I have an SLK 230 2003. The diagnostic light came on the dashboard and I took it straight away to a Mercedes garage. I was told it was a common fault with that model. A plug leaks oil throughout the system and causes expensive damage to all parts of the engine including the ICU. I was quote 2,500 to have it fixed. I contacted Mercedes but they would not admit to this being a common fault even though they updated the said plug in 2005 with a waterproof plug to prevent the problem.
Consumer Complaints & Reviews
I bought a used 2001 Mercedes SLK230 a few years ago. A year after I bought it, the car has had electrical issues that includes lights, oxygen sensors, radio locking, and fans misbehaving. I spent a lot of money replacing oxygen sensor, lights and getting engine codes checked and replaced.
Finally 3 weeks ago, the radiator fan kept running after the car has been switched off. It kept running on full rpm (revolutions per minute) and drained the battery. I had it jump started and it was the same problem, drained the battery again.
I took it to the dealer. Dealer said there is a recall on a leaking camshaft solenoid part that was causing oil to leak into the car's wiring harness and all sorts of problems. It even sent oil into the Electronic Control Unit (ECU). Dealer said that the wiring harness, recalled part and ECU would be replaced which he did replaced.
He then installed a new fan control module to replace the one that had burnt out but the new one burnt out again. Now, the dealer says he needs 5 hours of diagnosis time at $850 to simply find the problem and maybe more, then additional cost to repair it.
This is insane. I don't have that kind of money and this is my only car which is useless now. All was caused by a faulty recalled leaking camshaft solenoid part! I have no car now and I am much poorer having to have so many repairs done over the years.
I feel this problem with the car has been caused by the recalled part and I should not be responsible for this cost.
I bought an SLK230 Mercedes in June 2002. A couple weeks after there was a problem with the air conditioning and heater. I took it in, they replaced the compressor. In March 2003 the car caught on fire while I was in it.
My insurance declared the car totalled. I put in for a refund on my extended warranty with Mercedes of Alexandria and have not received a check or a response from anyone. I have called many times and no one has returned my calls. I have called Mercedes Benz headquarters and they keep telling me I have to contact the dealer. To add insult to injury, they only want to pay me 89% of what I paid for the warranty, which was not even in effect yet.
I have no transportation. I paid $4,000 down on this car and now I have no vehicle and no down payment to purchase another car. I would like my money and some type of compensation for the trauma. I feel that Mercedes Benz should be held responsible for a car they sold me that could have killed me.
My insurance declared the car totalled. I put in for a refund on my extended warranty with Mercedes of Alexandria and have not received a check or a response from anyone. I have called many times and no one has returned my calls. I have called Mercedes Benz headquarters and they keep telling me I have to contact the dealer. To add insult to injury, they only want to pay me 89% of what I paid for the warranty, which was not even in effect yet.
I have no transportation. I paid $4,000 down on this car and now I have no vehicle and no down payment to purchase another car. I would like my money and some type of compensation for the trauma. I feel that Mercedes Benz should be held responsible for a car they sold me that could have killed me.
Patricia's insurance company will pay her what they determine the value of the car to be. That's how it works. If she wants a refund for the amount she paid for the extended warranty, she can go to Small Claims Court.
I purchased an SLK 230 on 5/00 and 40 days later, the fuse for controls died and the car over heated. They had to order the part from Germany and I was without a car for two weeks. The interior leather in the center console started peeling 2 months after I bought it. I made them fix it, but they sent it to some cheap place because it kept peeling again until I took it to a more reputable shop again 6 months later and now it's fine.
After that the coolant light came on 3 times, the third time, there was an oversight in the mechanics handling (they forgot to the let the bubbles out) and the light came on again; I should have considered that the third element to meet the requirements, but I let it go. The coolant light has come on numerous times ever since. I took it in a month ago to the Smythe Dealership in San Jose, and they said they looked at it. But the light came on again immediately after I took the car back.
3 weeks ago, the O2 sensor died and I had to have that replaced. Yesterday, I found out something is wrong with the exhaust because my car suddenly sounds like a motorcycle. I can't drive it and have to take it in today.
After that the coolant light came on 3 times, the third time, there was an oversight in the mechanics handling (they forgot to the let the bubbles out) and the light came on again; I should have considered that the third element to meet the requirements, but I let it go. The coolant light has come on numerous times ever since. I took it in a month ago to the Smythe Dealership in San Jose, and they said they looked at it. But the light came on again immediately after I took the car back.
3 weeks ago, the O2 sensor died and I had to have that replaced. Yesterday, I found out something is wrong with the exhaust because my car suddenly sounds like a motorcycle. I can't drive it and have to take it in today.
The warranty ran out on it 10k miles ago, so I have to pay out of pocket for all these expenses. I have to take my car in and that means losing time from work. I have no peace when I drive my car because I keep thinking something is going to go wrong with it. I drive my car with care. I treat it with car because I worked hard to purchase it. I only use premium unleaded. I have all the service agreements/paper work for every time I have taken my car in - which amounts to every other or two months ever since I purchased it.
