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2005 Mercedes Benz SL500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

About this comparison →
19Owner complaints

Model-year median: 6

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
80
200345
200419
200513
2006
Compare all SL500 years →

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

What owners reported most

Service Brakes
6Electrical System
4Power Train
3Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2Suspension
2
All reported categories
Air Bags
1Engine
1Fuel/propulsion System
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Visibility
1

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: 17 of 19 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.

  • Service Brakes. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 3 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 reports2 fire reports1 injury reports

Engine complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
86,400 miles · Apr 3, 2018
EngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND FLAMES APPEARED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A TOWING YARD. THE DEALER WAS NOT …

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND FLAMES APPEARED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A TOWING YARD. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,400.

NHTSA ODI #11082698

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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.