https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500 New NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for the Mercedes-Benz Sl500. en-us Mon, 21 Sep 2026 13:47:38 GMT https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500#complaint-2169588 Sat, 24 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT Question 1: The Sensotronic Brake Control (SBC) unit, which is a high-pressure "brake-by-wire" hydraulic system. Component A7/3. The component is currently installed in the vehicle and is available for inspection. Question 2: The vehicle experienced a sudden, catastrophic loss of hydraulic brake pressure while in operation. This failure required extreme physical force on the pedal and significant https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500#complaint-2136845 Mon, 06 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT The contact owns a 1999 N/A Mercedes-Benz SL500. The contact purchased the rear brake rotors and pads from R1 Concepts, who sells auto parts on Amazon. When the contact installed the brake parts, the rotors could not be adjusted since the rotors were missing the opening that needed to be pre-drilled. The contact stated that when the rear brakes were adjusted, the defect was found. In addition, the https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500#complaint-1946467 Wed, 29 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT To who may this concerned, I have a 2003 Mercedes SL500 and recently found my battery control module caught on fire and burnt a section of my car. I have tried reaching out to Mercedes directly first and they said the car is 20 years ago and it could have not be a manufactured defect. Please I need help this problem could’ve burn down my house or while I was driving. Mercedes requested I send them https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500#complaint-1945750 Mon, 27 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT I am concerned with the battery control module. I have noticed there has been a lot of incidents out there where the battery control module in the SL 500s have caught fire! I am concerned for my safety due to this defect! https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500#complaint-1921346 Tue, 22 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT The contact owns a 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL500. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the ABC warning light illuminated. Additionally, the message "Drive Carefully" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the ABC tandem pump, struts, and hoses needed to be replaced. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500#complaint-1889847 Sun, 23 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT The 2003-2006 R230 series seem to have a problem with the BCM (Battery Control Module) as start an electrical fire in the trunk. Very common issue and a safety hazard - this is what happened with my car. Vehicle has dual battery, starter in front, convenience battery in trunk and fuses that operate at 130 Amps - the BCM capacitors and circuit board age and at some point can no longer handle the hi https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500#complaint-1874663 Mon, 20 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMT This issue almost cause an accident on the freeway, Transmission went from drive to neutral and then reverse. This is cause by the range sensor. Conductor plate for transmission is very common for this type of vehicles. Please investigate. This can cause a fatal injury or death. https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500#complaint-1844283 Wed, 28 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMT ABC (Active Body Control) light keeps coming on and body goes up and down when I drove car. Light says do not drive. Mercedes would not take responsibility for this in spite there are so many complaints about this. Really irresponsible by Mercedes. https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500#complaint-1841623 Sun, 18 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMT Yesterday 9/17/2022, while driving my 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL550 on the expressway with my wife as passenger, we heard and felt a very loud explosion. Shattered glass was entering the vehicle. I managed to pull off the expressway at the next exit. The retractable hardtop panoramic glass roof had exploded. Shattered glass fragments were all over the vehicle interior. Glass fragments also damaged th https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500#complaint-1841624 Sun, 18 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMT Yesterday 9/17/2022, while driving my 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL550 on the expressway with my wife as passenger, we heard and felt a very loud explosion. Shattered glass was entering the vehicle. I managed to pull off the expressway at the next exit. The retractable hardtop panoramic glass roof had exploded. Shattered glass fragments were all over the vehicle interior. Glass fragments also damaged th https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500#complaint-1827072 Wed, 20 Jul 2022 00:00:00 GMT I was driving my car at 45 mph and suddenly, unexpectedly a red light flashed ABC do not drive. Smoke was coming from under the car and the front end of the vehicle collapsed downwardly. I had to call for a tow truck to take my vehicle to the MB dealership. I'm I am waiting for the prognosis. I've had numerous issues with the All Body Control system. Expensive repairs in the $3000-$8000 range. Thi https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500#complaint-1827012 Tue, 19 Jul 2022 00:00:00 GMT The contact owns a 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL500. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed however, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The contact depressed the brake pedal firmly however, the vehicle failed to respond. The parking brake was activated however, the vehicle failed to respond as designed. The contact was however able to pull over and eventually the vehi https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500#complaint-1811422 Sat, 07 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT On many 2003 and 2004 models. Broken fuel tank baffle inside fuel tank. This is well documented and could possibly cause explosion. https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500#complaint-1801731 Tue, 15 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMT The 2003 SL500 with seemingly no instigating incident or event had the gas tank baffle come apart due to the poor and faulty design of this component. This baffle now is loose and floats on the gas in the gas tank, banging around when there is acceleration or deceleration, even turning sometimes causes it to bang around. Speed bumps are another source of loud banging from the baffle bumping into t https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500#complaint-1788257 Fri, 14 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT The contact owns a 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL500. The contact stated that while driving from a complete stop, the brake warning light and other unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that he lost control of the vehicle but did not provide further information. The contact stated that while driving at 15 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed but failed to respond. The warning message "Reduce https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500#complaint-1785678 Thu, 30 Dec 2021 00:00:00 GMT The contact owns a 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL500. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle, the following day he noticed that the front of the vehicle was lowered down. The contact stated that the car was too low a warning light was illuminated. The contact stated while starting the vehicle and taking his foot off the brake pedal, the vehicle would raise up independently and would be able to d https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500#complaint-1764403 Sun, 22 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT It has been nearly two years I have stopped driving my 2003 Mercedes SL500, although I only have about 80,000 miles on the car. This is due to ABC warning light(red display: please drive carefully)comes on intermittently and the car drives very bouncy and it feels the car has no shocks, definitely feeling it would be unsafe to drive. The diagnostic message comes up saying "visit workshop". This is https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500#complaint-1764404 Sun, 22 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT It has been nearly two years I have stopped driving my 2003 Mercedes SL500, although I only have about 80,000 miles on the car. This is due to ABC warning light(red display: please drive carefully)comes on intermittently and the car drives very bouncy and it feels the car has no shocks, definitely feeling it would be unsafe to drive. The diagnostic message comes up saying "visit workshop". This is https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500#complaint-1764405 Sun, 22 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT It has been nearly two years I have stopped driving my 2003 Mercedes SL500, although I only have about 80,000 miles on the car. This is due to ABC warning light(red display: please drive carefully)comes on intermittently and the car drives very bouncy and it feels the car has no shocks, definitely feeling it would be unsafe to drive. The diagnostic message comes up saying "visit workshop". This is https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500#complaint-1744282 Thu, 29 Apr 2021 00:00:00 GMT TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ SL500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL (ABC) WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN MERCEDES-BENZ DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ACTIVE BODY https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500#complaint-1711520 Mon, 07 Dec 2020 00:00:00 GMT 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 TH https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500#complaint-1680736 Thu, 30 Jul 2020 00:00:00 GMT ON JULY 22, 2020 THE VEHICLE (2004 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 (R230)BEGAN MAKING A LOUD BANGING NOISE IN THE REAR WHEN STOPPING AND TURNING. I DELIVERED THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL SHOP WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING A BROKEN BAFFLE IN THE FUEL TANK. THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE FUEL TANK. MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MODEL HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE AND IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURER DE https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500#complaint-1674505 Mon, 06 Jul 2020 00:00:00 GMT HEARING CLANGING, THUMP NOISE BETWEEN SEATS AND TRUCK, TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP AND WAS ADVISED IT IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL - PROBLEM WITH BAFFLE IN THE TANK AND MIGHT HAVE COME OFF, SEARCHED ON-LINE AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME ISSUE, WAS THIS EVER ADDRESSED BY MB AND RECALLED? https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500#complaint-1673090 Mon, 29 Jun 2020 00:00:00 GMT TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500. THE CONTACT STATED ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS WHILE HIS VEHICLE WAS STATIONERY AND IN PARK, EITHER THE RIGHT SIDE OR THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WOULD RAISE UP THEN DESCEND TO GROUND OVER A THIRTY SECOND PERIOD INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAKED OUT OF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE TAKEN TO A DE https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500#complaint-1666592 Tue, 02 Jun 2020 00:00:00 GMT I EXPERIENCE A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL WHEN ENTERING MY VEHICLE AND WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE, ALSO WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE I HEART A LOUD THUMPING SOUND COMING FROM THE TRUNK AREA. SOUNDS TO ME AS THOUGH SOMETHING IS FLOATING INSIDE GAS TANK. THIS ODOR HAS SICKENED ME AND HAS SEVERELY UPSET MY STOMACH TO THE POINT THAT I'M UNABLE TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE EXCEPT FOR A SHORT DISTANCE. THE THUMPING SOUND IS https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500#complaint-1655992 Wed, 25 Mar 2020 00:00:00 GMT TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 MERCEDES BENZ SL500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHOLE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE TRUNK CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FIRE STARTED IN THE UPPER RIGHT FRONT AREA OF THE TRUNK WHERE THEY WERE WIRES AND SAW SPARKS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FIRE WENT OUT ON ITS OWN BECAUSE THERE WAS NO OXYGEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500#complaint-1645873 Wed, 12 Feb 2020 00:00:00 GMT 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 CATASTRO https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500#complaint-1640141 Thu, 23 Jan 2020 00:00:00 GMT VEHICLE HAS APPROX. 209K MILES. SUNDAY 1/19/20 DRIVING WB ON MONTAUK HIGHWAY (NYS 27A?) AT QUOGUE NY. SPEED APPROX. 35-40 MPH. SLIGHT TURN/BEND IN ROAD TO THE RIGHT. SUNNY, DRY PAVEMENT. NO OTHER CARS FOLLOWING OR AHEAD, EITHER DIRECTION. VERY LOUD BANG HEARD INSIDE CABIN, BOTH SEATBELTS IMMEDIATELY TIGHTENED AND BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER FELT STRONG AIR BLAST; THAT EACH DESCRIBED AS BEING HIT https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500#complaint-1640142 Thu, 23 Jan 2020 00:00:00 GMT VEHICLE HAS APPROX. 209K MILES. SUNDAY 1/19/20 DRIVING WB ON MONTAUK HIGHWAY (NYS 27A?) AT QUOGUE NY. SPEED APPROX. 35-40 MPH. SLIGHT TURN/BEND IN ROAD TO THE RIGHT. SUNNY, DRY PAVEMENT. NO OTHER CARS FOLLOWING OR AHEAD, EITHER DIRECTION. VERY LOUD BANG HEARD INSIDE CABIN, BOTH SEATBELTS IMMEDIATELY TIGHTENED AND BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER FELT STRONG AIR BLAST; THAT EACH DESCRIBED AS BEING HIT https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-sl500#complaint-1640143 Thu, 23 Jan 2020 00:00:00 GMT VEHICLE HAS APPROX. 209K MILES. SUNDAY 1/19/20 DRIVING WB ON MONTAUK HIGHWAY (NYS 27A?) AT QUOGUE NY. SPEED APPROX. 35-40 MPH. SLIGHT TURN/BEND IN ROAD TO THE RIGHT. SUNNY, DRY PAVEMENT. NO OTHER CARS FOLLOWING OR AHEAD, EITHER DIRECTION. VERY LOUD BANG HEARD INSIDE CABIN, BOTH SEATBELTS IMMEDIATELY TIGHTENED AND BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER FELT STRONG AIR BLAST; THAT EACH DESCRIBED AS BEING HIT