MERCEDES-BENZ SL 550 · model year

2020 MERCEDES-BENZ SL 550

3 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports, and 3 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2020MERCEDES-BENZSL 550 carries 3 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2020 SL 550 is engine with 1 filings, followed by power train (1) and vehicle speed control (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 3 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 15 investigation files overlapping the 2020 SL 550. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

3
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

3 filings

Crashes Reported

3 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE1
POWER TRAIN1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1

Recalls (3)

22V36500020/05/2022

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017-2022 CLA-Class, GLA-Class, GLE-Class, GLS-Class, SLC-Class, A-Class, AMG GT-Class, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, SL-Class, GLC-Class, CLS-Class, GLB-Class, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model de

21V96100013/12/2021

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2019 AMG G63, C300, E300, G550, AMG GT63, AMG GT53, 2019-2020 A220, GLA250, GLC300, 2016 C300, 2020 AMG A35, AMG C43, AMG C63, CLA250, E350, E450, GLB250, GLE450, GLS450, GLS580, S560, and SL550 vehicles equipped with a gasoline engine. During the

21V05800005/02/2021

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 - 2021 CLA-Class, GLA-Class, GLE-Class, GLS-Class, SLC-Class, A-Class, GT-Class, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, CLS-Class, SL-Class, B-Class, GLB-Class, GLC-Class, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to the Part 573 report for specific vehicle mod

Recent Complaints

20260206CrashENGINE

I do Own a Mercedes-Benz 2020 SL-550. On August 27, 2025, I was stopped at the curb adjacent to my house at [XXX] . When I gently tried to go right into driveway of my house, the tire hit the curb. When I gently again tried to release the tire from the curb, the car all of the sudden jump into the air with high speed, and hit the corner of my garrage destroying the roll-up door. I could not control the car and the car was deemed to be a total loss. My position is that the incident happened due to malfunction of the Engine & Power Train which is a "Product-Defect" issue, causing me substantial damages. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

20260206CrashPOWER TRAIN

I do Own a Mercedes-Benz 2020 SL-550. On August 27, 2025, I was stopped at the curb adjacent to my house at [XXX] . When I gently tried to go right into driveway of my house, the tire hit the curb. When I gently again tried to release the tire from the curb, the car all of the sudden jump into the air with high speed, and hit the corner of my garrage destroying the roll-up door. I could not control the car and the car was deemed to be a total loss. My position is that the incident happened due to malfunction of the Engine & Power Train which is a "Product-Defect" issue, causing me substantial damages. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

20260206CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I do Own a Mercedes-Benz 2020 SL-550. On August 27, 2025, I was stopped at the curb adjacent to my house at [XXX] . When I gently tried to go right into driveway of my house, the tire hit the curb. When I gently again tried to release the tire from the curb, the car all of the sudden jump into the air with high speed, and hit the corner of my garrage destroying the roll-up door. I could not control the car and the car was deemed to be a total loss. My position is that the incident happened due to malfunction of the Engine & Power Train which is a "Product-Defect" issue, causing me substantial damages. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Compare 2020MERCEDES-BENZSL 550 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2020 MERCEDES-BENZ SL 550 have?
The 2020 MERCEDES-BENZ SL 550 has 3 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2020 MERCEDES-BENZ SL 550?
Yes, the 2020 MERCEDES-BENZ SL 550 has 3 recall(s). The most common affected component is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 MERCEDES-BENZ SL 550?
The most-complained component for the 2020 MERCEDES-BENZ SL 550 is ENGINE with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Is the 2020 MERCEDES-BENZ SL 550 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.