Mercedes Benz SL500 Problems by Year
Mercedes Benz SL500 years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical SL500 year: 1995, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2003 SL500: 80 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2004 SL500: 45 complaints, 0 recalls
- 1995 SL500: 22 complaints, 0 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 1999 SL500: 2 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2000 SL500: 2 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2009 SL500: 2 complaints, 0 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Mercedes Benz SL500 problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 61 | 4 | 1 |
| Electrical System | 45 | 9 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 29 | 7 | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 17 | 5 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 17 | 3 | 0 |
| Power Train | 14 | 7 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 13 | 5 | 1 |
| Air Bags | 12 | 5 | 4 |
| Steering | 10 | 4 | 0 |
| Engine | 9 | 5 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 8 | 3 | 0 |
| Structure | 8 | 5 | 0 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| Visibility/wiper | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Visibility | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Wheels | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Tires | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Traction Control System | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All Mercedes Benz SL500 model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 SL500 | 2 | 0 | — | Structure | |
| 2006 SL500 | 13 | 0 | — | Suspension | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2005 SL500 | 19 | 0 | — | Service Brakes | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2004 SL500 | 45 | 0 | — | Suspension | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2003 SL500 | 80 | 0 | — | Suspension | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2001 SL500 | 3 | 0 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2000 SL500 | 2 | 0 | — | Interior Lighting | |
| 1999 SL500 | 2 | 0 | — | Power Train | |
| 1998 SL500 | 6 | 0 | — | Electrical System | |
| 1997 SL500 | 9 | 1 | — | Air Bags | |
| 1996 SL500 | 6 | 0 | — | Electrical System | |
| 1995 SL500 | 22 | 0 | — | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
More from Mercedes Benz: all Mercedes Benz models · Mercedes Benz VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Mercedes Benz SL500 years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 1995 (22), 2003 (80), 2004 (45), 2005 (19), 2006 (13) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical SL500 year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Mercedes Benz SL500?
Suspension, with 61 complaints across 4 model years.
How many recalls does the Mercedes Benz SL500 have?
1 safety recall across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.