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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

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0Investigations

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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

Suspension complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
87,000 miles · Sep 12, 2016
Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, "CAR TOO LOW STOP DRIVING" MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE DISPLAY PANEL. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE INTO A FUEL STATION, LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE, AND NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS RESTING ON TOP OF THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER WHEELS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO T…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, "CAR TOO LOW STOP DRIVING" MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE DISPLAY PANEL. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE INTO A FUEL STATION, LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE, AND NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS RESTING ON TOP OF THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER WHEELS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYDRAULIC PUMP LEAKED INTO THE RESERVOIR AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.

NHTSA ODI #10905792

37,000 miles · Aug 2, 2013
Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ 500SL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SAT ABNORMALLY LOW TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000. THE VIN WA…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ 500SL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SAT ABNORMALLY LOW TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10533280

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.