2003 Mercedes-Benz SLK Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 2003 Mercedes-Benz SLK, and owners have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz SLK
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Brake lights (exterior lighting)
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.
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…
9 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2003 Mercedes-Benz SLK have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 72,175 miles. Complaints peaked in 2010 with 5 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“I own a 2003 mercedes slk 230 , which brakes on it's own at all different speeds . After the car brakes to the right for a couple of second the bas/esp light comes on . I have had this happen on the h”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 22, 2011 · Service brakes, hydraulic
“2003 slk 230 tail light still defective after recall repair was performed. *tr”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 3, 2010 · Exterior lighting
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class (SLK230 Kompressor, SLK32 AMG, SLK320). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 17–22 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 15–19 / 21–26 |
| Fuel | Premium |
| EPA class | Two Seaters |
| Engine | 4/6 cyl, 2.3/3.2 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 5-spd; Manual 6-spd |
Compare Mercedes-Benz SLK model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Mercedes-Benz SLK model year in NHTSA's database.
Checking a specific 2003 Mercedes-Benz SLK
How do I know if my 2003 Mercedes-Benz SLK has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 2003 Mercedes-Benz SLK; your car may already have been repaired under it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Mercedes-Benz dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 05V505000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Mercedes-Benz models
- C3003,469 complaints
- E3502,170 complaints
- E3201,164 complaints
- ML350952 complaints
- GLK350904 complaints
- ML320742 complaints
- C250726 complaints
- C230657 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.