Mercedes-Benz SL problems, recalls and best years (1990

Complaints by model year

Each bar is one model year. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.

NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026

Year by year

Model year	Complaints	Bulletins	Crashes · fires
2022	0	5	0 · 0
2011	1	9	0 · 0
2010	0	11	0 · 0
2009	0	11	0 · 0
2008	0	8	0 · 0
2007	1	5	0 · 0
2006	1	1	0 · 0
2004	2	0	0 · 0
2003	3	0	0 · 0
1995 SL	13	4	0 · 3
1994 SL	15	4	1 · 3
1993	2	3	0 · 0
1992	1	4	0 · 0
1991	1	4	0 · 0
1990	1	4	0 · 0

A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections

Most common problems

Electrical system30
Suspension3
Service brakes, hydraulic3
Equipment3
Electronic stability control (esc)3
Vehicle speed control2
Steering2
Power train2

NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years

Crash-test ratings by year

NHTSA 5-star results for 1 model-year variants; not yet fully rated. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

Year	Variant	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
2024	2024 Mercedes-Benz SL C AWD	—	—	—	—	0.0 %

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain

Fuel consumption by year

Official Canadian test results for 21 model years, best variant per year. Combined consumption ranges from 12.4–16.7 L/100 km.

Year	Variant	Engine	Transmission	City	Highway	Combined	CO₂ g/km
2015	SL 63 AMG · Two-seater · Premium gasoline	5.5 L, 8 cyl.	AS7	14.7	9.5	12.4	285
2014	SL 63 AMG · Two-seater · Premium gasoline	5.5 L, 8 cyl.	AS7	14.8	10.2	12.7	292
2013	SL 63 AMG · Two-seater · Premium gasoline	5.5 L, 8 cyl.	AS7	14.8	10.2	12.7	292
2012	SL 63 AMG · Two-seater · Premium gasoline	6.2 L, 8 cyl.	AS7	19.8	12.7	16.6	382
2011	SL 63 AMG · Two-seater · Premium gasoline	6.2 L, 8 cyl.	AS7	19.8	12.5	16.5	380
2010	SL 63 AMG · Two-seater · Premium gasoline	6.2 L, 8 cyl.	AS7	19.8	12.5	16.5	380
2009	SL 63 AMG · Two-seater · Premium gasoline	6.2 L, 8 cyl.	AS7	19.8	12.5	16.5	380
2008	SL 55 AMG # · Two-seater · Premium gasoline	5.4 L, 8 cyl.	AS5	19.3	13.5	16.7	384
2007	SL 55 AMG # · Two-seater · Premium gasoline	5.4 L, 8 cyl.	AS5	19.3	13.5	16.7	384
2006	SL 500 # · Two-seater · Premium gasoline	5.0 L, 8 cyl.	A7	16.8	10.9	14.1	324
2005	SL 500 · Two-seater · Premium gasoline	5.0 L, 8 cyl.	A7	16.7	11.2	14.2	327
2004	SL 500 · Two-seater · Premium gasoline	5.0 L, 8 cyl.	A7	16.7	11.2	14.2	327
2003	SL 500 · Two-seater · Premium gasoline	5.0 L, 8 cyl.	A5	17.0	11.7	14.6	336
2002	SL 500 · Two-seater · Premium gasoline	5.0 L, 8 cyl.	A5	16.3	11.1	13.9	320
2001	SL 500 · Two-seater · Premium gasoline	5.0 L, 8 cyl.	A5	16.3	11.2	14.0	322
2000	SL 500 · Subcompact · Premium gasoline	5.0 L, 8 cyl.	A5	16.3	11.2	14.0	322
1999	SL 500 · Two-seater · Premium gasoline	5.0 L, 8 cyl.	A5	16.3	11.2	14.0	322
1998	SL 500 · Two-seater · Premium gasoline	5.0 L, 8 cyl.	A5	16.7	11.1	14.2	327
1997	SL 320 · Two-seater · Premium gasoline	3.2 L, 6 cyl.	A5	15.3	10.5	13.2	304
1996	SL 320 · Two-seater · Premium gasoline	3.2 L, 6 cyl.	A5	15.2	10.5	13.1	301
1995	SL 320 · Two-seater · Premium gasoline	3.2 L, 6 cyl.	A5	15.2	10.5	13.1	301

Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada

In New Zealand

416 SL cars are on the New Zealand register; 28% arrived as used imports.

Model year	Registered	Sold new in NZ	Used imports
2023	1	0	1
2021	1	0	1
2019	1	0	1
2018	3	0	3
2016	5	0	5
2015	3	1	2
2014	8	5	3
2013	12	9	3
2012	5	5	0
2011	3	1	2
2010	9	6	3
2009	10	10	0
2008	13	11	1
2007	12	8	4
2006	17	13	4
2005	39	32	6
2004	55	42	9
2003	75	60	12
2002	15	13	1
2001	1	0	1
2000	10	2	6
1999	8	5	3
1998	10	9	1
1997	19	16	1
1996	34	26	6
1995	6	1	4
1994	16	0	13
1993	8	0	6
1992	4	0	3
1991	3	0	3

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0

MOT test results in Great Britain

21,735 SL cars took their annual MOT test in 2023; 83% passed first time, against 64% for all cars of the same ages. Older cars fail more often, so compare a year with the same year of other cars.

First registered	Tests	Passed first time	All cars that year	Average mileage
2019	356	92%	86%	16,400 mi
2018	415	91%	84%	21,900 mi
2017	659	90%	82%	26,600 mi
2016	786	89%	79%	31,700 mi
2015	815	90%	75%	36,800 mi
2014	1,068	86%	72%	43,100 mi
2013	1,144	84%	68%	45,400 mi
2012	425	79%	66%	46,300 mi
2011	262	83%	63%	48,800 mi
2010	363	80%	60%	56,800 mi
2009	491	80%	59%	59,600 mi
2008	783	83%	57%	62,800 mi
2007	822	82%	57%	69,400 mi
2006	850	82%	56%	72,900 mi
2005	1,189	83%	56%	73,800 mi
2004	1,959	83%	56%	75,200 mi
2003	2,501	81%	57%	75,300 mi
2002	1,046	81%	58%	75,900 mi
2001	296	83%	59%	75,100 mi
2000	507	81%	61%	83,400 mi
1999	553	81%	63%	82,800 mi
1998	713	82%	64%	88,900 mi
1997	702	81%	64%	93,200 mi
1996	598	80%	65%	94,100 mi
1995	566	79%	67%	98,300 mi
1994	409	77%	66%	94,900 mi
1993	163	75%	67%	89,600 mi
1992	123	84%	68%	85,400 mi
1991	124	85%	70%	86,700 mi
1989	157	80%	72%	87,300 mi

Why they fail

Share of all first tests that ended in a fail because of each part of the car (one test can fail on several).

Area	SL	All cars, same ages
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	5.0%	16.5%
Suspension	4.8%	12.7%
Tyres	4.2%	5.8%
Brakes	3.5%	10.5%
Visibility	2.3%	6.3%
Noise, emissions and leaks	1.9%	5.5%
Body, chassis, structure	1.0%	7.0%
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems	0.8%	2.2%

DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests of cars only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail

New registrations in Europe

235 new Mercedes-Benz SL cars registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland between 2011 and 2017, from the European Environment Agency's CO₂ monitoring of every new car. In 2017 the largest markets were Spain (7).

Year	New cars	Largest markets	Mass kg	CO₂ g/km	Power kW
2017	7	Spain	1,763	191 (NEDC)	—
2016	22	Spain, Ireland	1,763	—	—
2015	12	Spain	1,758	—	—
2014	26	Spain	1,778	—	—
2013	91	Spain, Poland	1,702	—	225
2012	61	Spain	1,765	—	—
2011	16	Spain	1,893	—	—

Averages are weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value (NEDC until the WLTP switch). European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · re-use permitted with acknowledgement

EU safety alerts

Safety Gate, the European Union's rapid alert system, names the SL in 7 alerts. European versions can differ from the North American car.

SR/02431/25 · Fire, Injuries4 Jul 2025 · C-CLASS, CLE, E-CLASS, EQE, EQE SUV, EQS, EQE SUV, GLC, S-CLASS, SL

An improperly reworked fuse box may lead to breaks in contact or incorrect fuse ratings. Therefore, systems connected to the fuse could fail, including the vehicle losing drive without warning as well as the restraint systems or the instrument cluster being co…

A12/00939/24 · Fire, Injuries19 Apr 2024 · AMG GT, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, SL, CLE, GLC, EQE SUV, EQE, EQS SUV, EQS

A fuse may be faulty, which can lead to engine failure or impairment of the restraint functions and instrument cluster. This increases the risk of an accident, injuries and fire. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market survei…

A12/01448/22 · Environment, Injuries21 Oct 2022 · SLK, C-Class, E-Class Coupé/Cabriolet, CLK, SL, G-Class

Faulty configurations of the control units (traction systems, signal recording triggering modules, engine control units and headlights) could cause one or more control units to malfunction, which could increase the risk of an accident. The exhaust emissions ex…

A12/00017/22 · Fire7 Jan 2022 · CLA, GLA, GLE/GLS, A-Class, AMG GT, C-, E-, S-Class, SL, E-Class, B-Class, GLC, CLS, G-Class

A trapped particle may damage the sealing between the fuel rail and fuel injector, which could cause fuel to leak into the engine compartment. Consequently, leaking fuel may come into contact with hot parts of the engine, increasing the risk of fire. The produ…

A12/00488/20 · Environment27 Mar 2020 · A-Class, B-Class, CLA, SL

Refrigerant of type R134a is used in the air conditioning system.As a result, the affected vehicles do not meet the requirements for type approval. The product does not comply with the requirements of the Type-approval directive.

A12/1466/19 · Injuries4 Oct 2019 · SL

The passenger airbag may not have been sewn together in accordance with the specifications. As a result, the seam at the edges can rip open when it is deployed. This may compromise the airbag's restraining effect in the event of an accident, increasing the ris…

A12/0082/17 · Injuries27 Jan 2017 · C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, SL

The power-assisted steering control units may have been fitted with defectively welded contacts. As a result, a permanent electrical connection between the contacts cannot be guaranteed, which could lead to loss of support to the power-assisted steering and th…

Safety Gate (European Commission) · CC0

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