SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

2006 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 →
13Owner 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
20062
2009
Compare all SL500 years →

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

What owners reported most

Suspension
4Service Brakes
3Electrical System
1Exterior Lighting
1Latches/locks/linkages
1
All reported categories
Power Train
1Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1Vehicle Speed Control
1Visibility/wiper
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: 11 of 13 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.

  • Suspension. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Power Train complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
76,200 miles · Jul 22, 2017
Power Train

722.9 7-SPEED TRANSMISSION HAS KNOWN DEFECT CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOCK UP IN GEAR WHEN DRIVING. LOCKS INTO 3RD GEAR, CAN HAPPEN WHEN YOU GO TO PASS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE NO POWER WHEN YOU TRY TO KICK INTO PASSING GEAR. ON MANY OCCASIONS I'VE ALMOST BEEN HIT BECAUSE TRANSMISSION FAILS TO SHIFT INTO PASSING GEAR. ALSO WILL HAPP…

Read full complaint

722.9 7-SPEED TRANSMISSION HAS KNOWN DEFECT CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOCK UP IN GEAR WHEN DRIVING. LOCKS INTO 3RD GEAR, CAN HAPPEN WHEN YOU GO TO PASS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE NO POWER WHEN YOU TRY TO KICK INTO PASSING GEAR. ON MANY OCCASIONS I'VE ALMOST BEEN HIT BECAUSE TRANSMISSION FAILS TO SHIFT INTO PASSING GEAR. ALSO WILL HAPPEN WHEN COMING UP TO A RED LIGHT THEN, LIGHT CHANGES TO GREEN AND YOU PRESS ACCELERATOR TO GO BUT CAR WILL HARDLY GO. I WAS BUMPED IN THE REAR BUMPER ONCE, LUCKILY NOT CAUSING ANY DAMAGE TO VEHICLE.I'VE ALSO BEEN IN MANY CLOSE CALL ACCIDENTS WHEN ITS HAPPENS. MERCEDES KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF BLOOMFIELD HILLS, SERVICE ADVISOR INFORMED ME ITS A VERY COMMON ISSUE AND REPAIR IS $2100 TO REPLACE THE VALVE BODY AND SHIFT CONDUCTOR PLATE IN TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI #11010119

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.