AI DamageMercedes-Benz SL: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Mercedes-Benz SL across 12 model years: 41 owner complaints and 5 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 73% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 10% of all complaints
- 3 Equipment 7% of all complaints
- 4 Electronic stability control 7% of all complaints
- 5 Suspension 7% of all complaints
- 6 Engine and cooling 5% of all complaints
- 7 Powertrain 5% of all complaints
- 8 Steering 5% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 30 complaints (73% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 3.
- Service brakes: 4 complaints (10% of all).
- Equipment: 3 complaints (7% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
- Electronic stability control: 3 complaints (7% of all).
- Suspension: 3 complaints (7% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 41 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 30 | 1 | 3 |
| Service brakes | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Electronic stability control | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 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 wiring harness to the engine control system developed severe shorts, stalled the engine, disabled the abs, asr,srs systems. With engine stalled, steering and braking were difficult and resulted in front end damage from impact to roadside brush and dirt.
Ignition shut off multiple times over days while driving cutting off all electrical radio, brakes steering etc has had electrical problems since 2004 or 2005 with battery suddenly being dead both accessory battery in trunk and starting battery and has had many thousands of dollars spent on various parts and computers…
There were no brakes! Luckily I did not crash despite being on a chicago city street. I was probably on the only street where I would not have crashed. There was a prior recall on older sls for this problem that was supposedly remedied but this should be a never event. This should be investigated.
I was driving home from work and my abc light visit workshop light came on. Ok, that's fine I'll take it to the shop tomorrow. While on my way home my car suddenly drops in height and a warning sign came on saying "stop driving, car too low." I pulled to the side of the road and noticed that my car had maybe an inch…
Failure of active body control hydraulic suspension system; pump and wheel valve failures resulting in loss of hydraulic fluid and resulting loss of ability of car to maintain safe vehicle height and safe drivable.
While driving 30mph, suddenly the car started rocking from side to side. I held the steering wheel firmly, but the car started moving to the right, so I stopped the car and turned off the engine. It appeared to be a suspension problem. When I restarted the car, it was okay.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Electronic stability control. ABS/ESC sensors, steering angle, codes after suspension repair.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Complaint Overhead control panel makes noises/rattles Cause Noise and/or rattle present as a result of…
- Complaint Tailgate opens unintentionally
- Beanstandung Customer states that wireless Apple Carplay intermittently may not initiate at start-up
- Spots or presumed peeling off of clearcoat at roof frame panel and/or A-pillar trims, see picture Cause…
- Complaint Traffic Light View is intermittently inoperable after updating the MBUX Multimedia System…
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 2026-11-05.