Reliability & cost of ownership
Mercedes Benz Sl Class Reliability & Common Problems
How reliable is the Mercedes Benz Sl Class? Compare every model year side by side — NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, and crash-test stars — then open the year you're shopping for a full reliability and repair-cost forecast.
Mercedes Benz Sl Class problems by model year
5 recall entries and 16 owner complaints on file across 3 model years, sourced from the federal NHTSA database.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | NCAP stars | Full report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 Sl Class | 0 | 12 | No NCAP test | Reliability forecast → |
| 1997 Sl Class | 2 | 2 | No NCAP test | Reliability forecast → |
| 1996 Sl Class | 3 | 2 | No NCAP test | Reliability forecast → |
Most-complained-about components
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA against the Mercedes Benz Sl Class, grouped by the component each complaint names — the fastest read on where this model gives trouble.
- service brakes3 complaints
- fuel system3 complaints
- air bags2 complaints
- hydraulic2 complaints
- equipment2 complaints
- other2 complaints
- engine and engine cooling1 complaint
- electrical system1 complaint