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 where on file — then open the year you're shopping for its AI reliability outlook where NHTSA has enough data.
Mercedes Benz SL Class problems by model year
15 recall entries and 16 owner complaints on file across 9 model years, sourced from the federal NHTSA database.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | NCAP stars | Full report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 SL Class | 1 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2009 SL Class | 1 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2006 SL Class | 1 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2005 SL Class | 1 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2004 SL Class | 3 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2003 SL Class | 3 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 1998 SL Class | 0 | 12 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 1997 SL Class | 2 | 2 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 1996 SL Class | 3 | 2 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
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.
- air bags2 complaints
- service brakes, hydraulic2 complaints
- equipment2 complaints
- fuel system, other2 complaints
- engine and engine cooling1 complaint
- electrical system1 complaint
- seat belts1 complaint
- tires1 complaint