2013 Mercedes-Benz SL550 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other SL550 years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 13 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 17 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL550. That is the most of any SL550 model year in the database (13 years). The most reported problem area is steering (5 complaints, 29%), typically at around 45,500 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 17owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL550 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 5 | 29% | 45,500 | — | — |
| Engine | 4 | 24% | 74,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 4 | 24% | 14,600 | — | — |
| Wheels | 3 | 18% | 31,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 12% | 1,200 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 6% | 36,800 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 6% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2013 Mercedes-Benz SL550 recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Communication
Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2013-2017 vehicles due to a software fault that may cause the date and time for the emergency call system (eCall) to differ from the actual date and time, potentially relaying an inaccurate vehicle location. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V787-4620.pdf
Risk: An inaccurate vehicle location may delay emergency responders, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: MBUSA has initiated an Over the Air (OTA) remote update. MBUSA will also notify owners, and dealers will check software for a successful OTA or update the communication module software as needed, free of charge. The recall began December 23, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2019120008.
Steering:electric power assist system
Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 SL550, 2013-2014 SL63 AMG, 2014-2016 E350, 2014 E350 Cabriolet, E350 Coupe, 2014-2015 S550, 2015 E350 Bluetec, 2015-2016 E400, 2016 E550 Coupe, and Maybach S600 vehicles manufactured August 23, 2012, to August 14, 2015. The affected vehicles use an electric power steering system that may have improperly soldered contacts inside the control unit, potentially resulting in the power steering system deactivating while driving.
Risk: If the control unit pins lose connection, there would be a loss of electric power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash. The increase in pin contact resistance can also increase the risk of a fire, even while the vehicle is parked and ignition is off.
Fix: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electric power steering control unit, free of charge. The recall began October 13, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Air bags:side/window
Problem: Mercedes-Benz (Mercedes) is recalling certain model year 2013 SL63, SL550, and SL65 vehicles manufactured January 16, 2013, through April 30, 2013. The affected vehicles are equipped with an occupant classification system (OCS) that may not detect a very light person sitting in the front passenger seat.
Risk: If the OCS does not detect a very light person sitting in the seat, the passenger side air bag would be turned off. In the event of a crash necessitating side air bag deployment, the passenger would be at an increased risk of injury.
Fix: Mercedes will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side seat cushion including the OCS. The recall began on December 20, 2013. Owners may contact Mercedes at 1-201-573-0600.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture (EA21002) — opened Sep 17, 2021, still open.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
I was driving on a country road when all of a sudden my car lost power all the warning lights camo on the dashboard. Smoke started billowing out from the back and front of the car. It turned off and I only coasted about a 100 feet. I could not safely pull off to the side of the road as the car had…
The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL550. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost power steering assist functionality. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the steering rack needed to be…
The rear subframe experienced excessive levels of rust which caused the rear left side to suddenly collapse. After the collapse, the car would fish tail at low speeds (i.e., less than 15 miles per hour). I am thankful that the collapse did not happen when traveling at higher speeds such as an…
Started the vehicle and used the gear selector to shift to Drive. Car did not go into gear. Towed to dealer. Dealer found faulty âism module.â Apparently a very common issue with these cars. So common that the part is in an âindefinite back order.â The replacement part is also revised…
Our power steering went out all of a sudden. We took this to our mechanic who said it was a recall for the power steering. Fletcher Jones Mercedes' looked at the vehicle did a computer update recall and said the power steering is not covered. The car is very unsafe and we need this fixed.
Other Mercedes-Benz SL550 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 SL550 | 1 | 3 |
| 2019 SL550 | 0 | 4 |
| 2018 SL550 | 0 | 2 |
| 2017 SL550 | 4 | 1 |
| 2016 SL550 | 0 | 1 |
| 2015 SL550 | 2 | 3 |
| 2014 SL550 | 4 | 4 |
| 2013 | 17 | 3 |
| 2011 SL550 | 2 | 0 |
| 2009 SL550 | 15 | 0 |
| 2008 SL550 | 4 | 0 |
| 2007 SL550 | 16 | 1 |
| 2003 SL550 | 1 | 0 |
See all Mercedes-Benz SL550 problems by year, every Mercedes-Benz model, or the Mercedes-Benz VIN decoder.
Similar Mercedes-Benz models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL550?
Owners most often report steering, engine, power train problems. The top one, steering, accounts for 5 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL550?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL550 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other SL550 model years, the 2013 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.