MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 · model year

2006 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500

15 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2006MERCEDES-BENZSL500 carries 15 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 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 2006 SL500 is suspension with 4 filings, followed by service brakes (3) and latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch (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.

NHTSA currently has 15 investigation files overlapping the 2006 SL500. 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.

15
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

15 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SUSPENSION4
SERVICE BRAKES3
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
VISIBILITY/WIPER1
POWER TRAIN1

Recent Complaints

20201207SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ SL500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ASTORG MOTOR COMPANY LOCATED AT 2908 7TH ST, PARKERSBURG, WV 26102, WHO REPLACED THE ABS BRAKE COMPRESSOR. LATER WHILE DRIVING, THE MESSAGE STOP PUMP BRAKES, WAS DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE SAME DEALER. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT YET DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

Mileage: 68,000

20200212SUSPENSION

THE 2006 MB SL500'S ARE PRONE TO ABC (ACTIVE BODY CONTROL) FAILURES. MERCEDES BENZ IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE, BUT THEY WILL NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE IN REPAIRING IT. THE COST TO REPAIR THIS SYSTEM IS APPROX. $4,000. IF THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, IT IS VERY POSSIBLE THAT THE DRIVER MAY LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR. THE ABC SYSTEM AFFECTS BOTH THE AIR SUSPENSION, AND BRAKING. IT COULD LEAD TO A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT, RESULTING IN INJURY OR DEATH. I WAS FORTUNATE IN THAT I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED.

Mileage: 65,000

20190416SERVICE BRAKES

ON 04/14/2019 WHILE DRIVING, RED DASH WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON WARNING OF LOST BRAKING AND TO STOP. AT THE SAME TIME TWO SEPARATE WARNING SOUNDS FILLED THE CARS CABIN. I TRIED THE BRAKES, NO RESPONSE, I DOWN SHIFTED, AND STOOD BOTH FEET ON BRAKES AND FINALLY SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL TO COME TO COMPLETE STOP. TURNED CAR OFF WARNING SIGN AND WARNING SOUNDS CONTINUED AFTER ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. OPENED HOOD, CLICKING AND WURLING SOUNDS WERE COMING FROM THE SBC BRAKING SYSTEM. CALL M/B THE FOLLOWING DAY AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO NEAREST M/B DEALER. DEALER FOUND NO FAULTS. AFRAID TO DRIVE. DEALER WILL NOT DO ANY WORK ON CAR W/O CODES TO VERIFY PROBLEM.

Mileage: 125,000

20180409SERVICE BRAKES

2006 SL 500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SBC WARNING CLUSTER ILLUMINATED AND BRAKE FAILURE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. THE CONSUMER LIMPED THREE BLOCKS HOME. FAULT CODES C25DS, C26DE, C26BB, AND C233D IN THE SBC SYSTEM. *JS

20170722POWER TRAIN

722.9 7-SPEED TRANSMISSION HAS KNOWN DEFECT CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOCK UP IN GEAR WHEN DRIVING. LOCKS INTO 3RD GEAR, CAN HAPPEN WHEN YOU GO TO PASS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE NO POWER WHEN YOU TRY TO KICK INTO PASSING GEAR. ON MANY OCCASIONS I'VE ALMOST BEEN HIT BECAUSE TRANSMISSION FAILS TO SHIFT INTO PASSING GEAR. ALSO WILL HAPPEN WHEN COMING UP TO A RED LIGHT THEN, LIGHT CHANGES TO GREEN AND YOU PRESS ACCELERATOR TO GO BUT CAR WILL HARDLY GO. I WAS BUMPED IN THE REAR BUMPER ONCE, LUCKILY NOT CAUSING ANY DAMAGE TO VEHICLE.I'VE ALSO BEEN IN MANY CLOSE CALL ACCIDENTS WHEN ITS HAPPENS. MERCEDES KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF BLOOMFIELD HILLS, SERVICE ADVISOR INFORMED ME ITS A VERY COMMON ISSUE AND REPAIR IS $2100 TO REPLACE THE VALVE BODY AND SHIFT CONDUCTOR PLATE IN TRANSMISSION.

Mileage: 76,200

20151029ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED ON, THE SRS LIGHT COMES ON, THE ROLLBAR LIGHT ON, COMMAND CENTER OFF/ON/OFF/ON, WINDSHIELD WIPERS DON'T WORK, SEAT WARMERS/COOLERS INOP, AUTO HEADLIGHTS INOP.....ALL THESE PROBLEMS ARE CONNECTED AND INTERMITTENT. READING THROUGHT THE MB FORUM AND MBWORLD FORUM, MANY SL OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING AND IT ALL SEEMS TO POINT TO THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH. I WROTE A LETTER TO MB IN JANUARY 2015 AND THEY DIDN'T WANT TO HELP. MY INDEPENDENT DEALER IMMEDIATELY TOLD ME IT WAS THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH (THEY'VE SEEN IT BEFORE) BUT THEY ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO WORK ON IGNITION SWITCH....IT MUST BE THE DEALER. I TOOK IT ONCE TO THE DEALER AND THEY COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER BACK MONTHS LATER TO TRY AND GET IT FIXED, THEY ARGUED WITH ME THAT THEY NEED TO TROUBLE SHOOT IT BEFORE THEY JUST REPLACE THE EIS, EVEN THOUGH THEY COULDNT FIGURE IT OUT THE FIRST TIME I GAVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY. THERE ARE PAGES AND PAGES OF PEOPLE ON THE F

Mileage: 85,000

20151029VISIBILITY/WIPER

WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED ON, THE SRS LIGHT COMES ON, THE ROLLBAR LIGHT ON, COMMAND CENTER OFF/ON/OFF/ON, WINDSHIELD WIPERS DON'T WORK, SEAT WARMERS/COOLERS INOP, AUTO HEADLIGHTS INOP.....ALL THESE PROBLEMS ARE CONNECTED AND INTERMITTENT. READING THROUGHT THE MB FORUM AND MBWORLD FORUM, MANY SL OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING AND IT ALL SEEMS TO POINT TO THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH. I WROTE A LETTER TO MB IN JANUARY 2015 AND THEY DIDN'T WANT TO HELP. MY INDEPENDENT DEALER IMMEDIATELY TOLD ME IT WAS THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH (THEY'VE SEEN IT BEFORE) BUT THEY ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO WORK ON IGNITION SWITCH....IT MUST BE THE DEALER. I TOOK IT ONCE TO THE DEALER AND THEY COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER BACK MONTHS LATER TO TRY AND GET IT FIXED, THEY ARGUED WITH ME THAT THEY NEED TO TROUBLE SHOOT IT BEFORE THEY JUST REPLACE THE EIS, EVEN THOUGH THEY COULDNT FIGURE IT OUT THE FIRST TIME I GAVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY. THERE ARE PAGES AND PAGES OF PEOPLE ON THE F

Mileage: 85,000

20141212SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ SL500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, A LOUD NOISE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE AND THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MERGED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V405000 (SUSPENSION). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000.

Mileage: 29,000

20130606SUSPENSION

WE BOUGHT A GOOD CAR SO THE CAR CAN LAST WITH FEW ISSUES BUT WE HAVE HAD LOTS OF MAINTENANCE ON THIS CAR AND LAST ONE WAS THE MALFUNCTION OF THE SUSPENSION AND THIS COST US OVER $1800 TO GET FIX. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM FROM MERCEDES BENZ AS LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE FIX FOR THE CONSUMER. MY CAR ONLY HAS 43K MILES AND WE HAVE REPLACED 3 SETS OF TIRES AND IT IS SO EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE. WE HAVE OTHER MAJOR ISSUES WITH TIRE PRESSURE ERRORS AND HAVE TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE MANY TIMES. *TR

Mileage: 43,000

20130308VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ SL500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 33,500. *TR

Mileage: 33,000

20100111SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

I HAVE A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ SL500. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE WHICH WERE ALL COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. ON 12-6-2009 I HAD A TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. LUCKILY I WAS IN A STOPPED POSITION AND THE CAR STARTED MOVING FORWARD. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS FULL PRESSED TO THE FLOOR AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DID NOT WORK. MERCEDES BENZ OF GREENWAY PLAZA(HOUSTON) 713-986-6600 DID THE REPAIR. I WAS ADVISED BY KEVIN GRAVES(MY SERVICE ADVISOR) THAT THERE WAS A RECALL AND ALL REPAIRS WERE COVERED UNDER A EXTENDED RECALL WARRANTY. ON 1-7-2010 THE EXACT SAME ISSUE OCCURRED, ONLY THIS TIME I WAS MOVING IN A ELEVATED PARKING GARAGE. I IMMEDIATELY DOWN SHIFTED TO FIRST AND STOOD ON THE BRAKE AND PUSHED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. LUCKILY AGAIN I WAS MOVING A VERY LOW SPEED AND COASTED TO A STOP. MERCEDES BENZ OF GREENWAY AGAIN DID THE REPAIRS AND ADVISED THAT IT WAS ANOTHER DEFECTIVE HYDRAULIC BRAKE PUMP. I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN THIS VEHICLE. AFTER DOING RESEARCH THERE ARE A NUMBER OF BLOGS AND OTHE

Mileage: 54,000

20090116SUSPENSION

CHANGE TIRE AND JACK WOULD NOT HOLD IT WEIGHT AND BUCKLED INWARD DEALER AND MERCEDES BENZ NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY THAT THE JACK NEED TO BE RECALL AND PAY FOR THE DAMAGE CAUSE BY THE DROP DUE TO JACK FAILURE. *TR

Mileage: 12,550

20060707EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

HID HEADLIGHTS SHOULD BE BANNED FROM THE ROADS. THERE IS NO WAY THE BENEFITS OF ALLOWING ONE CAR TO SUPPOSEDLY SEE BETTER AT NIGHT OUTWEIGH THE RISKS TO EVERY ONCOMING CAR THEY ENCOUNTER. THESE LIGHTS SHOULD AT LEAST BE OUTLAWED AND IDEALLY, MANUFACTURERS SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL VEHICLES AND REIMBURSE THE CONSUMER FOR THE COSTS OF THE LIGHTS. *JB

20060707EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS

HID HEADLIGHTS SHOULD BE BANNED FROM THE ROADS. THERE IS NO WAY THE BENEFITS OF ALLOWING ONE CAR TO SUPPOSEDLY SEE BETTER AT NIGHT OUTWEIGH THE RISKS TO EVERY ONCOMING CAR THEY ENCOUNTER. THESE LIGHTS SHOULD AT LEAST BE OUTLAWED AND IDEALLY, MANUFACTURERS SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL VEHICLES AND REIMBURSE THE CONSUMER FOR THE COSTS OF THE LIGHTS. *JB

20060227LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 30MPH, THE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY UNLOCKED AND THE PASSENGER'S DOOR CAME OPEN; HOWEVER NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS.

Mileage: 200

Compare 2006MERCEDES-BENZSL500 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2006 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 have?
The 2006 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 has 15 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500?
The most-complained component for the 2006 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 is SUSPENSION with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES and LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH.
Is the 2006 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 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.