AI DamageMercedes-Benz SL400: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Mercedes-Benz SL400 across 2 model years: 3 owner complaints and 58 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
| Year | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) | YouTube repair videos |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 1 | 0 | 58 | 0 |
| 2015 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
What fails most often
- 1 Wheels 67% of all complaints
- 2 Tires 33% of all complaints
- Wheels: 2 complaints (67% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
- Tires: 1 complaints (33% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheels | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| Exterior lighting | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Powertrain | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Structure | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Suspension | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Engine | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Visibility | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Engine and cooling | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Communication | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Seats | 0 | 0 | 1 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Multiple wheel rims (4) have cracked while driving under normal driving conditions. The last wheel rim crack occurred while on the highway leading to a flat tire upon arriving at destination. The rim was found cracked in two places.
While driving on expressway alert notification displayed that driver side rear tire pressure was low. These are MOE tires so there is no spar tire and should be able to drive at low speed. Car was bought new and had less than 17,000 miles on the tires.
My sl400 seemed to have a slow leak since I bought it, particularly on one tire. Finally while out for a drive the tire dramatically lost tire pressure and it led me to get service, where I found that the rim was cracked. I had the rim replaced for over usd$1000 in october.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Wheels. Wheel runout, cracks, signs of a wheel strike.
- Tires. Tire age by DOT code, bulges, wear pattern.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Complaint Clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors
- Complaint Repeat workshop visit for vehicle vibration while braking from 60MPH. NOTE
- Complaint During part of the steering movement, it feels heavier or more difficult to steer in the same…
- Complaint Clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors
- Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end)
- Complaint Creaking noise, in irregular sequence when driving slowly in combination with slight steering…
- Complaint Creaking noise, in irregular sequence when driving slowly in combination with slight steering…
- Complaint After successful commissioning of the HERMES control unit (N112/9) with XENTRY Diagnosis DVD…
- Complaint The customer requests deactivation of the N112/9 HERMES communication module Note
- Complaint There are several types of complaint about noises or poor windshield wiper wiping performance
- Complaint Creaking noise, in irregular sequence when driving slowly in combination with slight steering…
- In our continuing efforts to assure the proper performance of Mercedes-Benz products and to enhance the…
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.