Mercedes BENZ SL Class Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used Mercedes BENZ SL Class options? We analyzed 10 model years (2017–2026) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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Model-year trends show patterns — they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.
- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Mercedes BENZ SL Class has 17 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls across model years 2017–2026. The most reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. 2022 drew the most complaints; 2017 drew the fewest.
- Make
- Mercedes BENZ
- Model
- SL Class
- Model years analyzed
- 2017–2026 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 17
- Safety recall campaigns
- 0
- Crash-related complaints
- 2
- Fire-related complaints
- 0
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2022 (8 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2017 (4 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Reliability signal
- Good
By model year
Mercedes BENZ SL Class: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
NCAP crash test ratings for this model are not yet loaded or this vehicle was not tested in the years analyzed. NHTSA tests a subset of new vehicles each year. Check nhtsa.gov/ratings directly for the latest results.
What the complaint data suggests
GoodThe MERCEDES BENZ SL CLASS has 17 NHTSA complaints and 0 recalls on record. 2 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 17 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 0 federal recall campaigns
- 2 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Oct 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
0 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
No NHTSA recalls were found in our database for this model. Always verify open recalls using your specific VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2017–2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 17 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
17 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
When pulling into an intersection after stopping at a 3-way stop the car unexpectedly went into neutral gear. An oncoming car had to stop suddenly to avoid a collision. I was able to shift the car back to drive and got it home. Now the car will not start and there's a warning message on the dash saying to get the car to a dealer. The car is now at the Mercedes dealer. Apparently the problem exists on other Mercedes models.
2007 MERCEDES BENZ SL500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO BRAKE FAILURE. THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE ROLLED THROUGH THE STOP SIGN. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKING CONTROL. THE VEHICLE FAULT CODES WERE 5611, C26DE, C26BB, AND C25D5. THE CODES WERE CLEARED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DECLINED TO ASSIST UNTIL THE FAILURE RECCURED, LEAVING THE BRAKE FAILURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY.
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 STREET. *JS
STEERING WHEEL STUCK IN UP POSITION. IT WOULD NOT ADJUST TO THE PRESET UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE. FOUND A FIX ONLINE TURNED OFF THE EASY ENTRY/EXIT FEATURE AND HAD TO SLAP THE WHEEL DOWNWARD TO GET IT UNSTUCK. IF THIS HAPPENS IN MOTION IT COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF CONTROL AND DRIVING WITH THE WHEEL IN FULL UP POSITION BLOCKS THE INSTRUMENTS.
See attached document for complaint.
MY CAR HAS RECALL OVER MONTH I HAVE BEEN KEEP CALLING MERCEDES BUT EVERY TIME THEY TOLD ME STILL PENDING TAKE FOREVER
Read 11 more owner reports
The contact leased a 2022 Mercedes-Benz AMG SL55. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle unintendedly decelerated and stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle operated normally and was later driven to the residence. The vehicle was then taken to the local dealer who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on another occasion and the vehicle stalled and was restarted. The vehicle was later towed to a different dealer who diagnosed the vehicle with engine misfire. The contact was provided a loaner due to the failures. The cause of the engine misfire was not yet determined. No further information was available. The contact had experienced extreme mental distress caused by the engine failures. The manufacturer was notified of the failures, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000.
The electrical systems drains the two batteries after the car sits idle for a few hours. If it can be started, many of the safety features are inoperable until the car is driven for 30 or 40 minutes. I've had it to multiple Mercedes dealers and all they do is re-charge the battery and told me to get a trickle charger. Even after being on the charger, it failed to start. I was the third owner. No one had owned this car for more that a year. Service records indicate that previous owners had same issues. I purchased it in Nov of 2024 from Mercedes Benz of Clearwater, FL. I took it back and traded it in for a different car on September 6, 2025. Three days later they had the same car back on the lot for sale for $96K, which was over $10K more than what they gave me as a trade-in.
MBUX system would not turn on. Warnings of Blind Spot in operatable, Parktronic not operatable. Was not able to access any features through MBUX. Climate Control, Operation of Covertable Top, Maps, all options run through MBUX. It was a safety issue because the battery light comes on, after being on charge, and without access to MBUX, you do not know if the car will stall on the freeway, or at a stop light. Safety issues also around front lift without cameras access. The vehicle was inspected at the Mercedes Benz Dealer and they fixed it, but after a day, the battery still isn't charging after numerous attempts and recalls on 12v rewiring. Since I have bough the vehicle, many warning lights have always come on, been ficed and then come back on.
The contact owns a 2022 Mercedes-Benz AMG SL55. The contact stated that upon entering the vehicle, the vehicle failed to detect the presence of the key, after which the vehicle failed to start. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 9,000.
Car reports low or critical battery while having car doors open to detail. This is a known issue for this vehicle. There is a campaign to fix this issue but I am not on the list of cars to be fixed.There have been reports that these cars die on the street and this could be very dangerous. Since I am still having these issues I am asking that my car receive the fix and my family can be safe from this issue. My car just sitting for a few days also receives a critical battery notice. Please assist me in this manner. Thanks in advance for your help. The cause is coming from the key fob as stated in the campaign.
When driven on the highway, speed drops abruptly down (65 mph to 40 mph) stuck on 4 or 3rd gear in this automatic 9 speed transmission and gear won't shift up causing engine rpm rise over 3000 & gas pedal won't have effect even it was pushed down to floor all the way. Almost rear ended in multiple occasion & it is extremely dangerous to change lane to get off to safety as car does not respond to throtle up or gas pedal to speed up. Dealer was not able to duplicate issue in two service visit & this already happened third time in a raw and car is back in dealership for diagnostic. No warning nor malfunction light at all when this happen
Initially got a transmission malfunction warning and to turn car off. The cars battery keeps dying at only 1500 miles. Constantly needs to be on trickle charger. Recently the car died, charged battery. Car turned over for 3 seconds then stalled. Now car even with full battery with turn over but will not start whatsoever. Has to be towed. Multiple people ok forms reported this same issue.
See attached document for complaint
My mom and I were in her car brand new Mercedes adaptive cruise was on the car started to act up with all the warning lights again, which shut all safety systems down air back seatbelts, adaptive cruise, Tronics and the engine wall between 18 wheeler and the freeway wall slammed the vehicle into the freeway hall causing about $5000 worth of damage tires and wheels. Both on the left side had to be towed is horribly scary on another incident about three weeks prior. The gas pedal broke while she was getting off the freeway and braking trying to brake with part cars during rush-hour. The car is going and braking at the same time she had to go up on the curb come to find out the gas pedal broke off and lunged hinged itself between the brake and the gas pedal so when she was trying to break, the car was accelerating at the same time scared her to death. She’s almost [XXX]. She bought this car and I almost killed her twice Not to mention all the issues we’ve had going into the shop six weeks at a time three different dealerships we’ve only have the car in our possession maybe two months out of the eight months they’ve done nothing and they can’t fix it. Brand new. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I do Own a Mercedes-Benz 2020 SL-550. On August 27, 2025, I was stopped at the curb adjacent to my house at [XXX] . When I gently tried to go right into driveway of my house, the tire hit the curb. When I gently again tried to release the tire from the curb, the car all of the sudden jump into the air with high speed, and hit the corner of my garrage destroying the roll-up door. I could not control the car and the car was deemed to be a total loss. My position is that the incident happened due to malfunction of the Engine & Power Train which is a "Product-Defect" issue, causing me substantial damages. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 MERCEDES-BENZ SL450. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 21V058000 (COMMUNICATION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) THAT STATED THAT THE REMEDY WAS AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED JAMES MOTOR COMPANY MERCEDES-BENZ (2440 RICHMOND RD, LEXINGTON, KY 40502) HOWEVER, THE DEALER INFORMED THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THE RECALL SINCE THE REMEDY WAS TO BE PERFORMED OVER THE AIR. THE CONTACT INFORMED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE RECALL NOTICE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THE RECALL. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. ## VIN PASSED ## MERCEDES-BENZ 2020 ##
Showing 17 of 17 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Mercedes BENZ SL Class
These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Mercedes BENZ SL Class, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Mercedes BENZ SL Class has 17 complaints on record across 10 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Mercedes BENZ SL Class has 0 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 2 of the Mercedes BENZ SL Class's 17 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Good) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Mercedes BENZ SL Class vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Mercedes BENZ SL Class vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Mercedes BENZ SL Class has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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By state
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Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used Mercedes BENZ SL Class.
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Mercedes BENZ SL Class reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the Mercedes BENZ SL Class reliable?
Good. The Mercedes BENZ SL Class has 17 NHTSA owner complaints and 0 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Mercedes BENZ SL Class years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2022 (8 complaints), 2017 (4 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common Mercedes BENZ SL Class problems?
Top reported issues: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (7 complaints); ENGINE (5 complaints); POWER TRAIN (4 complaints).
Does the Mercedes BENZ SL Class have recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns are currently on record for the Mercedes BENZ SL Class. Always verify with a VIN check as recalls can be added at any time.