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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

    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

    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.