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2017 Mercedes-Benz SL 550Problems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 4 owner complaints about the 2017 Mercedes-Benz SL 550, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 1 safety recall, and for recall 21V-058 the manufacturer reports only 95% of affected cars repaired.

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CarFlaw IndexNot enough dataHigher is better (0–100)
Safety recalls1Lowest repair rate 95%Owner complaints40 with a crash, fire or injuryTop problem1Electrical system

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through May 30, 2025. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 2017 Mercedes-Benz SL 550 has problems

4 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Electrical system10
Power train10
Service brakes10
Steering10

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

1 recall

2017 Mercedes-Benz SL 550 recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

95%repaired · 2023 Q4

Communication: auto crash notification

Recall 21V-058 · Feb 5, 2021 · 1,292,258 vehicles · 1,231,020 repaired

Risk. Failure of the eCall system may result in emergency responders being dispatched to the wrong location, increasing the risk of injury following a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Mercedes-Benz.

Best & worst years

2017 vs. every other SL 550 year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the SL 550 median. How we score

'03'07'08'09'11'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
1 investigation

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2017 Mercedes-Benz SL 550, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA21002 · still open
    Open
In owners' words

What SL 550 owners report

Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

2017 MERCEDES BENZ SL 550. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE PRE SAFE OPTION ON VEHICLE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATES THE SAFETY BELTS TIGHTEN RESTRICTING AND DISTRACTING THE DRIVER WHEN IT IS UNNECESSARY TO DO SO. THE FAILURE OCCURS IN ONE PARTICULAR SPOT WHERE TWO METAL PLATES OVERLAP IN THE…
Complaint 11398392 · Mar 2, 2021

Own a 2017 SL 550?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.