2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class
Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
- Fuel economy
- 22–26 mpgcombined; city 19–23, highway 28–32; every version of this model year
- Five years of fuel
- $15,480–$18,290U.S. average; Ohio $14,580–$17,240 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
- NHTSA overall safety rating
- Not ratedNHTSA has no overall rating for this year
- Recall campaigns
- 0none on file
- Owner complaints
- 12filed with NHTSA; not adjusted for sales
Problems owners report
Owners have filed 12 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 SLK-Class. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
| Part | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel/propulsion system | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown or other | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Air bags | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power train | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
Every SLK-Class year side by side
Recalls
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2012 SLK-Class. NHTSA's recall lookup checks a specific VIN.
Service bulletins and investigations
Carmakers sent NHTSA 66 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2012 SLK-Class, the latest on Sep 22, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: electrical system (21), exterior lighting (13), equipment (8), structure (8), engine (4).
NHTSA defect investigations
Opening an investigation isn't a finding of a defect. Outcomes are as NHTSA's summary states them. A recall is shown as an investigation's outcome only where NHTSA's summary names it; other recalls NHTSA's file lists with it are marked as listed, not caused.
| Investigation | Part | Opened | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering analysis EA21002 Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture · covers 37 makes | Air bags | Sep 17, 2021 | Open NHTSA's record and documents |
Maintenance
Oil
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2012 SLK-Class.
Oil change near you: Jiffy Lube · Take 5
Specs
EPA class: two seaters. Each version EPA tested:
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Fuel | City / hwy / comb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SLK250 Rear-Wheel Drive | 1.8 L, 4 cyl, turbo | Automatic 7-spd | Premium Gasoline | 23 / 32 / 26 |
| SLK250 Rear-Wheel Drive | 1.8 L, 4 cyl, turbo | Manual 6-spd | Premium Gasoline | 22 / 32 / 26 |
| SLK350 Rear-Wheel Drive | 3.5 L, 6 cyl | Automatic 7-spd | Premium Gasoline | 20 / 29 / 23 |
| SLK55 AMG Rear-Wheel Drive | 5.5 L, 8 cyl | Automatic 7-spd | Premium Gasoline | 19 / 28 / 22 |
Sources and dates
- U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
- NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
- NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
- NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
- NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
- NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data