NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Fuel System, Gasoline complaints
11 reportsClear category filter55,620 miles · Dec 19, 2016
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineSteeringFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500. WHILE DRIVING INTO THE GARAGE, THE ABC PUMP WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED A LARGE AMOUNT OF HYDRAULIC FLUID ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRO…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500. WHILE DRIVING INTO THE GARAGE, THE ABC PUMP WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED A LARGE AMOUNT OF HYDRAULIC FLUID ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR AXLE VALVE LOCK, AND PRESSURE RESERVOIR FOR THE ABC SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED AND FLUSHED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V263000 (SUSPENSION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,620. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10936250
74,000 miles · May 16, 2014
Fuel System, GasolineStructure
I OWN A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ SL500. LIKE MOST OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE, THE BAFFLE MOVES FREELY WITHIN THE GAS TANK WHICH CAUSES A NOISE AND IS POTENTIAL DANGEROUS IF A SPARK IS CREATED FROM THE BAFFLE HITTING THE INSIDE WALLS OF THE GAS TANK. FROM MY RESEARCH IT IS A MANUFACTURE ISSUE WITH THE WELDING OF THE BAFFLE TO THE INTERNAL …
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I OWN A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ SL500. LIKE MOST OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE, THE BAFFLE MOVES FREELY WITHIN THE GAS TANK WHICH CAUSES A NOISE AND IS POTENTIAL DANGEROUS IF A SPARK IS CREATED FROM THE BAFFLE HITTING THE INSIDE WALLS OF THE GAS TANK. FROM MY RESEARCH IT IS A MANUFACTURE ISSUE WITH THE WELDING OF THE BAFFLE TO THE INTERNAL WALL OF THE GAS TANK. THERE IS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS AND THREADS ON MERCEDES FORUMS. PLEASE FOLLOW LINK TO SEE ALL COMPLAINTS. IT IS POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY FROM MERCEDES BENZ USA TO NOT RECALL THE ISSUE. THERE IS OVER 20 PAGES OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE AT THIS LINK: HTTP://WWW.BENZWORLD.ORG/FORUMS/R230-SL-CLASS/1295215-SL500-NOISE-REAR-INTERIOR-WALL-GAS.HTML. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10588940
41,000 miles · Oct 24, 2013
Fuel System, Gasoline
THE BAFFLE INSIDE THE GAS TANK HAS COME LOOSE AND IS HITTING THE INSIDE OF THE TANK. THE ONLY TIME IT ISN'T NOISY IS WHEN THE TANK IS FULL. AFTER CONTACTING MERCEDES OF UTAH, THEY ADVISED THEY HAVEN'T HEARD OF THE PROBLEM. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE BAFFLE BEING LOOSE BUT IT IS A GREAT CONCERN TO ME. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10549378
18,000 miles · Feb 25, 2012
Fuel System, Gasoline
MY MERCEDES 2003 SL500 DEVELOPED BANGING NOISE IN THE GAS TANK, IN JANUARY 2010 , HAVING ABOUT 18,000 MILES, PROMPTING ME TO CALL THE DEALER. I WAS TOLD THAT THE BAFFLE BROKE OFF AND COULDN'T BE FIXED, ADVISING ME TO REPLACE THE TANK FOR $2,500. I ARGUED THAT IT WAS AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURING DEFECT CONSIDERING THE LOW MILES AND R…
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MY MERCEDES 2003 SL500 DEVELOPED BANGING NOISE IN THE GAS TANK, IN JANUARY 2010 , HAVING ABOUT 18,000 MILES, PROMPTING ME TO CALL THE DEALER. I WAS TOLD THAT THE BAFFLE BROKE OFF AND COULDN'T BE FIXED, ADVISING ME TO REPLACE THE TANK FOR $2,500. I ARGUED THAT IT WAS AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURING DEFECT CONSIDERING THE LOW MILES AND REQUESTED A FREE TANK REPLACEMENT, BUT I WAS REFUSED ON THE GROUNDS THAT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. I COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT I HEARD, DID SOME RESEARCH AND DISCOVERED THAT EARLY MODELS IN 2003 AND 2004, HAD SIMILAR TANK PROBLEMS AND WERE REPLACED WITH A BETTER DESIGN LATER. BUT, I WAS NOT INFORMED ABOUT IT. FURTHERMORE, I FOUND OUT THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS FROM THAT TIME HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS I DID. I WAITED FOR A WHILE TO SEE IF MERCEDES CORPORATION WOULD RECALL THE EARLY MODELS, KEPT THE GAS TANK FULL TO AVOID THE ANNOYING NOISE (THE BROKEN BAFFLE CANNOT FLOAT AND BANG WHEN THE TANK IS FULL) AND WHEN I GOT CONVINCED THAT MERCEDES WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING FOR THE VICTIMS I DECIDED TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT. IT IS A SHAME THAT A MANUFACTURER WOULDN'T WANT TO CORRECT THEIR OWN MISTAKES, CONSIDERING A $100,000 PRICE TAG THAT I PAID. WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT GERMAN QUALITY AND ETHICS? THEY CERTAINLY LOST THIS CUSTOMER FOR GOOD.
NHTSA ODI #10449849
Mileage unknown · May 10, 2011
Fuel System, Gasoline
FUEL TANK BAFFLE FAILURE 2003 SL 500 MBZ. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10399932
Mileage unknown · Feb 15, 2011
Fuel System, Gasoline
2003 SL500 MERCEDES BENZ. CONSUMER STATES NOISE INSIDE GAS TANK WHEN VEHICLE IS MOVING *TGW
NHTSA ODI #10382248
100,000 miles · Nov 15, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline
I HAVE A 2003 SL500 MERCEDES . I HEAR EITHER A FREE DANGLING OBJECT BEHIND THE SEATS OR PERHAPS A NOISE FROM AN OBJECT IN THE GAS TANK (NOT SURE WHERE THE TANK IS). THIS CLANGING NOISE IS HEARD WHEN CAR IS SHOOK. EVEN A LIGHT NUDGE OF THE CAR WILL CAUSE IT TO CLANK. LIKE A DANGLING OBJECT, HARD ACCELERATION WILL CAUSE THE NOISE …
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I HAVE A 2003 SL500 MERCEDES . I HEAR EITHER A FREE DANGLING OBJECT BEHIND THE SEATS OR PERHAPS A NOISE FROM AN OBJECT IN THE GAS TANK (NOT SURE WHERE THE TANK IS). THIS CLANGING NOISE IS HEARD WHEN CAR IS SHOOK. EVEN A LIGHT NUDGE OF THE CAR WILL CAUSE IT TO CLANK. LIKE A DANGLING OBJECT, HARD ACCELERATION WILL CAUSE THE NOISE TO GO AWAY BUT WHEN THE CAR STOPS ACCELERATING A CLANGING NOISE IS HEARD. THE CAR IS RUNNING PERFECTLY. THIS MAY HAVE STARTED HAPPENING WHILE MY CAR WAS PARKED OVERNIGHT SEEING AS THOUGH IT WOULD HAVE BEEN HARD TO MISS IT WHEN PARKING THE NIGHT BEFORE. I CAN NOT RULE OUT VANDALISM OF SOME SORT BUT I AM HAVING A HARD TIME SEEING HOW THIS COULD BE THE CASE. MERCEDES DEALER STATES THAT THERE IS AN ANCHOR THAT HOLDS THE GAS TANK IN PLACE AND IT HAS BROKEN, THAT'S WHY THE I GET THE CLANGING NOISE!! STRIKING THE REAR WALL OF THE INTERIOR COMPARTMENT SEEMS TO MAKE A NOISE CONSISTENT WITH THE CLANGING. IS THIS SUPPOSE TO HAPPEN TO CAR OF THIS CALIBER? THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE $3000. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10365692
67,000 miles · Mar 26, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline
1. EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE. DRIVER STARTED NOTICING "SLOSHING" SOUND COMING FROM GAS TANK AREA. NEXT DAY, A RATTLING NOISE STARTING COMING FROM GAS TANK AREA EACH TIME THE CAR WOULD COME TO A STOP. THE NOISE WAS CONSISTENT WITH SOMETHING FLOATING AROUND AND HITTING SOMETHING MENTAL INSIDE. THE SOUND COMES FROM THE GAS …
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1. EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE. DRIVER STARTED NOTICING "SLOSHING" SOUND COMING FROM GAS TANK AREA. NEXT DAY, A RATTLING NOISE STARTING COMING FROM GAS TANK AREA EACH TIME THE CAR WOULD COME TO A STOP. THE NOISE WAS CONSISTENT WITH SOMETHING FLOATING AROUND AND HITTING SOMETHING MENTAL INSIDE. THE SOUND COMES FROM THE GAS TANK AREA, CONSISTENT WITH A LOOSE PIECE OF METAL FLOATING IN THE GAS TANK. 2. UPON INSPECTION, THE BAFFLE WITHIN THE GAS TANK HAD BROKEN OFF AND WAS LOOSE, FLOATING IN THE GAS TANK. EACH TIME THE DRIVER COMES TO A STOP, THE BAFFLE WILL FLOAT AROUND AND BANG ON THE INSIDE OF THE GAS TANK. PRELIMINARY INSPECTION REVEALS THAT SUBSEQUENT MODEL YEAR GAS TANKS ARE DIFFERENTLY DESIGNED TO PREVENT SUCH FAILURE. CONSEQUENCES OF HAVING A LOOSE PIECE OF METAL FLOATING AROUND THE GAS TAKE ARE EXTREMELY SERIOUS. IF NOT TAKEN CARE OF PROMPTLY, THERE IS A POTENTIAL THAT THE METAL PIECE MAY DAMAGE THE GAS TANK AND CAUSE A FIRE OR OTHER HARM. 3. THE ENTIRE GAS TANK MUST BE REMOVED -- A $3000 PROCEDURE. BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THE DEFECT, MANY REPAIRS WILL FALL OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD. THE DEALER PRETENDS AS THOUGH THIS IS AN UNCOMMON ISSUE. INDEPENDENT MERCEDES SHOPS CONFIRM THIS IS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI #10322241
70,739 miles · Mar 11, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline
MERCEDES-BENZ BUILT BAFFLES INSIDE THE FUEL TANK TO PREVENT FUEL SLOSHING NOISE DURING STOP AND GO MOTION. THESE BAFFLES WERE POORLY DESIGNED AND WEAKLY WELDED INTO PLACE RESULTING IN THEM COMING LOOSE AND BANGING AROUND INSIDE THE FUEL TANK. BEING A SMALL CONVERTIBLE AND GIVEN THAT FUEL TANK IS IMMEDIATELY BEHIND PASSENGER COMP…
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MERCEDES-BENZ BUILT BAFFLES INSIDE THE FUEL TANK TO PREVENT FUEL SLOSHING NOISE DURING STOP AND GO MOTION. THESE BAFFLES WERE POORLY DESIGNED AND WEAKLY WELDED INTO PLACE RESULTING IN THEM COMING LOOSE AND BANGING AROUND INSIDE THE FUEL TANK. BEING A SMALL CONVERTIBLE AND GIVEN THAT FUEL TANK IS IMMEDIATELY BEHIND PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, END RESULT IS A VERY LOUD BANGING NOISE MAKING DRIVING A SLOW TORTURE. ASIDE FROM IRRITATING LOUD BANGING NOISE THERE IS ALSO A POTENTIAL OF EXPLOSION SINCE THIS IS A MOVING METAL PART INSIDE A METAL FUEL TANK CONTAINING GASOLINE AS BOTH LIQUID AND FUMES. THERE ARE ALSO MANY REPORTED INSTANCES OF THIS DESIGN FLAW WITH SOME DEALERS REPORTING 10 FUEL TANKS REPLACED IN 1 WEEK. PLEASE VISIT HTTP://WWW.BENZWORLD.ORG/FORUMS/R230-SL-CLASS/1295215-SL500-NOISE-REAR-INTERIOR-WALL-GAS.HTML AND HTTP://FORUMS.MERCEDESCLUB.ORG.UK/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=57846&PAGE=2 I BELIEVE THERE ARE ENOUGH OF THESE COMPLAINTS TO WARRANT A CLASS ACTION SUIT. BOTH MERCEDES DEALER AND MERCEDES CORPORATE (SUPERVISOR MR. MARIANO) HAVE REFUSED TO FIX THIS ISSUE INSISTING CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND THERE IS NO OPEN RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. DEALERSHIP QUOTED $2400 TO REPLACE FUEL TANK. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10318907
65,000 miles · Sep 4, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ SL500. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE TRUNK. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE BAFFLES IN THE GAS TANK FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE RATTLING IN THE GAS TANK. THE GAS TANK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE DEALER REF…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ SL500. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE TRUNK. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE BAFFLES IN THE GAS TANK FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE RATTLING IN THE GAS TANK. THE GAS TANK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE DEALER REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME FAILURE. HE BELIEVES A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 65,000.
NHTSA ODI #10240914
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