Auto Recall Watch
U.S. public vehicle records

Mercedes Benz SLK32 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

2 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

40,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2004 to 2004 model years. Data updated: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 2 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Engine operation150.0%
Braking behavior150.0%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Engine
1
Exterior Lighting
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine1
Exterior Lighting1

Engine: 1; Exterior Lighting: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
2
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0000
25,000 to 49,9992
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 0 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2015
1
2020
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20151
20201

2015: 1; 2020: 1

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10780746 · 2015-10-08 (October 8, 2015)

THE CAR STALLED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AFTER 15-MINUTES DRIVE. STARTER TURNED THE ENGINE JUST FINE, BUT THE ENGINE WON'T START. AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR. NEXT DAY IT HAPPENED AGAIN - AFTER A DRIVE CAR WAS PARKED AT THE STORE PARKING LOT AND IT WON'T START ONCE I RETURNED TO IT 10 MINUTES. AFTER UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO START THE ENGINE FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES, I WAS ABLE TO DO SO AGAIN. BOTH TIME THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND OBD CODE WAS "P0335 - CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR A CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION". I'M DEEPLY CO…

Owner-reported narrative. 46,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10780746 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11325321 · 2020-05-20 (May 20, 2020)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ SLK32. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH REAR BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE AS DESIGNED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. UPON RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V505000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) WHICH HE LINKED TO HIS FAILURE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH MERCEDES-BENZ OF EASTON 4300 MORSE CROSSING, COLUMBUS, OH 43219 ABOUT THE RECALL AND WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WAS AN OLDER RECALL AND THAT MANUFACTURER WAS NO LONGER OBLIGATED TO REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE…

Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11325321 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

2004
0
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
20040

2004: 0

Year-by-year records

Mercedes Benz SLK32 model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
200420Not available
Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

2 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.

100.0%Usable mileage2 / 2 records
100.0%Valid incident date2 / 2 records
100.0%Valid filing date2 / 2 records
100.0%Ordered incident and filing dates2 / 2 records

Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.

Problems by model year

Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.

Component complaint heatmap
Component2004
Engine
150.0%
ODI 10780746 · 46,000 mi

THE CAR STALLED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AFTER 15-MINUTES DRIVE. STARTER TURNED THE ENGINE JUST FINE, BUT THE ENGINE WON'T START. AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR. NEXT DAY IT HAPPENED AGAIN - AFTER A DRIVE CAR WAS PARKED AT THE STORE PARKING LOT AND IT WON'T START ONCE I RETURNED TO IT 10 MINUTES. AFTER UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO START THE ENGINE FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES, I WAS ABLE TO DO SO AGAIN. BOTH TIME THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND OBD CODE WAS "P0335 - CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR A CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION". I'M DEEPLY CO…

Look up ODI 10780746 at NHTSA ↗

Exterior Lighting
150.0%
ODI 11325321 · 35,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ SLK32. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH REAR BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE AS DESIGNED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. UPON RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V505000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) WHICH HE LINKED TO HIS FAILURE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH MERCEDES-BENZ OF EASTON 4300 MORSE CROSSING, COLUMBUS, OH 43219 ABOUT THE RECALL AND WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WAS AN OLDER RECALL AND THAT MANUFACTURER WAS NO LONGER OBLIGATED TO REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE…

Look up ODI 11325321 at NHTSA ↗

Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.

Failure mileage by component

Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.

Component failure mileage distribution
ComponentMileage range (25th–75th percentile)MedianUsable recordsExamples
EngineToo few reports for a range46,000 mi1 (sparse)
ODI 10780746 · 46,000 mi

THE CAR STALLED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AFTER 15-MINUTES DRIVE. STARTER TURNED THE ENGINE JUST FINE, BUT THE ENGINE WON'T START. AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR. NEXT DAY IT HAPPENED AGAIN - AFTER A DRIVE CAR WAS PARKED AT THE STORE PARKING LOT AND IT WON'T START ONCE I RETURNED TO IT 10 MINUTES. AFTER UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO START THE ENGINE FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES, I WAS ABLE TO DO SO AGAIN. BOTH TIME THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND OBD CODE WAS "P0335 - CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR A CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION". I'M DEEPLY CO…

Look up ODI 10780746 at NHTSA ↗

Exterior LightingToo few reports for a range35,000 mi1 (sparse)
ODI 11325321 · 35,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ SLK32. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH REAR BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE AS DESIGNED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. UPON RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V505000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) WHICH HE LINKED TO HIS FAILURE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH MERCEDES-BENZ OF EASTON 4300 MORSE CROSSING, COLUMBUS, OH 43219 ABOUT THE RECALL AND WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WAS AN OLDER RECALL AND THAT MANUFACTURER WAS NO LONGER OBLIGATED TO REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE…

Look up ODI 11325321 at NHTSA ↗

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

1 reports2024-112026-10

Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.

Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
Monthly complaint and recall timeline
MonthComplaintsCampaigns announcedExamples
2024-110None

No examples available for this selection.

2024-120None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-010None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-020None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-030None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-040None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-050None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-060None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-070None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-080None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-090None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-100None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-110None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-120None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-010None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-020None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-030None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-040None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-050None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-060None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-070None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-080None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-090None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-10 (partial)0None

No examples available for this selection.

Emerging complaint spikes

Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.

This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.

No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.

Equal-age model-year comparison

Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.

Age 0Age 1Age 21 reports

2004: 0 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model yearThrough age 0Through age 1Through age 2
2004000
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
YearIncident dates usedFiling date fallbacksExcluded dates
2004200

Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.

Components reported together

Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.

Component co-occurrence matrix
ComponentEngineExterior Lighting
Engine—0
Exterior Lighting0—

Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.

Recurring narrative patterns

Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.

3 patterns with matching reports.

Battery drain and no-start mentions

1 mentions · 50.0% of complaints

Median mileage: 46,000 mi (1 usable records).

ODI 10780746 · 46,000 mi

THE CAR STALLED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AFTER 15-MINUTES DRIVE. STARTER TURNED THE ENGINE JUST FINE, BUT THE ENGINE WON'T START. AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR. NEXT DAY IT HAPPENED AGAIN - AFTER A DRIVE CAR WAS PARKED AT THE STORE PARKING LOT AND IT WON'T START ONCE I RETURNED TO IT 10 MINUTES. AFTER UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO START THE ENGINE FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES, I WAS ABLE TO DO SO AGAIN. BOTH TIME THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND OBD CODE WAS "P0335 - CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR A CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION". I'M DEEPLY CO…

Look up ODI 10780746 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule\b(parasitic drain|battery drain\w*|dead battery|won.t start|would not start|no.start)\b

Stalling or loss of power

1 mentions · 50.0% of complaints

Median mileage: 46,000 mi (1 usable records).

ODI 10780746 · 46,000 mi

THE CAR STALLED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AFTER 15-MINUTES DRIVE. STARTER TURNED THE ENGINE JUST FINE, BUT THE ENGINE WON'T START. AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR. NEXT DAY IT HAPPENED AGAIN - AFTER A DRIVE CAR WAS PARKED AT THE STORE PARKING LOT AND IT WON'T START ONCE I RETURNED TO IT 10 MINUTES. AFTER UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO START THE ENGINE FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES, I WAS ABLE TO DO SO AGAIN. BOTH TIME THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND OBD CODE WAS "P0335 - CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR A CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION". I'M DEEPLY CO…

Look up ODI 10780746 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule\b(stall\w*|loss of power|lost power|engine shut\w* off)\b

Warning lights and dashboard alerts

1 mentions · 50.0% of complaints

Median mileage: 46,000 mi (1 usable records).

ODI 10780746 · 46,000 mi

THE CAR STALLED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AFTER 15-MINUTES DRIVE. STARTER TURNED THE ENGINE JUST FINE, BUT THE ENGINE WON'T START. AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR. NEXT DAY IT HAPPENED AGAIN - AFTER A DRIVE CAR WAS PARKED AT THE STORE PARKING LOT AND IT WON'T START ONCE I RETURNED TO IT 10 MINUTES. AFTER UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO START THE ENGINE FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES, I WAS ABLE TO DO SO AGAIN. BOTH TIME THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND OBD CODE WAS "P0335 - CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR A CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION". I'M DEEPLY CO…

Look up ODI 10780746 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule\b(warning light\w*|check engine|dashboard warning\w*|malfunction indicator)\b