2002 MERCEDES BENZ SLK — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

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N/A

Safety Rating

30

Owner Complaints

1 Crash

2

Recalls

ACTIVE RECALL

0

Service Bulletins

1

Investigation

Overview of the 2002 MERCEDES BENZ SLK

The 2002 MERCEDES BENZ SLK has received a total of 30 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 2 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS. The most commonly reported problems involve the Electrical System (5 complaints), Visibility (5 complaints), and Exterior Lightingbrake Lights (3 complaints).

Recalls for the 2002 MERCEDES BENZ SLK

NHTSA has recorded 2 recalls for the 2002 MERCEDES BENZ SLK, potentially affecting up to 97,141 vehicles.

Recall 05V505000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

| 69,278 vehicles affected

Defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, FAILURE OF ONE OF THE SIDE BRAKE LIGHTS CAN OCCUR. THE BASE OF THE SOCKET CAN BE SUBJECT TO THERMAL DEFORMATION OVER TIME.

Consequence: THIS DEFORMATION CAN CAUSE MOVEMENT IN THE SOCKET-TO-BULB CONNECTION, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A LOOSENING OF THE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS IN THE SOCKET, AND FAILURE OF THE BULB TO ILLUMINATE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR LAMP MODULES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2006, TO APPROXIMATELY 8,200 OWNERS. PHASE II MAILING IS SCHEDULE ON OR ABOUT NOVEMBER 3, 2006, AND PHASE III MAILING IS SCHEDULE FOR JANUARY 2007 FOR THE...

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Recall 02V152000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

| 27,863 vehicles affected

Defect: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE OWNER'S MANUAL DOES NOT CONTAIN THE PROPER HEADLAMP AIMING INSTRUCTIONS.

Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH HEADLAMP AIMING INSTRUCTIONS, AND DIRECTIONS FOR AFFIXING THESE INSERTS TO THE OPERATOR'S MANUAL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 15, 2002. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE INSTRUCTIONS WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT...

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Owner Complaints for the 2002 MERCEDES BENZ SLK

30 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2002 MERCEDES BENZ SLK. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.

Most Recent Complaints

#10548651 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | | 61,714 miles
THE AUTO DIMMING REAR VIEW MIRROR TURNED BLACK AND I CANNOT SEE OUT OF IT DEALER WANTS LIKE $800 TO REPLACE IT. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE ON THE FORUMS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, ALSO THE AUTO DIMMING DRIVERS SIDE MIRROR HAS A SIMILAR PROBLEM AND CAN'T SEE OUT OF THAT EITHER, AGAIN MANY PEOPLE ON THE FORUMS COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS TOO. AT ONE TIME THE MANUFACTURER OF THE MIRROR WAS SENDING FREE REPLACEMENTS SINCE THERE WERE SOME QUALITY CONTROL PROBLEMS, BUT NO MORE. *TR
#10548651 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | | 61,714 miles
THE AUTO DIMMING REAR VIEW MIRROR TURNED BLACK AND I CANNOT SEE OUT OF IT DEALER WANTS LIKE $800 TO REPLACE IT. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE ON THE FORUMS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, ALSO THE AUTO DIMMING DRIVERS SIDE MIRROR HAS A SIMILAR PROBLEM AND CAN'T SEE OUT OF THAT EITHER, AGAIN MANY PEOPLE ON THE FORUMS COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS TOO. AT ONE TIME THE MANUFACTURER OF THE MIRROR WAS SENDING FREE REPLACEMENTS SINCE THERE WERE SOME QUALITY CONTROL PROBLEMS, BUT NO MORE. *TR
#10403887 | VISIBILITY | | 34,986 miles
VISUAL IMPAIRMENT DUE TO "LAVA LAMP/ DISTORTED BUBBLE" EFFECT IN AUTO-DIMMING REARVIEW AND SIDE MIRROR. I NEVER REALIZED SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE WERE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND DIDN'T REALIZE THAT THIS WEBSITE EXISTED. I WOULD HAVE FILED MY COMPLAINT A LONG TIME AGO. I'VE NEVER HEARD OF REPLACE A REARVIEW MIRROR BEFORE. ONE DAY I WAS DRIVING AND I NOTICED THERE WAS A BUBBLE IN THE MIDDLE OF MY TINY MIRROR. IT KEPT GETTING LARGER AND DIDN'T GO AWAY ON ITS OWN. NAIVELY, I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST THE OUTSIDE HUMIDITY BUT I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER. THIS MIRROR COSTS WAY TOO MUCH FOR THE TERRIBLE PERFORMANCE. *TR
#10379632 | VISIBILITY | | 56,200 miles
THE INSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR IN MY 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK32 IS A SELF-DIMMING MIRROR THAT HAS MALFUNCTIONED. THE MIRROR CONTAINS SOME KIND OF FLUID THAT LEAKED OUT ONTO MY CENTER CONSOLE AND THEN THE DIMMING EFFECT NO LONGER WORKED, LEADING TO AN UNSAFE CONDITION AT NIGHT. THERE IS NO MANUAL BACKUP WITH THIS MIRROR, IT IS ELECTRIC AND ONCE IT FAILS, IT STOPS WORKING. I FEEL MERCEDES-BENZ SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL ON CARS CONTAINING THESE MIRRORS AND REPLACE THEM. *TR
#10369383 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | | 69,500 miles
2002 MERCEDES SLK320 FAILS TO ACCELERATE RANDOMLY AND AT CRITICAL MOMENTS. GAS PEDAL CAN BE PUSHED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR BUT THE CAR REMAINS AT IDOL SO THE CAR DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH POWER TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. NO WARNING OR CHECK ENGINE DIAGNOSTICS ARE GENERATED. POWER IS SLOW TO RECOVER BUT LEAVES THE CAR LIMPING ALONG AT IDOL UNTIL IT RESPONDS AGAIN. SEVERAL OWNERS HAVE SAID THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE PEDAL POSITION SENSOR OR THE ENTIRE GAS PEDAL ASSEMBLY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THIS CAN COST $100 TO $400 EACH TIME THE PROBLEM HAPPENS. THE UNPLANNED OPERATIONAL FLAW CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WHEN THE CAR RANDOMLY WILL NOT ACCELERATE. I PERSONALLY HAVE HAD SEVERAL NEAR MISSES WHEN MERGING OR TURNING IN TO TRAFFIC ONLY TO FIND MYSELF LIMPING IN FRONT OF A LARGE SUV BEARING DOWN ON ME. THERE IS A 5 SECOND OR MORE LAG UNTIL THE CAR STARTS TO RESPOND AGAIN. RESPONSE DOESN'T COME ON RIGHT AWAY BUT SLOWLY RAMPS UP TO THE NEEDED SPEED. *TR

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Safety Rating for the 2002 MERCEDES BENZ SLK

NHTSA has not yet tested the 2002 MERCEDES BENZ SLK in its New Car Assessment Program.

Technical Service Bulletins for the 2002 MERCEDES BENZ SLK

No technical service bulletins have been reported for this vehicle.

NHTSA Investigations for the 2002 MERCEDES BENZ SLK

NHTSA has opened 1 investigation into potential safety defects in the 2002 MERCEDES BENZ SLK.

Investigation PE05051 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS Closed

Opened:

BRAKE LAMP FAILURE

Other Model Years of the MERCEDES BENZ SLK

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Other MERCEDES BENZ Models

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