Reliability report
Mercedes-Benz SLK reliability and common faults
Based on 66,270 roadworthiness tests, led by the UK MOT. Each country is compared only with its own average for cars of the same age.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom · MOT
24.5%
fail rate · average 30.4%
much better than average
53,858 MOT tests (DVSA)
🇳🇱 Netherlands · APK
52.1%
with defects · average 64.5%
much better than average
11,413 APK inspections (RDW)
🇱🇹 Lithuania · inspection
56.7%
first-time pass · average 42.9%
much better than average
999 inspections
Testing regimes differ from country to country – don’t compare the figures between countries; compare each one only with its own average. MOT data: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Weak spots
What goes wrong on the Mercedes-Benz SLK
How often each area fails compared with the average car of the same age (vertical line = average, 100%). Red – more often than average.
Steering
Tyres
Suspension
Seat belts and airbags
Wheels
Plates and identification
Brakes
Driving controls
Visibility
Lights and electrics
Exhaust and emissions
Body and structure
Most common test failures
- 1Steering or steering knuckle ball joint with wear of 1.0 mm or less
- 2Tyre pressure not at correct value
- 3Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm
- 4Excessive leakage of other fluids
- 5Tyre insufficient tread
- 6Low beam incorrectly adjusted
- 7Airbag / seatbelt system warning light indicates a fault
- 8Steering knuckle (ball joint) too much play
- 9Brake light doesn't work (properly)
- 10Spring broken or cracked
- 11Turn signal color incorrect/not allowed
- 12Mechanical parts of the brake system show wear
Results by vehicle age
| Age | 🇬🇧 MOT fail rate | 🇳🇱 APK defects |
|---|---|---|
| 9–11 years | 19.0% avg 22.9% | 27.5% avg 44.4% |
| 12–15 years | 23.9% avg 30.3% | 43.4% avg 55.4% |
| 16–20 years | 28.6% avg 34.6% | 51.0% avg 64.7% |
| 21+ years | 24.5% avg 31.4% | 58.3% avg 68.4% |
🇱🇹 First-time pass rate in Lithuania – by year of manufacture
| Year | SLK | Average for year | Inspections |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 88.9% | 50.6% | 54 |
| 2006 | 64.6% | 48.7% | 65 |
| 2005 | 65.3% | 46.6% | 75 |
| 2004 | 60.5% | 44.5% | 38 |
| 2002 | 49.2% | 42.0% | 59 |
| 2001 | 56.3% | 40.9% | 71 |
| 2000 | 49.5% | 39.6% | 101 |
| 1999 | 54.4% | 38.6% | 149 |
| 1998 | 52.0% | 37.8% | 175 |
| 1997 | 49.5% | 36.9% | 107 |
Mercedes-Benz SLK – FAQs
How reliable is the Mercedes-Benz SLK?+
In the UK the Mercedes-Benz SLK fails 24.5% of MOT tests, against an average of 30.4% for cars of the same age – much better than average. In the Netherlands, inspectors found defects at 52.1% of APK inspections (average there 64.5%) – much better than average. In Lithuania 56.7% pass their roadworthiness test first time (average for those years there 42.9%) – much better than average.
What goes wrong most often on the Mercedes-Benz SLK?+
Compared with the average car of the same age, testers find faults more often in these areas: steering.
What should I check when buying a used Mercedes-Benz SLK?+
The most common inspection failures: Steering or steering knuckle ball joint with wear of 1.0 mm or less; Tyre pressure not at correct value; Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm; Excessive leakage of other fluids; Tyre insufficient tread. Before you buy, also check the free MOT history on GOV.UK and the car’s history by reg or VIN (mileage, damage, theft).
More Mercedes-Benz models
Sources: anonymised MOT test results (DVSA) – contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0; APK inspection defects (RDW, open data); Lithuanian roadworthiness test results (data.gov.lt). Initial tests only; retests are not counted. Photo: M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, Wikimedia Commons (licence).