Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2002 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine and engine cooling1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2002 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class failed the safety check 0.78% of the time — 61% less often than the average 2002 passenger car (2.00%). Median odometer at inspection: 55,520 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 2002 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class cars on Dutch roads are the 5.0 petrol (225 kW, 302 hp), 5.4 petrol (368 kW, 493 hp) and 5.4 petrol (350 kW, 469 hp).
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 5.0 petrol | 225 kW 302 hp | 500 |
| 5.4 petrol | 368 kW 493 hp | 84 |
| 5.4 petrol | 350 kW 469 hp | 44 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
638 first registered in 2002 are on Dutch roads; 74% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €141,605.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde220
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm202
- Schokdemper aanwezig die lekkage vertoont95
- Waarschuwingsinrichting airbag- / gordelsysteem geeft defect88
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm80
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld77
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen64
- Stofhoes fuseekogel beschadigd en dicht niet af53
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
568 cars built in 2002 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 623 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
In Finland
115 of these cars first registered in 2002 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 146,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
3 2002 cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls
No recall campaigns cover the 2002 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Mercedes-Benz told its dealers about the 2002 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 621576 | INFORMATION STATING THAT THE CELLULAR PHONE SYSTEM IN CERTAIN VEHICLES NO LONGER USE THE AUTOMATIC MAST ANTENNA. *TT |
| 10030964 | MERCEDES: THE LIMITED WARRANTY ON THE SBC HYDRAULIC UNIT FOR MODELS 211, MODEL 219 AND MODELS 230 WAS EXTENDED FROM THE ORIGINAL 4 YEARS/50,000 MILES TO 10 YEARS WITH NO MILEAGE LIMITATION. THE SBC HYDRAULIC UNIT EXTENDED LIMITED WARRANTY APPLIES TO ALL CONDITIONS THAT JUSTIFY THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SBC HYDRAULIC UNIT UNDER THE STANDARD WARRANTY TERMS AND CONDITIONS. *PE |
| 10030941 | MERCEDES: CRACKING NOISE FROM THE AREA OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL/FIREWALL WHEN CORNERING, DURING THROTTLE LIFT OFF AND ON UNEVEN ROADS. STRESS AT THE SPOT WELDS ON THE FIREWALL TO THE RIGHT OF THE BRAKE BOOSTER CAN RESULT IN CRACKING NOISES. NO RIGHT HAND DRIVE. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE |
| 10030939 | MERCEDES: PARKTRONIC INTERMITTENTLY NOT FUNCTIONING. THE FUNCTION WORKS AGAIN AFTER A SHORT TIME OR DISTANCE. WHEN THE FOOT OPERATED PARKING BRAKE IS APPLIED, THE PARKTRONIC SYSTEM IS DEACTIVATED. IF THE FOOT OPERATED PARKING BRAKE IS ON AT THE FIRST NOTCH, THE CONTACT SWITCH MAY REACT WITH A CONSIDERATION DELAY WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE IS RELEASED. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE |
| 10030929 | MERCEDES: CORROSION PROTECTION COATINGS FOR BRAKE COMPONENTS AND HARDWARE MAY BE DAMAGED AND OR STRIPPED AWAY IF HIGHLY CONCENTRATED ACID BASED CLEANERS ARE USED. ONCE THE CORROSION PROTECTION IS DAMAGED OR REMOVED THE BRAKE COMPONENTS AND OR HARDWARE CAN BEGIN TO CORRODE. INCLUDE ALL MODELS AND MODEL YEARS. *PE |
| 10019993 | A POTENTIAL MALFUNCTION WHICH COULD RENDER THE SECONDARY AIR INJECTION PUMP RELAY INOPERABLE THEREBY AFFECTING THE PROPER OPERATION OF THE SECONDARY AIR INJECTION PUMP. *TT |
| 10016632 | THE ALTERNATOR REGULATOR MAY FAIL TO PREVENT VOLTAGE VALUES RANGING BEYOND THE SPECIFIED TOLERANCE LIMITS. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM FAILURE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation