2006 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Transmission & Drivetrain
Transmission & Drivetrain leads by volume: 10 of 34 complaints (29%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Driver Assistance & Speed Control include more crash reports (1) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed rose from 27 in 2005 to 34 in 2006.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | vs. 2006 Two Seaters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 3,500–4,550 | 4,100–4,850 | 3,700–4,850 | 3,900–4,850 | 3,900–4,850 | |
| Combined MPG | 17–22 | 16–19 | 16–21 | 16–20 | 16–20 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 15–19 / 21–26 | 14–17 / 20–23 | 14–18 / 20–25 | 14–18 / 20–25 | 14–18 / 20–25 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 404–523 | 468–555 | 423–555 | 444–555 | 444–555 | |
| Complaints filed | 7 | 27 | 34 | 36 | 14 | |
| Recalls issued | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 5 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2006 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class have?
1 NHTSA recall campaign as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2006 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class?
Transmission & Drivetrain: 10 of 34 NHTSA complaints (29%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2006 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class get?
EPA rates it 16–21 MPG combined across 5 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2006 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class?
EPA estimates $3,700–$4,850 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (5)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic 7-spd | 6 | 3.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Two Seaters | 18 mpg (high) | 25 mpg (high) | 21 mpg (high) | $3,700 (low) | 423 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Manual 6-spd | 6 | 3.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Two Seaters | 17 mpg | 25 mpg (high) | 20 mpg | $3,900 | 444 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic 7-spd | 6 | 3.5L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Two Seaters | 17 mpg | 22 mpg | 19 mpg | $4,100 | 468 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Manual 6-spd | 6 | 3.5L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Two Seaters | 16 mpg | 23 mpg | 19 mpg | $4,100 | 468 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (S7) | 8 | 5.4L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Two Seaters | 14 mpg (low) | 20 mpg (low) | 16 mpg (low) | $4,850 (high) | 555 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (1)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · Campaign 08V303000 · Jul 9, 2008
Defect: MERCEDES-BENZ IS RECALLING MY 2006-2008 M-CLASS, R-CLASS, MY 2005-2009 SLK-CLASS, MY 2005-2008 C-CLASS, MY 2003-2004 AND 2006-2008 CLK-CLASS, MY 2003-2008 E-CLASS, MY 2004 AND 2008 CL-CLASS, MY 2008 CLS-CLASS, MY 2004 AND 2007-2008 S-CLASS, MY 2003 G-CLASS, AND MY 2003-2004, 2006 AND 2009 SL-CLASS VEHICLES. A SOFTWARE CALIBRATION NUMBER (SCN) CODING RECEIVED ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES DURING A RECENT WORKSHOP VISIT WAS INCORRECT. DEPENDING ON THE MODEL YEAR AND MODEL AFFECTED, THE RESULTS OF AN INCORRECT SCN CODING CAN AFFECT A NUMBER OF VEHICLE SAFETY AND EMISSION FUNCTIONS INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF FUNCTIONS: (1) THE FUEL GAUGE READINGS MAY BE INCORRECT; (2) A STUCK FUEL-LEVEL SENSOR MAY NOT BE DISPLAYED IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER; (3) THE OBD SYSTEM MAY CAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE INCORRECTLY; AND, (4) THE SPEEDOMETER MAY BE OUT OF TOLERANCE.
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE ELECTRICAL FUEL PUMP MAY NOT RECEIVE A CRASH SIGNAL THAT IS REQUIRED FOR THE FUEL PUMP TO DISCONNECT AND PREVENT FUTURE FUEL DELIVERY AS DESIGNED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL RECODE THE SCN FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 30, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.