STEERING (OVERALL FOR CAR AND STEERING WHEEL) FEELS VERY UNSTABLE WHEN GOING OVER UNEVEN ROAD SURFACES OR SMALL BUMPS. THIS IS SPECIALLY TRUE WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS HIGHER THAN 40MPH. *TR
2006 Mercedes Benz SL55
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all SL55 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
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: 3 of 3 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.
- Steering. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 2 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.
Suspension complaints
2 reportsSINCE I TOOK DELIVERY OF MY BRAND NEW MERCEDES-BENZ SL-55, I NOTICED SEVERE PULLING TO ONE SIDE TO THE POINT THAT, AFTER MORE THAN 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING, I WILL HAVE TO SWITCH ARMS TO CONTINUE APPLYING COMPENSATING WEIGHT ON THE STEERING WHEEL. AFTER SEVERAL REPAIR ATTEMPTS, THE PULLING DECREASED BUT NEVER DISAPPEARED. HOWEVER…
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SINCE I TOOK DELIVERY OF MY BRAND NEW MERCEDES-BENZ SL-55, I NOTICED SEVERE PULLING TO ONE SIDE TO THE POINT THAT, AFTER MORE THAN 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING, I WILL HAVE TO SWITCH ARMS TO CONTINUE APPLYING COMPENSATING WEIGHT ON THE STEERING WHEEL. AFTER SEVERAL REPAIR ATTEMPTS, THE PULLING DECREASED BUT NEVER DISAPPEARED. HOWEVER, OTHER SYMPTOMS STARTED SURFACING, SUCH AS SEVERE UNEVEN TIRE WEAR ON THE FRONT AND DEVELOPMENT OF RIDGES, LUMP OR DEFORMITIES THAT CAUSE NOISE AND CREATE A "LIMPING" EFFECT. AS MORE MONTHS PASSED BY AND TIRE(S) CONTINUED WEARING UNEVENLY, THE RIDE GOT WORSE; TO THE POINT THAT I LOSS CONTROL OF VEHICLE AT 55MPH+ A COUPLE OF TIMES FORTUNATELY WITHOUT CRASHES OR INJURY. AFTER THOSE INCIDENTS, I MINIMIZED THE USE OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE SLOWER AND MORE CAREFUL; BUT EVEN AT REDUCED SPEEDS HANDLING IS AFFECTED EVEN ON EVERYDAY ON-ROAD CONDITIONS, BUT MORE NOTICEABLE ON CURVY ROADS OR RAINY WEATHER. AFTER THAT, THE CAR CONTINUED RECEIVING SERVICE UNTIL A DEFECT NOTIFICATION WAS SENT TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER REPLACED AND BALANCED 2 FRONT TIRES, FRONT THRUST ARMS (2) AND BEARING BUSHES; ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED TOO. APPROX. 5000 MILES LATER, THE SAME PROBLEMS WERE BACK AND INTENSIFIED GRADUALLY. THE PROBLEM PERSISTS AS OF 10/10/2007. *TR
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
Illustration