Mercedes-Benz SL 550Years to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 66 owner complaints and 12 safety recalls on record for the Mercedes-Benz SL 550.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaints Best years—Fewest complaints for their age Owner complaints66Top: Service brakes Safety recalls122003–2020 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

Mercedes-Benz SL 550 years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the SL 550 median. Tap a year for its full report.

1 16 4 15 2 17 4 2 0 4 0 0 1

'03'07'08'09'11'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20

Avoid
Caution
Solid
Best
Not rated

2020Not rated–/1001 complaint · 3 recalls 2019Not rated–/1000 complaints · 4 recalls 2018Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls 2017Not rated–/1004 complaints · 1 recall 2016Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall 2015Not rated–/1002 complaints · 3 recalls 2014Not rated–/1004 complaints · 4 recalls 2013Not rated–/10017 complaints · 3 recalls 2011Not rated–/1002 complaints · 0 recalls 2009Not rated–/10015 complaints · 0 recalls 2008Not rated–/1004 complaints · 0 recalls 2007Not rated–/10016 complaints · 1 recall 2003Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls

Complaints by system

Most common Mercedes-Benz SL 550 problems

All model years combined: 66 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

15Service brakes1 crash/fire/injury

10Wheels

9Engine2 crash/fire/injury

8Steering

8Power train1 crash/fire/injury

7Electrical system3 crash/fire/injury

5Tires

5Structure2 crash/fire/injury

4Service brakes, hydraulic

126 other systems3 crash/fire/injury

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.

Complaints by system
System	Complaints	Crash, fire or injury
Service brakes	15	1
Wheels	10	0
Engine	9	2
Steering	8	0
Power train	8	1
Electrical system	7	3
Tires	5	0
Structure	5	2
Service brakes, hydraulic	4	0
6 other systems	12	3

12 recalls

Mercedes-Benz SL 550 recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

Communication: auto crash notification22V-365 · 2019–2020 · May 20, 2022 · 242,722 vehicles Control module: software22V-168 · 2007 · Mar 18, 2022 · 22 vehicles Fuel injection system: fuel rail21V-961 · 2020 · Dec 13, 2021 · 139 vehicles Communication: auto crash notification21V-058 · 2017–2020 · Feb 5, 2021 · 1,292,258 vehicles Communication19V-787 · 2013–2016 · Nov 1, 2019 · 24,226 vehicles Power train: axle assembly19V-768 · 2019 · Oct 25, 2019 · 36 vehicles Passenger side: inflator module19V-571 · 2018–2019 · Aug 2, 2019 · 457 vehicles Frontal: sensor/control module-inactive17V-177 · 2014 · Mar 14, 2017 · 51 vehicles Steering: electric power assist system16V-899 · 2013–2015 · Dec 14, 2016 · 70 vehicles Exterior lighting: headlights16V-439 · 2015 · Jun 15, 2016 · 100 vehicles Air bags14V-386 · 2014 · Jul 1, 2014 · 311 vehicles Air bags: side/window13V-542 · 2013 · Nov 1, 2013 · 130 vehicles

1 investigation

NHTSA investigations of the SL 550

Sep 17, 2021
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA21002 · 2013–2018 · still open
Open