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: 1 of 2 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.
Structure. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Visibility/wiper. 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
What owners actually said
2 reports
Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 2022
StructureVisibility/wiper
Yesterday 9/17/2022, while driving my 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL550 on the expressway with my wife as passenger, we heard and felt a very loud explosion. Shattered glass was entering the vehicle. I managed to pull off the expressway at the next exit. The retractable hardtop panoramic glass roof had exploded. Shattered glass fragmen…
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Yesterday 9/17/2022, while driving my 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL550 on the expressway with my wife as passenger, we heard and felt a very loud explosion. Shattered glass was entering the vehicle. I managed to pull off the expressway at the next exit. The retractable hardtop panoramic glass roof had exploded. Shattered glass fragments were all over the vehicle interior. Glass fragments also damaged the paint of the rear deck lid and spoiler of the vehicle. Fortunately, my wife and I did not suffer major injury. I called my auto insurance company and filed an auto damage claim. Since this incident was on a Saturday, the insurance adjuster would not contact me until the next business day. My auto was drive-able, I was still able to retract the convertible roof and the weather was nice for our 15 mile ride home.
NHTSA ODI #11485089
15,000 miles · May 19, 2010
StructureUnknown Or Other
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES SL500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN SUNNY WEATHER, THE SHIFTER WOULD HEAT UP TO TEMPERATURES IN EXCESS OF 150 DEGREES MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SAFELY OPERATE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO SOLUT…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES SL500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN SUNNY WEATHER, THE SHIFTER WOULD HEAT UP TO TEMPERATURES IN EXCESS OF 150 DEGREES MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SAFELY OPERATE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000. UPDATED 11/03/10 *BF UPDATED 11/04/10 THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM IS NOT ISOLATED. UPDATED EVOQ 11/09/10
NHTSA ODI #10331243
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.
2009 Mercedes Benz SL500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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