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2006 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 →
13Owner 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

2006 Mercedes Benz SL500

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 13 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)

  • Suspension: 4 reports
  • Service Brakes: 3 reports
  • Electrical System: 1 reports
  • Exterior Lighting: 1 reports
  • Latches/locks/linkages: 1 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    2
    2009
    Compare all SL500 years →

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

    What owners reported most

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

    Service Brakes complaints

    3 reports
    Clear category filter
    68,000 miles · Dec 7, 2020
    Service Brakes

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ SL500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ASTORG MOTOR COMPANY LOCATED AT 2908 7TH ST, PARKERSBURG, WV 26102, WHO REPLACED THE ABS BRAKE COMPRESSOR. LATER WHILE DRIVING, THE MESSAGE STOP PUMP BRAKES, W…

    Read full complaint

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ SL500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ASTORG MOTOR COMPANY LOCATED AT 2908 7TH ST, PARKERSBURG, WV 26102, WHO REPLACED THE ABS BRAKE COMPRESSOR. LATER WHILE DRIVING, THE MESSAGE STOP PUMP BRAKES, WAS DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE SAME DEALER. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT YET DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

    NHTSA ODI #11378227

    125,000 miles · Apr 16, 2019
    Service Brakes

    ON 04/14/2019 WHILE DRIVING, RED DASH WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON WARNING OF LOST BRAKING AND TO STOP. AT THE SAME TIME TWO SEPARATE WARNING SOUNDS FILLED THE CARS CABIN. I TRIED THE BRAKES, NO RESPONSE, I DOWN SHIFTED, AND STOOD BOTH FEET ON BRAKES AND FINALLY SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL TO COME TO COMPLETE STOP. TURNED CAR OFF WARNING SIGN …

    Read full complaint

    ON 04/14/2019 WHILE DRIVING, RED DASH WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON WARNING OF LOST BRAKING AND TO STOP. AT THE SAME TIME TWO SEPARATE WARNING SOUNDS FILLED THE CARS CABIN. I TRIED THE BRAKES, NO RESPONSE, I DOWN SHIFTED, AND STOOD BOTH FEET ON BRAKES AND FINALLY SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL TO COME TO COMPLETE STOP. TURNED CAR OFF WARNING SIGN AND WARNING SOUNDS CONTINUED AFTER ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. OPENED HOOD, CLICKING AND WURLING SOUNDS WERE COMING FROM THE SBC BRAKING SYSTEM. CALL M/B THE FOLLOWING DAY AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO NEAREST M/B DEALER. DEALER FOUND NO FAULTS. AFRAID TO DRIVE. DEALER WILL NOT DO ANY WORK ON CAR W/O CODES TO VERIFY PROBLEM.

    NHTSA ODI #11196708

    Mileage unknown · Apr 9, 2018
    Service Brakes

    2006 SL 500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SBC WARNING CLUSTER ILLUMINATED AND BRAKE FAILURE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. THE CONSUMER LIMPED THREE BLOCKS HOME. FAULT CODES C25DS, C26DE, C26BB, AND C233D IN THE SBC SYSTEM. *JS

    NHTSA ODI #11082909

    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.