Mercedes Benz SL Class problems

Owners have filed 58 complaints about the Mercedes Benz SL Class with NHTSA across model years 1996 to 2005. More of them are about the brakes than anything else.

Every Mercedes Benz SL Class year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

2 3 20 1 23 6 3

96 97 98 02 03 04 05

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

Year	Grade	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Median miles	Most reported
2005	—	3	2	0	—	Airbags
2004	—	6	0	0	—	Brakes
2003	—	23	2	1	9,132	Brakes
2002	—	1	0	0	—	Engine & Cooling
1998	—	20	0	0	—	Brakes
1997	—	3	0	0	—	Airbags
1996	—	2	0	0	—	Engine & Cooling

What breaks on a Mercedes Benz SL Class

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Brakes 9 15.5%

Worst in 1998

Suspension 6 10.3%

Worst in 1998

Body & Structure 5 8.6%

Worst in 2003

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 5 8.6%

Worst in 2003

Equipment & Accessories 5 8.6%

Worst in 1998

Engine & Cooling 4 6.9%

Worst in 2003

Airbags 4 6.9%

Worst in 1997

Lights 4 6.9%

Worst in 2003

Fuel & Propulsion 4 6.9%

Worst in 1998

Electrical System 3 5.2%

Worst in 2003

Transmission & Drivetrain 2 3.4%

Worst in 1998

Acceleration & Cruise Control 2 3.4%

Worst in 2003

Tires 2 3.4%

Worst in 1998

Seat Belts 1 1.7%

Worst in 1997

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every Mercedes Benz SL Class, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Nov 1998 peak 14 Nov 2013

Compare the Mercedes Benz SL Class

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.

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