the Portland Oregon area on several occasions one of which i initiated myself activated the cruise control immediately after initiating the vehicle began to increase its speed to the continuing to speeds well beyond the 100 mile per hour mark I was not able to deactivate the cruise control in the usual ways pressing the brake pedal did not work cruise control knob has a cancel that was not responsive either on two other times this happened when I while driving the same thing happened but i was un aware i had touched the cruise control knob one of which a friend of mine was driving and i failed to notify the individual to be extremely careful…
- Service brakes
* Brake system has failed by brakes applying randomly; research indicates due to faulty YAW sensor and Lateral Movement sensor per mechanic who retrieved the codes. Per Mercedes Benz, these sensors are no longer available and they're no longer making them. There are no aftermarket parts available. * Brakes have applied randomly at various speeds and causes a loss of control of the vehicle. This has been happening over the last few months and poses a very deadly situation. * Independent MB Specialist Master Mechanic pulled codes and confirmed problem. He advised there are no parts available. * No lamps indicated problem was imminent.
- Electronic stability control (esc)
SLK320 CAR AUTO APPLIES BREAKS TILL CARS STOPS ! VERY DANGEROUS
- Service brakes
ON THREE OCCASIONS THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED BY THE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM WITHOUT DRIVER INTERVENTION. IN THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE THIS ACTION PLACED THE DRIVER AND OTHER MOTORIST IN THE VICINITY OF THE CAR IN EXTREME DANGER. TRAVELING EAST BOUND ON HIGHWAY 80 THROUGH FAIRFIELD CALIFORNIA IN THE LEFT LANE AT APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE ABRUPTLY ACTIVATED BY THE STABILITY SYSTEM CAUSING THE CAR TO YAW TO THE RIGHT AND THEN SUDDENLY TO THE LEFT. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS ENOUGH DISTANCE BETWEEN OTHER MOTORIST THAT THERE WAS NOT A COLLISION. THE CAR DID HOWEVER ALMOST COLLIDE WITH THE CENTER BARRIER. THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION.
- Service brakes
I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THIS IS INVOLVING, BUT FROM WHAT I HAVE READ IT MAY BE A SENSOR AND EVERYBODY THAT HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM COULD NOT EASILY GET A MECHANIC THAT UNDERSTOOD WHAT TO DO. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE. THIS HAS HAPPENED NOW THREE TIMES AND I CANNOT DRIVE THE CAR NOW. I HAVE LOW MILEAGE ON THIS CAR. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 55 MILES AND HOUR AND SUDDENLY MY CAR BRAKED, MADE A SCRAPING NOISE & SWERVED TO THE RIGHT. THIS LASTED 20 SECONDS. IT SCARED ME SINCE SOMEONE WAS BEHIND ME AND ABOUT RAN INTO MY REAR END, NOT TO MENTION OTHER CARS AROUND ME. MY MECHANIC CHECKED MY CAR WITH THE BENZ COMPUTER SYSTEM AND DID NOT FIND ANYTHING AND TOLD ME SOMETIMES THIS HAPPENS AND IT NEVER HAPPENS…
- Service brakes
VEHICLE APPLIED BRAKES ON IT'S OWN AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND NO DRIVER APPLICATION. THE BAS/ESP ALARM LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO BE OK UNTIL IT WAS TURNED OFF. THE ALARM CLEARED WHEN RESTARTED BUT THE VEHICLE APPLIED BRAKES AGAIN ON IT'S OWN AND THE INDICATORS CAME BACK ON. THE REPAIR SHOP COULD NOT GET A CODE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT ON WHEN THEY CHECKED IT. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 10-12 TIMES BUT ONLY DURING HOURS WHEN THE BUSINESS IS CLOSED. I LET MY LOCAL MECHANIC DRIVE IT FOR A WEEK AND IT NEVER HAPPENED WITH HIM. THIS IS VERY SPORADIC BUT DANGEROUS SITUATION. I'VE SEEN NUMEROUS ENTRIES ON SLK FORUMS WITH OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE.
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.