AI Damage2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS: common problems
Owners of the 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS filed 6 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and vehicle speed control. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 6
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 83% of all complaints
- 2 Vehicle speed control 17% of all complaints
- Air bags: 5 complaints (83% of all).
- Vehicle speed control: 1 complaints (17% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 6.2 L · petrol · 8 cyl
- dual-clutch (DCT), 7-speed
Drive: RWD
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 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.
Letter on behalf of his client relative to her inability to get the passenger-side airbag replaced pursuant to the mercedes benz recall of her vehicle.
Takata recall-still have not received replacements! It has been 2-1/2 years since the recall started for my vehicle!
Takata recall--still have not received replacement airbags for my vehicle. It has been 2-1/2 years since the recall started!
Consumer writes in regards to unintended acceleration incident. Consumer sent additional correspondence. The consumer was advised by the manufacturer that the vehicle was operating as designed. The manufacturer stated the failure was caused by pedal misapplication resulting in the crash.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 13,281 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 36% most complained about).
On average one model year of the SLS has 4 complaints (3 years in the data). This year has 6, above average.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, vehicle speed control. Total complaints: 6. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: unintended acceleration (17%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2011 models
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.