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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.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
19Owner complaints

Model-year median: 6

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

2005 Mercedes Benz SL500

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 19 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Service Brakes: 6 reports
  • Electrical System: 4 reports
  • Power Train: 3 reports
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 2 reports
  • Suspension: 2 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

    No recall campaigns in this snapshot.

    Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

    Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

    How this year compares

    Owner complaints by model year

    Other model years Selected year
    80
    2003    45
    2004    19
    2005    13
    2006
    Compare all SL500 years →

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

    What owners reported most

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

    Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

    2 reports
    Clear category filter
    116,000 miles · Nov 23, 2015
    Service BrakesService Brakes, Hydraulic

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ SL500. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES, THE BRAKE FAILED TO ENGAGE AND THE WARNING MESSAGE TO STOP THE VEHICLE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO B…

    Read full complaint

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ SL500. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES, THE BRAKE FAILED TO ENGAGE AND THE WARNING MESSAGE TO STOP THE VEHICLE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000. UPDATED 02/19/16*LJ UPDATED 02/22/16.*JB

    NHTSA ODI #10806211

    4,000 miles · Oct 25, 2006
    Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic

    MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 (2005), 4000 MILES. BRAKES FAILED. IT WOULD SEEM TO BE AN ELECTRICAL OR COMPUTER FAILURE OF SOME KIND. AUTO WAS SERVICED A WEEK AGO. HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH ELECTRICAL AND/ORL FEATURES FROM FIRST DAY OF PURCHASE. THE MOST DANGEROUS WAS TODAY'S BRAKE FAILURE. HAD TO PLACE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND THEN IN PARK TO …

    Read full complaint

    MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 (2005), 4000 MILES. BRAKES FAILED. IT WOULD SEEM TO BE AN ELECTRICAL OR COMPUTER FAILURE OF SOME KIND. AUTO WAS SERVICED A WEEK AGO. HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH ELECTRICAL AND/ORL FEATURES FROM FIRST DAY OF PURCHASE. THE MOST DANGEROUS WAS TODAY'S BRAKE FAILURE. HAD TO PLACE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND THEN IN PARK TO MAKE IT STOP. *NM

    NHTSA ODI #10171851

    Recall campaigns

    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 ↗

    Defect investigations

    0

    No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

    An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.