2003 Mercedes Benz SL55 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other SL55 years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 5 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 11 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Mercedes Benz SL55. That is the most of any SL55 model year in the database (5 years). The most reported problem area is electrical system (2 complaints, 18%). Complaints mention 1 crash, 2 fires, 1 injury. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 11owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2003 Mercedes Benz SL55 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 2 | 18% | — | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 18% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 18% | 42,225 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 | 18% | 33,800 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 9% | 54,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 9% | 33,416 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 9% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 9% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2003 Mercedes Benz SL55 recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 2003 Mercedes Benz SL55.
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
- Air suspension system failure (PE07042) — opened Aug 14, 2007, closed Nov 20, 2007.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The battery control module (known as the BCM or BNS) failed, triggering a fire. The incident occurred while the vehicle was parked in a garage and had not been operated for several weeks. The fire consumed the module, insulation on wiring connected to and close to the module, part of the trunk…
It appears the BCM (Battery Control Module) caught fire and burned a significant portion of the trunk and associated wiring.
My car (the SL55 and all SL models) has a "Battery Control Module" (BCM) also referred to as the "Battery Stabilization Control Load Module" which shows signs of imminent failure which will lead to a meltdown or fire. I inspected the module after finding that this was a common problem with these…
Plastic piece on gearshift assembly broke not allowing car to be placed in gear. Is apparently a problem with 1000's of these cars based on internet search. Contacted mercedes and they said not their problem. They charge $1300.00 to fix the problem. They stated to save money on this part being…
Internal gas tank baffle has come loose inside the gas tank. This causes a consistent and very annoying rattling sound. *tr
Other Mercedes Benz SL55 years
See all Mercedes Benz SL55 problems by year, every Mercedes Benz model, or the Mercedes Benz VIN decoder.
Similar Mercedes Benz models
Embed this 2003 Mercedes Benz SL55 badge on your site
Copy this code into your blog or forum post. It shows live complaint and recall counts and links back here.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Mercedes Benz SL55?
Owners most often report electrical system, engine and engine cooling, fuel system, gasoline problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 2 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Mercedes Benz SL55?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 2003 Mercedes Benz SL55 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other SL55 model years, the 2003 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.