2008 Mercedes Benz SLK350 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
4 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data updated: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 4 complaints (100.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 4 |
Air Bags: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 4 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. 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.
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
4 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-03.
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 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 110.0%ODI 10328705 · 31,300 miINFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) 30 APR 10 - 2006 MERCEDES BENZ SLK350; THE VEHICLE HAS 31,000 MILES ON IT AND RECENTLY HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR A LEFT REAR TURN SIGNAL LIGHT OUT. HAD SERVICE DONE UNDER WARRANTY AND ALSO HAD BRAKES AND FRONT ROTORS REPLACED. 1 MAY 10 THE SRS RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION VISIT WORKSHOP MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. 3 MAY 10, TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER FOR SERVICE AND A SHORT TEST WAS PERFORMED RESULTING IN CODE 4… | 969.2%ODI 10910005I WON'T DRIVE MY CAR DUE TO THE RECALL LETTER I RECEIVED IN MAY 2016 AND I CAN'T SELL IT . SO WHAT AM I SUPPOSE TO DO WITH IT? I WAS TOLD THAT I AM ON A VERY LONG LIST AND BASICALLY TO BAD. SO I HAVE A CAR I CAN'T DRIVE( OR SHOULDN'T) AND CAN'T SELL BUT I NEED TO INSURE IT....I THINK THE MANUFACTURE SHOULD BUY THESE CARS BACK. I WOULD LIKE A CAR I CAN DRIVE. | 4100.0%ODI 10910071TAKATA RECALL. RECALL IN FEBRUARY 2016, NOTIFIED IN MAY 2016, AND WAS ADVISED RECENTLY BY LOCAL MERCEDES DEALERSHIP THAT PARTS TO REPAIR ARE STILL NOT AVAILABLE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE, OTHER BRANDS (HONDA) HAVE EXCESS PARTS BUT MERCEDES HAS NONE. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR FOR OVER 4 MONTHS DUE TO THIS DEADLY SAFETY RECALL. |
| Power Train | 419.0%ODI 10482114 · 45,000 miFIRST INCIDENT I WAS DRIVING DOWN A MOUNTAIN (MALIBU CANYON ROAD) AROUND 10:30PM AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WENT OUT OF GEAR BY ITSELF AND I HAD NO FORWARD CONTROL. THE ENGINE REVVED BUT THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT ENGAGED. I WAS GOING DOWNHILL BUT IT TOOK ME AWHILE TO FIND A PLACE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. THERE WAS NO CELLPHONE SERVICE IN THAT LOCATION SO I WAITED FOR A FEW MINUTES TO FLAG SOMEONE DOWN. NO ONE CAME BY SO I RESTARTED MY CAR AND WAS ABLE TO GET IT BACK INTO GEAR. THE SECOND INCIDENT MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING ON THE 101 FREEWAY… | 550.0%ODI 10473614 · 25,868 miSEVERE JERK AS VEHICLE DECELERATED AROUND 10-12 MPH. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AND TEST DROVE WITH TECHNICIAN WHO VERIFIED THE PROBLEM. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS OR CODES FOUND. I WAS NOTIFIED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THERE WAS A SNAP RING FAILURE WITHIN THE GEAR BOX. INVOICE INDICATES "RETAINING CLIP FAILURE INSIDE TRANSMISSION, VERIFIED SEVERE 3-2 DOWN SHIFT, SHORT TEST NO CODES.CHECK OF ADAPTATION DATA FOUND 3-2 DOWN SHIFT AT NEGATIVE LIMIT. REMOVED TRANSMISSION AND INSPECTED, FOUND B1 RETAINING CLIP FAILURE. REPLACE B1 AND B3 TENSIONING S… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine | 29.5%ODI 10667301 · 67,501 miJUST GOT OFF THE HIGH WAY AND DRIVE ONTO A LOCAL STREET, THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR FORWARD OR REVERSE. END UP HAVING TO TOW THE CAR. LUCKILY IT DIDN'T HAPPEN WHILE I WAS AT THE HIGHWAY. *TR | 220.0%ODI 10810418 · 76,000 mi3 ISSUES--CAMSHAFT SELENOID; DEFECTIVE GEAR IN THE BALANCE SHAFTS OF THE ENGINE; TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY DEFECT. ALL THREE OF THESE ISSUES HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED BY MERCEDES INTERNAL DOCUMENTS AND THERE IS A CLASS ACTION SUIT ON GOING FOR THE DEFECTIVE GEAR IN THE BALANCE SHAFTS OF THE ENGINE RIGHT NOW. THESE ARE CRITICAL ISSUES AS THE CAR CAN LOSE POWER. WITH REGARD TO THE BALANCE SHAFT ISSUES, METAL FROM THE SHAFT DETERIORATES AND THAT INFILTRATES THE OTHER ENGINE PARTS CAUSING THE ENGINE TO PREMATURELY FAIL. ALMOST ALL OF THE REPORTS ON TH… | 323.1%ODI 10888967 · 51,000 miEXITED ONTO FREEWAY OFFRAMP AND CAR ENGINE SHUT OFF (THERE WAS A LITTLE SHAKING PRIOR AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON). WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR AGAIN AND DRIVE 1/2 MILE TO LOOK FOR PARKING SPOT. WHEN BACKING INTO PARKING SPOT, CAR ENGINE SHUT OFF AGAIN. WE WERE ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR BACK HOME - ON FREEWAY - AND DROP AT REPAIR SHOP - BUT, WE WERE SCARED TO DEATH. AFTER RESEARCHING WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED, WE LEARNED OUR CHOICE TO DRIVE WAS NOT WISE AS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED DUE TO THIS TYPE OF DEFECT - 13 DEATHS. SEE HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERREPOR… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Unknown Or Other | 628.6%ODI 11047045 · 160,000 miTHE EMERGENCY BRAKE LINE CAUGHT FIRE UNDERNEATH THE ARM REST COMPARTMENT. TRACED THE LINE BACK TO REAR TIRES AND NOTHING ELECTRICAL COULD BE SEEN TOUCHING BRAKE CABLE LINE. SO NO OBVIOUS REASON WHY CABLE WOULD IGNITE. I WAS PARKED IN CAR PORT STALL AFTER A SHORT TRIP TO A FRIENDS HOUSE. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Service Brakes | 523.8%ODI 10566444 · 35,000 miIGNITION SWITCHES INADVERTENTLY TURN FROM "RUN" TO "ACCESSORY" POSITION WHILE CAR IS DRIVEN AND I HAVE TO RESTART THE CAR TO KEEP GOING. I WOKE UP TO READ IN THE NEWSPAPER TODAY (2/28/2014) THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE GM FAULTED IGNITION DEATHS AND THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM DESCRIBED IS IN MY CAR AND STILL EXISTS IN THIS VEHICLE. I LOVE THIS CAR BUT IT SCARES ME. I TOLD THE LOCAL NEW CAR DEALERSHIP ON THIS AND THEY SAID IT WOULD COST ABOUT $2,000.00 TO FIX IT AND I SHOULD WAIT TILL IT GETS WORSE BEFORE FIXING IT. PLEASE ADVISE ON ANY HELP I C… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Suspension | 523.8%ODI 11307869REAR SUBFRAME RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT. DUE TO POOR DESIGN, THERE IS AN ARCH THAT HOLDS WATER IN AND THE WATER CAN'T GET OUT CAUSING IT RUST FROM THE INSIDE OUT. SEARCHING MERCEDES ONLINE FORUMS, THIS SEEMS LIKE A PROBLEM LOTS OF PEOPLE PROBLEM AND MERCEDES DENIES THIS PROBLEM. I HAVEN'T HAD AN ACCIDENT YET, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IT IF I DON'T REPLACE IT. HTTPS://WWW.SLKWORLD.COM/SEARCH/55011/?Q=SUBFRAME&O=RELEVANCE HTTPS://WWW.GOOGLE.COM/SEARCH?Q=MERCEDES+SUBFRAME+RUST&OQ=MERCEDES+SUBFRAME+RU&AQS=CHROME.1.69I57J0L3.10211J0J7&CLIE… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System | 29.5%ODI 10566444 · 35,000 miIGNITION SWITCHES INADVERTENTLY TURN FROM "RUN" TO "ACCESSORY" POSITION WHILE CAR IS DRIVEN AND I HAVE TO RESTART THE CAR TO KEEP GOING. I WOKE UP TO READ IN THE NEWSPAPER TODAY (2/28/2014) THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE GM FAULTED IGNITION DEATHS AND THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM DESCRIBED IS IN MY CAR AND STILL EXISTS IN THIS VEHICLE. I LOVE THIS CAR BUT IT SCARES ME. I TOLD THE LOCAL NEW CAR DEALERSHIP ON THIS AND THEY SAID IT WOULD COST ABOUT $2,000.00 TO FIX IT AND I SHOULD WAIT TILL IT GETS WORSE BEFORE FIXING IT. PLEASE ADVISE ON ANY HELP I C… | 110.0%ODI 10811255 · 8,446 miWHILE DRIVING VEHICLE POWER CAN BE LOST & VEHICLE CAN BE STUCK IN 1ST GEAR OR NO GEAR AT ALL CAUSING BLOCKAGE TO TRAFFIC AND POSSIBLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. ONCE YOU TURN CAR OFF IT APPEARS THE CAR RESETS ITSELF AS IF NOTHING EVER HAPPEN. WHEN REPORTED TO DEALERSHIP IT WAS STATED NO CODES POP UP SO I MUST BE HITTING THE SHIFT. NOT KNOWING ANY BETTER & NOT BEING A MECHANIC, WHO AM I TO CONTINUE TO QUESTION THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP? NO CODE NO ACTION. (1ST REPORTED WITH 8446 MILEAGE NEVER SHOWED A CODE). AT 63,000 MILES THE ENGINE LIGHT FINALLY… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 14.8%ODI 10482114 · 45,000 miFIRST INCIDENT I WAS DRIVING DOWN A MOUNTAIN (MALIBU CANYON ROAD) AROUND 10:30PM AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WENT OUT OF GEAR BY ITSELF AND I HAD NO FORWARD CONTROL. THE ENGINE REVVED BUT THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT ENGAGED. I WAS GOING DOWNHILL BUT IT TOOK ME AWHILE TO FIND A PLACE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. THERE WAS NO CELLPHONE SERVICE IN THAT LOCATION SO I WAITED FOR A FEW MINUTES TO FLAG SOMEONE DOWN. NO ONE CAME BY SO I RESTARTED MY CAR AND WAS ABLE TO GET IT BACK INTO GEAR. THE SECOND INCIDENT MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING ON THE 101 FREEWAY… | 220.0%ODI 10253355 · 14,000 miTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ SLK250. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO APPROACH A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. THERE WAS A SUDDEN INCREASE IN RPM'S AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE, WHICH CAUSED HIM TO CRASH. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES FROM THE CRASH AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. HE … | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
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 | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No usable records for this analysis. | ||||
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
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
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | 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.
2007: 1 complaints · 2008: 0 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2008 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
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 | Air Bags |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | — |
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.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.