2003 Mercedes Benz SL230 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other SL230 years
- Not enough data 1st of 5 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 2003 Mercedes Benz SL230. That is the most of any SL230 model year in the database (5 years). The most reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (1 complaints, 100%), typically at around 47,800 miles. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year.
- 1owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2003 Mercedes Benz SL230 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 100% | 47,800 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
2003 Mercedes Benz SL230 recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Suspension
Problem: Mercedes benz is recalling 4,564 my 2001-2006 cl-class (model 215), my 2002-2006 s-class (model 220), my 2003-2007 sl-class (model 230), my 2007-2008 cl-class (model 216), and my 2007 s-class (model 221)passenger vehicles equipped with active body control (abc) acceleration sensors on the front struts. These sensors measure acceleration around the z-axis of the vehicle and assure an automatic adaptation of the front struts to maintain a relatively level body position. Variations in the soldering process resulted in soldering points on the board of the abc sensors which may not be within design tolerances. Signals from the affected sensors measuring the acceleration may not be accurately transmitted to the engine control unit.
Risk: A variation in the transmitted values between affected and unaffected sensors can result in one front strut adjusting to a value indicating body movement while another strut does not adjust presenting the driver with an uneven front suspension. This condition may lead to unexpected body movements at the front axle which can adversely influence the vehicle's directional stability and could lead to a vehicle crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace, if necessary, the front abc sensors in all potentially affected vehicles. The recall began on september 22, 2008. Owners may contact mercedes-benz at 1-800-367-6372.
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.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
In our mercedes the sensor told the computer that the car was on ice and locked up the brakes cause the car to go into a spin. *tr
Other Mercedes Benz SL230 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 SL230 | 0 | 1 |
| 2006 SL230 | 0 | 1 |
| 2005 SL230 | 0 | 1 |
| 2004 SL230 | 0 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 | 1 |
See all Mercedes Benz SL230 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 2003 Mercedes Benz SL230?
Owners most often report service brakes, hydraulic problems. The top one, service brakes, hydraulic, accounts for 1 complaint.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Mercedes Benz SL230?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2003 Mercedes Benz SL230 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other SL230 model years, the 2003 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.