Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Vehicle speed control1
- Air bags1
- Suspension1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 1 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 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class failed the safety check 1.11% of the time — 52% less often than the average 2005 passenger car (2.30%). Median odometer at inspection: 61,021 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class cars on Dutch roads are the 3.7 petrol (180 kW, 241 hp), 5.0 petrol (225 kW, 302 hp) and 5.4 petrol (368 kW, 493 hp).
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 3.7 petrol | 180 kW 241 hp | 73 |
| 5.0 petrol | 225 kW 302 hp | 43 |
| 5.4 petrol | 368 kW 493 hp | 28 |
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
161 first registered in 2005 are on Dutch roads; 85% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €134,687.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde76
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm40
- Fusee(kogel) te veel speling22
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld22
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm14
- Remslang beschadigd, wapeningsmateriaal zichtbaar12
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen11
- Schokdemper aanwezig die lekkage vertoont9
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
803 cars built in 2005 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 421 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
28 of these cars first registered in 2005 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 120,000 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
14 2005 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 in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class.
| 2008290 15 Aug 2008 | Other Certain vehicles equipped with Active Body Control (ABC) the sensors on the front struts may not operate within tolerances. As such, the sensor signal may not … |
| 2005094 4 Apr 2005 | Brakes On certain vehicles, the Sensotronic Brake Control (SBC) unit may contain a pump piston which is out of permissible tolerances. Also, vibrations within the ele… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL (SBC) SYSTEM MAY PREMATURELY SHIFT TO THE HYDRAULIC BACK-UP FUNCTION MODE, DUE TO DETERIORATION OF THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTION, OR DUE TO PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE HYDRAULIC PUMP.
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 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| 10028585 | MERCEDES VEHICLES: THE XENON OR BI-XENON HEADLAMP NOT FUNCTIONING. A FUNCTION DESCRIPTION CAN BE FOUND IN WIS DOCUMENT GF8S.10-P-20010 (203), GF82.10-P-0003Q (209); GF82.10-P-3002R (230). MODEL YEARS UKNOWN. *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 |
| 10019822 | INSPECT TRANSMISSION PILOT BUSHING AT ELECTROCHYDRAULIC UNIT AND REPLACE IF NECESSARY. THE TRANSMISSION PILOT BUSHING MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED ON THE CONTROL UNITS WITH NON-TEMPERED SEALING RINGS WHICH MAY CAUSE A SMALL LEAK TO OCCUR. *TT UPDATED 04-11-07. *KB |
| 10019128 | STEERING WHEEL TWITCH DURING BRAKE APPLICATION. VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING MERCEDES BENZ 2006 MODEL 230. *TT |
| 10018931 | LEARNING IN SELECTION RANGE SENSOR NOT POSSIBLE AFTER EHS REPLACEMENT. *TT |
| 10018832 | INSPECT SBC SUCTION HOSE, REPLACE IF NECESSARY, TO IMPROVE THE BRAKE BLEEDING PROCESS. *TT |
| 10016632 | THE ALTERNATOR REGULATOR MAY FAIL TO PREVENT VOLTAGE VALUES RANGING BEYOND THE SPECIFIED TOLERANCE LIMITS. *TT |
| 10015604 | THUMPING/RUMBLING NOISE FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE. MERCEDES-BENZ MODEL 230. MODEL YEAR 2003-2005. *TT |
| 10014593 | COMAND HEAD UNIT DISC DRIVE MALFUNCTIONS AT LOW TEMPERATURES. VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING MERCEDES-BENZ MODEL 215, AND 220 2004 AND 2005. *TT |
| 10014589 | COMAND HEAD UNIT SOFTWARE UPDATE. MERCEDES-BENZ. VARIOUS MY2005 MODELS INCLUDING MODEL 220. *TT |
| 10014548 | ROUGH DOWNSHIFTING WHEN ACCELERATING. *TT VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ 219 AND 220. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)