Is the Mercedes Slk reliable?

The Mercedes Slk has an average MOT pass rate of 81% across 21 years, based on 128,923 tests in 2026. That's 1 points below the national average of 82%. The most reliable year is 2016 with a 89% pass rate.

Which year Mercedes Slk is best?

The 2016 Mercedes Slk has the highest MOT pass rate at 89%, while the 1996 model has the lowest at 76%. There's a 13 percentage point spread between the best and worst years.

Mercedes Slk

Reliability, running costs, and MOT data across 21 years from 128,923 real MOT tests.

Avg Pass Rate

81%

Total Tests

128,923

Best Year

2016 (89%)

Years Covered

About the Mercedes Slk

The Mercedes Slk has been tested 128,923 times in 2026 MOT data across 21 model years (1996 to 2016), with an average pass rate of 81%. That's close to the national average of 82%. Available as diesel and petrol.

Best and Worst Years

The 2016 model is the most reliable with a 89% pass rate from 2,572 tests. The 1996 model has the lowest at 76%. The 13 point spread between years means reliability varies somewhat, but no year is dramatically different.

Reliability Trend

Newer MERCEDES SLKs show better MOT pass rates than older ones, with an average improvement of 4 percentage points.

Mileage Across Years

The oldest model in our data (1996) averages 98,709 miles, while the newest (2016) averages 42,977 miles.

Compared to the Mercedes brand average of 87%, the Slk is 6 points lower, placing it among the less reliable Mercedes models.

Estimated Running Costs

Fuel (Petrol, 5461cc)

£1,592

Road Tax

£760

MOT Test

£55

Predicted Repairs

£350

Total per year£2,757

Per month£230/mo

Based on 7,400 miles/year, current fuel prices, and MOT pass rate data. Insurance not included.

Full 2016 details

How reliable is the Mercedes Slk?

vs national average-1% (82% avg)

vs Mercedes brand average-6% (87% avg)

Best to worst year spread13 percentage points

Reliability trendImproving over years

Mercedes Slk by Year

Click any year to see detailed running costs, reliability data, and comparisons with similar cars.

Year	Pass Rate	Tests	Avg Mileage
2016	89%	2,572	42,977 mi
2015	87%	11,055	48,710 mi
2014	87%	11,284	55,581 mi
2013	85%	11,106	62,322 mi
2012	84%	13,361	64,940 mi
2011	85%	5,660	61,469 mi
2010	80%	4,472	66,541 mi
2009	81%	5,347	71,532 mi
2008	80%	6,876	75,187 mi
2007	79%	7,700	77,695 mi
2006	79%	7,884	80,213 mi
2005	78%	10,305	82,791 mi
2004	78%	6,598	84,132 mi
2003	78%	3,327	85,438 mi
2002	81%	3,692	87,295 mi
2001	82%	4,005	90,848 mi
2000	79%	3,545	90,918 mi
1999	79%	4,295	87,626 mi
1998	79%	3,523	89,671 mi
1997	81%	2,190	90,802 mi
1996	76%	126	98,709 mi