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2005 Mercedes Benz Sl Class

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 2 of 2 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
34,581 miles · Oct 15, 2008
Air BagsVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES SL600. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE PRECEDING VEHICLE STOPPED ABRUBPTLY. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN OR STOP. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND THE FRONT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. HE SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES TO HIS F…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES SL600. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE PRECEDING VEHICLE STOPPED ABRUBPTLY. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN OR STOP. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND THE FRONT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. HE SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES TO HIS FACE. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED $14,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,581 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 34,592. UPDATED 12/10/08 *CN

NHTSA ODI #10245571

Official recalls

1

05V133000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Apr 1, 2005

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL (SBC) SYSTEM MAY PREMATURELY SHIFT TO THE HYDRAULIC BACK-UP FUNCTION MODE, DUE TO DETERIORATION OF THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTION, OR DUE TO PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE HYDRAULIC PUMP.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE HYDRAULIC BACK-UP MODE, THE DRIVER HAS BRAKING POWER SUFFICIENT TO STOP THE VEHICLE, ALTHOUGH GREATER BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE IS REQUIRED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL WILL BE NOTICEABLY LONGER.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A BRACKET AND REPLACEMENT GROUND WIRE TO THE SBC PUMP UNIT ON ALL VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. ADDITIONALLY DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE SBC PUMP UNIT IN SL VEHICLES PRODUCED DURING A LIMITED PRODUCTION PERIOD. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 8, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.