2003 Mercedes-Benz SL500Problems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 80 owner complaints about the 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL500, most often about the suspension. It has no vehicle safety recalls on record.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 29, 2023. Updated daily.
Where the 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL500 has problems
80 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 34 | 2 |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 11 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 10 | 1 |
| Service brakes | 8 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 8 | 0 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 6 | 1 |
| Steering | 6 | 1 |
| Electronic stability control (ESC) | 5 | 0 |
| Air bags | 4 | 1 |
| 7 other systems | 16 | 2 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
2003 Mercedes-Benz SL500 recalls and how many were fixed
No vehicle safety recalls are on record for this model year.
When do suspension problems start?
63kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 28 suspension complaints. 93% were reported before 100,000 miles.
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Suspension
8 owners mentioned a cost$5,700median
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
2003 vs. every other SL500 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 SL500 median. How we score
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL500, and the recalls they led to.
- AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM FAILURENo recall
What SL500 owners report
Recent suspension complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The contact owns a 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL500. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the ABC warning light illuminated. Additionally, the message "Drive Carefully" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the ABC tandem pump, struts,…
ABC (Active Body Control) light keeps coming on and body goes up and down when I drove car. Light says do not drive. Mercedes would not take responsibility for this in spite there are so many complaints about this. Really irresponsible by Mercedes.
I was driving my car at 45 mph and suddenly, unexpectedly a red light flashed ABC do not drive. Smoke was coming from under the car and the front end of the vehicle collapsed downwardly. I had to call for a tow truck to take my vehicle to the MB dealership. I'm I am waiting for the prognosis. I've…
Own a 2003 SL500?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.