2005 Mercedes-benz SLK-Class Complaints

My vehicle has excessive rust issues that I’m being told by the dealership will compromise my safety. There is currently an extension of warranty for only the subframe in rear, but the rust is extended beyond that and is applied to the components needed to be removed in order to replace the subframe. Such as the exhaust pipe and brake lines as well. All are corroded to a high degree up to and including complete brittle material Disintegration. Exhaust and rear brake line cost make it impossible for me to have the vehicle brought back to safely drivable conditions. I have to get to work daily or my family will not eat or have a roof but at a cost of more than what the car is even worth I have no choice but to choose and compromise my safety and those around me or food and shelter for my family. Please help.

improper heat treatment of the balance shaft spocket causing the balance shaft to worn out resulting in advance timing of the CAM. Mercedes acknowledges it's an known issue but don't cover cost of fixing it. Once ecu detected timing is off, it will stop the transmission from accelerating without any warning. Happened to me on a highway, good thing the car still have some momentum and was able to pull to the shoulder while others cars are coming from behind.

The rear subframe is corroded to the point of about to fall off and subsequently anything that is attached. Mercedes has extended a warranty on the subframe which is excellent, but only the subFrame? What about the touching bits like the bolts and screws among other items that are connected to it. So now because I cannot afford the $5,000.00 needed for the other rusted pieces that are brittle and likely to fall off when the subframe is replaced, then they won’t do it. So I must jeapordize my safety as I have to get to school and work.

A few days after a scheduled service visit at a local Mercedes-Benz (MB) dealer I noticed a creaking sound coming from the rear of my 2005 SLK350 that continued to get louder as time went by. I scheduled another appointment for post-inspection and I received the unfortunate news that corrosion of the subframe had resulted in a critical fracture rendering the vehicle unsafe to drive and that I was actually lucky to have not been involved in an accident from the mechanical failure. It is clear from the undercarriage photos that corrosion was localized to subframe junctions where other areas/parts in the vicinity did not experience debilitating fracture damage. I was surprised that a recently-serviced vehicle was now deemed unsafe to drive and required an entire rear subframe replacement. After some further investigation online (via forums, etc.) this appears to be a prominent issue with the R171 generation of rear subframes where corrosion protection was not applied to the steel subfra...

THE FUEL GAUGE IS WORKING ERRATICALLY. AFTER FILLING UP WITH FUEL, GAUGE SHOWS 3/4 FULL. NEXT MORNING, SHOWS FULL. AFTER DRIVING 25 MILES INTO WORK, FUEL GAUGE SHOW 1/4 FULL. END OF THE DAY, FUEL GAUGE SHOWS 1/2 FULL OR EMPTY. THE READING CAN BE ALMOST ANYWHERE AND IS UNRELIABLE. I HAVE HAD TO RESORT TO TRACKING MILEAGE AND FILLING UP BEFORE RUNNING OUT OF FUEL. THE CAR HAS RUN OUT OF FUEL ON A FEW OCCASIONS CAUSING THE CAR TO LOSE POWER AND SPEED ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY WHICH IS VERY UNSAFE. *TR