AI DamageMercedes-Benz SL Class: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Mercedes-Benz SL Class across 7 model years: 31 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Service brakes 26% of all complaints
- 2 Suspension 19% of all complaints
- 3 Air bags 13% of all complaints
- 4 Engine and cooling 13% of all complaints
- 5 Equipment 13% of all complaints
- 6 Fuel system 13% of all complaints
- 7 Structure 13% of all complaints
- 8 Visibility 13% of all complaints
- Service brakes: 8 complaints (26% of all).
- Suspension: 6 complaints (19% of all).
- Air bags: 4 complaints (13% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine and cooling: 4 complaints (13% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Equipment: 4 complaints (13% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3 L · petrol · turbo · 6 cyl 2015–2020
- 3.2 L · petrol · 6 cyl 1994–1997
- 4 L · petrol · turbo · 8 cyl 2022–2027
- 4.7 L · petrol · turbo · 8 cyl 2013–2020
- 5 L · petrol · 8 cyl 1994–2006
- 5.4 L · petrol · turbo · 8 cyl 2004–2008
- 5.5 L · petrol · 8 cyl 2007–2012
- 5.5 L · petrol · turbo · 8 cyl 2003–2019
- 5.5 L · petrol · turbo · 12 cyl 2004–2009
- 6 L · petrol · 12 cyl 1994–2002
- 6 L · petrol · turbo · 12 cyl 2005–2018
- 6.2 L · petrol · 8 cyl 2012
- 6.2 L · petrol · turbo · 8 cyl 2009
- 6.3 L · petrol · 8 cyl 2011
- 2 L · hybrid · turbo · 4 cyl 2023–2027
- 4 L · plug-in hybrid · turbo · 8 cyl 2025
- automatic, 4-speed 1994–1995
- automatic, 5-speed 1995–2011
- automatic, 7-speed 2004–2019
- automatic, 9-speed 2017–2027
Drive: RWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 31 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Equipment | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Backover prevention | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The contact crashed into another vehicle, and the front air bags failed to deploy. He sustained minor injuries to his face. The vehicle sustained $14,000 worth of damage to the front end. A police report was filed. The failure mileage was 34,581 and current mileage was 34,592. Updated 12/10/08
2003 mercedes benz slk 320 experiencing problems with hesitation when the accelerator is depressed. On one occasions when the consumer attempted to apply the gas the vehicle did not move for a few seconds and then all of a sudden the vehicle lurched forward and the consumer hit another vehicle.
The new extended warranty on this brake failure issue was for complete parts and labor. I was never notified of this extended warranty. No one at the dealership, where I have had the car serviced exclusively, notified me of any warranty extension for this very serious braking failure issue. I find this reprehensible!
Something called an abc pump and block has failed and car drops down on frame. Spent $3200 on the pump to drive 2 months before they want $3800 to repair the valve block. Both times the vehicle drops and is dangerous to drive.
Purchased new michelin sport tires dot gudl 275/35 zr 18 on11/3/2010 and found out that the manufacturing date was 1107. These tires were over 3 years old and should have not been sold as new. The tire dealer accepted my complaint and replaced them with 0909 tires.
Purchased 1998 mercedes benz sl 600 from mbz san francisco dealership on 4/22/09. Immediately reported excessive and dangerous bouncing of front end. Reported defect dealer took no action. Took car to mbz of oakland where they diagnosed bad front suspension pressure cells which clearly existed at time of sale.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.