Model-year record
2012 Mercedes SLK
See the complaints, recalls, crash rating, and fuel economy in the public record. Then check the mileage and history of the car you found.
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Complaints filed
11
Reports to NHTSA, 2012
Safety recalls
0
NHTSA campaigns on record
NHTSA crash test
Not rated
Overall NCAP rating
Combined MPG
No data
EPA estimate
Known issues
Unknown Or Other issues lead owner complaints (27% of 11 reports), followed by fuel/propulsion system (18%).
Share of all 11 NHTSA complaints for this model year, grouped by the component owners named. Bars are scaled to the largest category. Examples: ODI 11337084, ODI 10717847, ODI 10639326.
Individual complaint reports(11)
Showing the 11 most recent reportsFuel/Propulsion SystemOct 2025 · ODI 11691757Details +Close −
My mechanic says it's the fuel filter and it has been discontinued. I am a single woman and I am now afraid to drive my car. l am stressed about breaking down or being killed. Please help me. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- Reported
- Oct 2025
- Incident date
- Sep 2025
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- None reported
WheelsNov 2022 · ODI 11492157Details +Close −
The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK350. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, a loud noise was heard coming from the rear of the vehicle. The contact stated that as she pulled over and parked the vehicle, the low tire pressure warning light illuminated for the driver's side rear tire. When the contact exited the vehicle, she saw that the rim hub cap had detached from the driver's side rear wheel. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic who removed the tire and sent it to a local dealer. The mechanic at the local dealer made the contact aware of a crack on the side wall. Additionally, the contact stated that the tire was taken to the original place of purchase, and the claims team determined the failure was caused by damage from the rim and advised the contact to call the vehicle manufacturer for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired; however, the spare tire was installed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 105,000.
- Reported
- Nov 2022
- Incident date
- Oct 2022
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- None reported
SeatsSep 2021 · ODI 11433988Details +Close −
The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK350. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the front passenger’s side headrest erroneously deployed. During the failure no crash had occurred, and no passenger was seated in the vehicle. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure but not assistance was offered. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 48,000.
- Reported
- Sep 2021
- Incident date
- Jun 2021
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- None reported
Unknown Or OtherJul 2020 · ODI 11337084Details +Close −
GLOVE BOX FACING HAS DETACHED FROM THE LOWER SIDE. IT HANGS FURTHER OUT THAN THE GLOVE BOX AND COULD BE A DANGER TO THE PASSENGER IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT OR EVEN A HARD STOP. IT STARTED COMING APART 3 YEARS AGO. FROM MY RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL CAR. IT CAME APART OVER TIME FROM HEAT AND SUB-STANDARD GLUE. *TR
- Reported
- Jul 2020
- Incident date
- Jul 2017
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- None reported
SteeringApr 2016 · ODI 10860868Details +Close −
ELECTRIC STEERING WHEEL LOCKS, WHEN YOU GO BACK TO THE CAR ALL THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING THE CAR IS DEAD AS DEAD, IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE IN A BAD NEIGHBORHOOD YOUR LIFE IS IN DANGER, THE CAR MUST BE TOWED TO THE MERCEDES DEALER, PRACTICALLY WHAT HAPPEN TO SO MANY CAR OWNER I KNOW IS THAT EIS / ESL THE EIS MODULE WHERE YOU INSERT KEY TO START AND THE ESL STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY LOCATE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE COLUMN THAT FAILS. THE COST OF REPAIR ($1700.) AS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE RISK YOU TAKE TO BE STRANDED ANYWHERE WITH NO PRIOR DIAGNOSTIC FLAG. MERCEDES STEERING LOCKS IS NOT AN INCONVENIENCE , BUT A SAFETY CONCERNS OR HARDSHIP THAT THIS ISSUE PRESENTS. THIS IS HAPPEN FOR THE MODEL 08+ AS MY SELF AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER AND INSPECT THIS ESL UNIT THE DECLINE OF WORKMANSHIP IN THE ASSEMBLY BY PRESSURING TWO PARTS TO ESTABLISH AN ELECTRIC CONTACT TO THE MOTOR THAT RELEASE ON/OFF THE STEERING COLUMN IS ASININE & STUPID, AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AND CORRECTED.
- Reported
- Apr 2016
- Incident date
- Apr 2016
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- None reported
Unknown Or OtherMay 2015 · ODI 10717847Details +Close −
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ SLK350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A BAD ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TREATED (CLEANED, VAPORIZED, FILTERS WERE CHANGED, INTERIOR WAS IONIZED) BY THE DEALER; HOWEVER, THE ODOR RECURRED CONTINUOUSLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000.
- Reported
- May 2015
- Incident date
- Sep 2014
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- None reported
Air BagsFeb 2015 · ODI 10689572Details +Close −
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ SLK350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,800.
- Reported
- Feb 2015
- Incident date
- Jun 2014
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- None reported
Unknown Or OtherSep 2014 · ODI 10639326 · 1 injuriesDetails +Close −
MOVED FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO PALM SPRINGS, UPON BEING IN THE DESERT WITH INCREASED TEMPERATURES, MY CAR STARTED EMITTING STRONG FUMES THAT SMELL LIKE BURNING CRAYONS, THOUGHT IT WAS COMING FROM EXHAUST BECAUSE IT WAS BURNING MY EYES AND CAUSING HEADACHES. TOOK INTO DEALER AT PALM SPRINGS MERCEDES, AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE DUE TO THE WAX THAT IS IN THE BODY OF CAR TO PROTECT FROM CORROSION. THEY STATED THAT WHEN THE WAX HEATS UP IT MELTS AND CAUSES THIS ODOR. THEY REMOVED THE WAX FROM THE INTERIOR OF DOORS, BUT THIS DID NO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. THEY HAVE DOCUMENTED THAT THE ODOR IS STILL THERE, BUT REFUSE TO WORK ON THE CAR ANYMORE. I WANT THEM TO BUY OUT THE LEASE BUT THEY ARE REFUSING. THE MERCEDES DEALER TOLD ME TO GET A LAWYER. HE INFORMED ME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENEND SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE, BUT MBUSA IS REFUSING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. I CAN'T DRIVE THE CAR WITHOUT GETTING HEADACHES AND BURNING EYES. WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT THIS. PLEASE HELP. I DID NOT PAY FOR A CAR THAT YOU CAN'T DRIVE WITHOUT THESE PROBLEMS. I AM ALSO CONCERED ABOUT THE CHEMICALS THAT ARE BURNING AND IF THESE FUMES ARE TOXIC OR DAMAGING TO THE HEALTH. I CANT FIND THE NAME OF THE WAX TO LOOK UP THE MSDS. *TR
- Reported
- Sep 2014
- Incident date
- May 2014
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- 1 injuries
SuspensionMay 2014 · ODI 10592439Details +Close −
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ SLK 350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POP FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SWERVED TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT BOTH CONTROL ARMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000.
- Reported
- May 2014
- Incident date
- May 2014
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- None reported
Power TrainJan 2013 · ODI 10494364Details +Close −
TRANSMISSION WOULDN'T GO INTO GEAR. CAR LOST POWER ON FREEWAY. MANY REPAIRS LAST ONE BEING ELECTRONIC GAS PEDAL. *TR ## VIN PASSED ## MERCEDES SLK350 2012 ##
- Reported
- Jan 2013
- Incident date
- Sep 2012
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- None reported
Fuel/Propulsion SystemSep 2012 · ODI 10475510Details +Close −
I PARKED MY CAR WITH AN ALMOST FULL TANK OF GAS WHILE I WAS AT WORK. AFTER LEAVING WORK, I STARTED THE CAR AND WHILE I WAS DRIVING I SMELLED A STRONG GASOLINE ODOR, AND IN ABOUT 3 MILES THE ENGINE ACTED LIKE IT WAS RUNNING OUT OF FUEL, THEN DIED ON A FREEWAY OFF-RAMP DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. A CALTRANS (OR SAN JOSE) FREEWAY SAFETY CAR CAME BY AND PUT ABOUT 2 GALLONS OF GAS IN MY TANK, BUT AS SOON AS THE ENGINE STARTED WE BOTH SMELLED RAW GASOLINE. I THEN DROVE ABOUT 1/8 OF A MILE TO THE NEAREST PARKING LOT AND STOPPED, AND WE BOTH SMELLED VERY STRONG GASOLINE ODOR AND FOUND FUEL LEAKING ONTO THE GROUND, WHERE IT POOLED IN A LARGE PUDDLE. THERE WAS NO FIRE, BUT EASILY COULD HAVE BEEN. A TOW TRUCK CARRIED THE CAR TO SMYTHE EUROPEAN IN SAN JOSE, WHERE THE NEXT DAY THEY SAY THEY REPAIRED THE LEAK, WHICH THEY DESCRIBED ON THE REPAIR ORDER AS FOLLOWS: 'LOW PRESSURE HOSE CAME OFF HIGH PRESSURE PUMP @ BACK OF CYL HEAD. VERIFIED FUEL IS LEAKING FROM LOW PRESSURE HOSE @ HIGH PRESSURE PUMP CONNECTION. REINSTALLED HOSE & INSTALLED NEW HOSE CLAMP. CLEARED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT & LOW PRESSURE CODES.' NOTE: SUBSEQUENT TO TAKING DELIVERY OF CAR, AN OVERPOWERING GASOLINE ODOR PERSISTED AND WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED IN OUR FARAGE, THE SMELL PENETRATED THE HOUSE. I TOOK CAR BACK TO SMYTHE EUROPEAN THE NEXT DAY, AND WAS MET WITH RESISTANCE TO FURTHER REPAIRS. THEY FINALLY ACCEPTED THE CAR AND WHEN THEY CALLED LATER, SAID THAT GASOLINE HAD SATURATED THE BELLY PAN INSULATION/PADDING AND ANOTHER PART, WHICH THEY ARE ORDERING. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTROUS FIRE. UNKNOWN WHETHER GASOLINE HAS PENETRATED COCKPIT OR OTHER PARTS UNTIL REPAIRS ARE COMPLETED. *TR
- Reported
- Sep 2012
- Incident date
- Sep 2012
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- None reported
Recalls
No recalls are listed for this model year as of Jul 2026. Recall records can change when NHTSA publishes new information.
A campaign can apply to this model year without being incomplete on a specific vehicle. Check the VIN with NHTSA or a dealer to confirm whether a particular car needs repair.
Investigations
1 NHTSA investigation on record
Investigations are agency reviews, not findings that a vehicle is defective.
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.
Crash-test ratings
No NHTSA crash test is on record for this year. Some vehicles and model years were not tested or do not have a published NCAP result.
Fuel economy by trim
No EPA fuel-economy record is available for this model year. Some trims and older vehicles were not tested or are not in the current EPA feed.
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2012 Mercedes SLK: frequently asked
What does the complaint record show for the 2012 Mercedes SLK?
Owners filed 11 NHTSA complaints about the 2012 Mercedes SLK. This is raw owner-reported complaint volume with no production or exposure normalization, so it is not a reliability score or a best/worst-year ranking.
What are the most common problems on the 2012 Mercedes SLK?
The most-reported problem areas are Unknown Or Other (27% of complaints) and fuel/propulsion system (18%).
How many recalls does the 2012 Mercedes SLK have?
No safety recalls are on record for the 2012 Mercedes SLK as of Jul 2026.
What gas mileage does the 2012 Mercedes SLK get?
EPA fuel-economy figures for the 2012 Mercedes SLK aren't available yet.