Menu

Mercedes-Benz SL ClassYears to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 31 owner complaints and 7 safety recalls on record for the Mercedes-Benz SL Class.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years—Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints31Top: Service brakes, hydraulicSafety recalls71996–2013 model years

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

Best & worst years

Mercedes-Benz SL Class 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 Class median. Tap a year for its full report.

'96'97'98'02'03'04'05'06'09'13
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2013Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall2009Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall2006Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall2005Not rated–/1002 complaints · 1 recall2004Not rated–/1003 complaints · 3 recalls2003Not rated–/1009 complaints · 3 recalls2002Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1998Not rated–/10012 complaints · 0 recalls1997Not rated–/1002 complaints · 1 recall1996Not rated–/1002 complaints · 2 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common Mercedes-Benz SL Class problems

All model years combined: 31 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
Service brakes, hydraulic70
Suspension60
Equipment40
Air bags42
Engine and engine cooling41
Structure40
Visibility41
Electrical system30
Exterior lighting30
11 other systems162
7 recalls

Mercedes-Benz SL Class recalls

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

–Appliance: air conditioner12V-478 · 2013 · Oct 1, 2012 · 432 vehicles–Electrical system08V-303 · 2003–2009 · Jul 7, 2008 · 404 vehicles–Service brakes, hydraulic05V-133 · 2003–2005 · Apr 1, 2005 · 204,000 vehicles–Service brakes, hydraulic04V-296 · 2003–2004 · Jun 22, 2004 · 143,387 vehicles–Air bags: frontal99V-327 · 1997 · Nov 22, 1999 · 4,402 vehicles–Visibility96V-175 · 1996 · Sep 19, 1996 · 28,874 vehicles–Engine and engine cooling: engine96V-058 · 1996 · Apr 4, 1996 · 149 vehicles
3 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the SL Class

  1. AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM FAILUREPE07042 · 2002–2004 · closed Nov 20, 2007
    No recall
  2. ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY FAILUREPE03058 · 1999 · closed Apr 22, 2004
    No recall
  3. INADVERTENT SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG DEPLOYMENRQ00013 · 1997 · closed Jul 20, 2001
    Led to recall 00V-388