Total Complaints
2 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ SL55 · model year
2004 MERCEDES-BENZ SL55
2 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2004MERCEDES-BENZSL55 carries 2 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 2004 SL55 is electronic stability control (esc) with 1 filings, followed by service brakes (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 2004 SL55. 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.
2
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
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
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20190215SERVICE BRAKES
THE VEHICLE HAS 70000 MILES AND ON JANUARY 10, 2019 I WAS APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT AND SUDDENLY WITH NO WARNING (UNTIL AFTER THE FACT ) HAD NO BRAKES, FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO ACCELERATE THROUGH THE LIGHT IMMEDIATELY AFTER BRAKE WARNING LIGHT AND BEEPING. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE ON THE ROADSIDE. CODES INDICATED FAILED SBC.
Mileage: 70,000
20120324ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
ACTIVE BODY CONTROL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. HYDRAULIC FLUID SPRAYED THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE RISES AND LOWERS UNEXPECTEDLY. IF THE VEHICLE SITS FOR LONGER THAN TWO WEEKS, IT WILL DROP AT ONE SIDE OR TIRE. *TR
Mileage: 50,578
Compare 2004MERCEDES-BENZSL55 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ SL55 have?▼
The 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ SL55 has 2 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ SL55?▼
The most-complained component for the 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ SL55 is ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES.
Is the 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ SL55 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.