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2007 Mercedes Benz SL550

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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: 13 of 16 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 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 2 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 reports3 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

16 reports
57,000 miles · Dec 5, 2013
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ SL550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE FAILED TO ENGAGE WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED THAT DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKING SYSTEM EXPERIENCED A TOTAL FAILURE. THE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ SL550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE FAILED TO ENGAGE WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED THAT DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKING SYSTEM EXPERIENCED A TOTAL FAILURE. THE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,000.

NHTSA ODI #10554964

42,000 miles · Feb 5, 2013
SuspensionFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES CL550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 300 YARDS WHEN A LOUD POP WAS HEARD UNDER THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THIS HAPPENED 3 WEEKS AFTER THE DEALER SAID THAT THE ABS SUSPENSION UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STAT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES CL550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 300 YARDS WHEN A LOUD POP WAS HEARD UNDER THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THIS HAPPENED 3 WEEKS AFTER THE DEALER SAID THAT THE ABS SUSPENSION UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT JUST AS THEY PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THERE WAS ANOTHER LOUD POP AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE STARTED AT THE SHOCK UNDER THE WHEEL BASE OF THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO THE FIRE AND FILED A REPORT. THE FIRE CONTINUED TO SPREAD VERY QUICKLY AND THE VEHICLE WAS SET TO BE INSPECTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES 42,000.

NHTSA ODI #10496498

20,000 miles · Nov 30, 2011
Power Train

THE INCIDENT I AM REPORTING IS ALMOST IDENTICAL TO THE COMPLAINT I READ ON YOUR WEB PAGE. I WAS ENROUTE TO THE MERCEDES DEALER SHIP TO PURCHASE A SWITCH FOR MY ELECTRIC WINDOWS. I HAD NOTICED ENROUTE THAT THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO NOT BE SHIFTING. I LOOKED DOWN TO SEE IF I HAD SOMEWAY MANUALLY SHIFTED DOWN. I HAD NOT AND WHEN I ATTE…

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THE INCIDENT I AM REPORTING IS ALMOST IDENTICAL TO THE COMPLAINT I READ ON YOUR WEB PAGE. I WAS ENROUTE TO THE MERCEDES DEALER SHIP TO PURCHASE A SWITCH FOR MY ELECTRIC WINDOWS. I HAD NOTICED ENROUTE THAT THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO NOT BE SHIFTING. I LOOKED DOWN TO SEE IF I HAD SOMEWAY MANUALLY SHIFTED DOWN. I HAD NOT AND WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE IT SEEMED I WAS IN SECOND GEAR. I WAS APPROX THREE BLOCKS FROM THE DEALERSHIP SO I SLOWED TO ABOUT 20 MPH. I STOPPED AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT IN FRONT OF THE DEALERSHIP AND WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED--THE VEH WOULD NOT MOVE. SOMEWHAT PANICKED I TRIED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR BUT WAS UNABLE TO. THE VEH STALLED AND EACH TIME I RESTARTED AND ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION WOULD "JERK" BUT NOT MOVE. FINALLY AFTER MUCH OF DOING I DON'T KNOW WHAT, I WAS ABLE TO LIMP INTO THE DEALERSHIP. THE YOUNGMAN WHO CHECKED ME IN SAID IT WAS PROBABLY THE TRANSMISSION. THEY KEPT MY CAR AND SEVERAL HOURS LATER TOLD ME SOMETHING IN THE TRANSMISSION WENT HAYWIRE AND IT WOULD BE APPROX $1700.00 TO FIX. THEY ASSURED ME THAT IT WAS NOT A DEFECT. I DON'T MISTREAT MY VEHICLE, RACE IT OR DO QUICK TAKE OFFS SO I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS COULD HAPPEN. I AM EVEN MORE CONVINCED AFTER READING ALMOST AN IDENTICAL COMPLAINT THAT MERCEDES BENZ SPEAKS WITH FORKED TONGUE. I HOPE MY COMPLAINT WILL LEAD TO A RECALL BEFORE SOME OTHER SAP GETS BURNT FOR SOMETHING NOT THEIR FAULT. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10437905

10,500 miles · Jun 25, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

POWER ASSIST HYDRAULIC PUMP FAILED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10339966

25,298 miles · Mar 27, 2009
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

DEFECTIVE BRAKES AND ROTORS ON MERCEDES S550 WEAR AT UNACCEPTABLE RATE RESULTING IN THE MERCEDES BENZ OF SARASOTA SERVICE CENTER ADVISING THE S550 IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10263273

80 miles · Sep 28, 2007
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ SL550. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. TWO MINUTES LATER, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT NO LONGER WANTED THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT ONLY HAD…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ SL550. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. TWO MINUTES LATER, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT NO LONGER WANTED THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT ONLY HAD 80 MILES AND THE DEALER PROVIDED HIM WITH A NEW ONE. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80.

NHTSA ODI #10204387

Official recalls

1

22V168000 · Electronic Stability Control (esc):control Module:software; Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:engine Control Module (ecu/ecm):software; Exterior Lighting:lighting Control Module:software

Mar 18, 2022

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2010 E350, 2014 G550, 2008-2009 C300, 2008 C350, 2009 CLK550, 2007 SL550, SLK280, and 2008 SLK350 vehicles. Various control units may have been updated with incorrect software configuration during a service repair. This can result in various system failures, such as loss of drive power, reduced exterior lighting, or loss of dynamic control functions, including stability and traction control.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Various system failures, such as loss of drive power, reduced exterior lighting, or loss of dynamic control functions including stability and traction control, can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will update the software configuration on the affected control units, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 3, 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2022040003.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:engine Control Module (ecu/ecm):software

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2010 E350, 2014 G550, 2008-2009 C300, 2008 C350, 2009 CLK550, 2007 SL550, SLK280, and 2008 SLK350 vehicles. Various control units may have been updated with incorrect software configuration during a service repair. This can result in various system failures, such as loss of drive power, reduced exterior lighting, or loss of dynamic control functions, including stability and traction control.

Consequence: Various system failures, such as loss of drive power, reduced exterior lighting, or loss of dynamic control functions including stability and traction control, can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will update the software configuration on the affected control units, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 3, 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2022040003.

Electronic Stability Control (esc):control Module:software

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2010 E350, 2014 G550, 2008-2009 C300, 2008 C350, 2009 CLK550, 2007 SL550, SLK280, and 2008 SLK350 vehicles. Various control units may have been updated with incorrect software configuration during a service repair. This can result in various system failures, such as loss of drive power, reduced exterior lighting, or loss of dynamic control functions, including stability and traction control.

Consequence: Various system failures, such as loss of drive power, reduced exterior lighting, or loss of dynamic control functions including stability and traction control, can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will update the software configuration on the affected control units, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 3, 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2022040003.

Exterior Lighting:lighting Control Module:software

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2010 E350, 2014 G550, 2008-2009 C300, 2008 C350, 2009 CLK550, 2007 SL550, SLK280, and 2008 SLK350 vehicles. Various control units may have been updated with incorrect software configuration during a service repair. This can result in various system failures, such as loss of drive power, reduced exterior lighting, or loss of dynamic control functions, including stability and traction control.

Consequence: Various system failures, such as loss of drive power, reduced exterior lighting, or loss of dynamic control functions including stability and traction control, can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will update the software configuration on the affected control units, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 3, 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2022040003.

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.