← New search

2008 Mercedes Benz SL550

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

Other model years Selected year
Compare all SL550 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 4 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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seats. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. 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

Steering complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
66,550 miles · Feb 27, 2014
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteering

THE SUBJECT CAR, A 2008 MERCDES BENZ SL550, THAT HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND IS STORED IN A GARAGE. THE CAR WAS STARTED AND DRIVEN OUT OF THE GARAGE ON TO THE STREET, APPROXIMATELY 50 YARDS LATER WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH, THE BRAKES 100% FAILED AND THE POWER ASSISTED STEERING STOP WORKING. AFTER COASTING TO A STOP AND P…

Read full complaint

THE SUBJECT CAR, A 2008 MERCDES BENZ SL550, THAT HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND IS STORED IN A GARAGE. THE CAR WAS STARTED AND DRIVEN OUT OF THE GARAGE ON TO THE STREET, APPROXIMATELY 50 YARDS LATER WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH, THE BRAKES 100% FAILED AND THE POWER ASSISTED STEERING STOP WORKING. AFTER COASTING TO A STOP AND PLACING THE CAR IN PARK. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE DASH BOARD FLASHED A STOP SIGN SYMBOL AND A MESSAGE THAT INCREASE PEDAL PRESSURE WOULD BE REQUIRED. THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. AT FIRST THE BRAKES AND STEERING SEEM NORMAL BUT AFTER ABOUT 10 SECONDS, AGAIN THE BRAKES AND STEERING FAILED. AT THIS POINT A TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE CAR WAS INSPECTED AND THE FAILURE WAS REPEATED. THE SHOP INSPECTED THE CAR AND DIAGNOSED THE CAR WITH A COMPUTER. SEVERAL CODES WERE APPARENT. THE SHOP RECOMMENDED THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM BE FLUSHED AND THE COMPUTER RESET. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS INSPECTED AS WELL AS THE BATTERIES. THE CAR HAS BEEN RETURNED TO SERVICE TODAY. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM SHOULD NOT BE DESIGNED IN A WAY THAT A COMPUTER FAILURE WOULD RENDER THE BRAKES USELESS AND FAIL 100%. IF THE BRAKES WERE TO FAIL AT HIGHER SPEEDS AND IN TRAFFIC, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL RESULTS. MY WIFE NO LONGER FEELS SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR.

NHTSA ODI #10567227

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.