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MERCEDES-BENZ · vehicle model

MERCEDES-BENZ SL550

80 NHTSA complaints and 1 safety recall across model years 2003–2017.

Complaints
80
Recalls
1
Model years
9

The MERCEDES-BENZSL550 appears in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database with 80 consumer safety complaints and 1 recall campaign across 9 model years (2003–2017). That averages roughly 9 complaints per model year. Report counts can differ between model years for many reasons; this dataset does not establish the cause of a difference.

Complaint volume on a nameplate alone is not a reliability verdict: a long-running bestseller can accumulate more filings than a low-volume niche model because more vehicles are on the road. The table below shows report counts and published NHTSA crash-test ratings side by side for each model year. The filing-year histogram shows the timing of submitted reports, not a causal trend.

NHTSA has 15 investigation files tied to this model. Investigation records, complaint reports, and recall campaigns each provide different context. Use the official NHTSA VIN lookup and the underlying notices to research a specific vehicle; PlainCars does not infer a vehicle-risk or pricing conclusion from these records.

Complaints by Year

YearComplaints
20174
20152
20144
201320
20114
200920
20085
200720
20031

Complaint Filing Trend

NHTSA complaint volume by year filed (not model year).

Filings moved from 27 in 2017-2021 to 17 in 2022-2026, a fall of 37%. That is the 48th percentile of change across the 772 nameplates with enough filings in both windows to compare, where 0 is the steepest fall and 100 the steepest rise.

Filing volume, not a reliability verdict: counts also move with how many vehicles are on the road, how old they are, and whether a recall drew attention. Computed from this portal's NHTSA filing-year records over the same two windows the trend rankings use.

1
’07
1
’09
4
’10
9
’11
2
’12
2
’13
6
’14
9
’15
2
’16
5
’17
10
’18
3
’19
3
’20
6
’21
8
’22
1
’23
3
’24
5
’25

Year filed (bar labels show the complaint count).

View all trending models →

Compare MERCEDES-BENZSL550 to Similar Vehicles

MERCEDES-BENZSL550 vs VOLVOEX90 → MERCEDES-BENZSL550 vs FORDE550 → MERCEDES-BENZSL550 vs FORDESCAPE HEV → MERCEDES-BENZSL550 vs MERCURYMILAN HYBRID →

NHTSA Investigations

DP23003Defect PetitionClosed2023-07-25

Malfunction Indicator Light / No-Start

DP22002Defect PetitionClosed2022-09-12

C300 Wrist-pin allegation

PE21019Preliminary EvaluationClosed2021-08-02

Vehicle Rolls Away While in Park

PE21001Preliminary EvaluationClosed2021-01-08

Front Roof Panel Detachment

DP20004Defect PetitionClosed2020-04-24

Rear brake line failure

AQ18004Audit QueryClosed2018-10-22

Recall Administration Concerns

PE18002Preliminary EvaluationClosed2018-03-13

Low Pressure Fuel Supply Hose Leak

EA17003Engineering AnalysisClosed2017-09-01

Engine Compartment Fire

PE10017Preliminary EvaluationClosed2010-05-14

Driver Air Bag Circuit High Resistance

RQ08002Recall QueryClosed2008-03-11

POWER STEERING HOSE LEAK

View all 15 investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How reliable is the MERCEDES-BENZ SL550?▼
The MERCEDES-BENZ SL550 has received 80 NHTSA complaints spanning model years 2003 to 2017, with 1 recalls. That averages about 9 complaints per model year.
What years of MERCEDES-BENZ SL550 are available?▼
PlainCars has complaint and recall data for the MERCEDES-BENZ SL550 from 2003 to 2017 (9 model years). Select any year to see component-level complaint breakdowns and safety ratings.
Does the MERCEDES-BENZ SL550 have safety ratings?▼
NHTSA safety ratings (NCAP 5-star program) are available for many MERCEDES-BENZ SL550 model years from 2011 onward. Select a specific year to see front crash, side crash, and rollover ratings where available.
What are the most common MERCEDES-BENZ SL550 complaints?▼
NHTSA complaints for the MERCEDES-BENZ SL550 are categorized by component, common areas include engine, transmission, electrical system, airbags, and brakes. Select a model year for a detailed component-by-component breakdown.
How do I check if my MERCEDES-BENZ SL550 has been recalled?▼
Visit the year-specific page on PlainCars to see all recalls for your model year, or enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov for official recall status and available remedies.
Data sources

Data vintage: August 2026. 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.

Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. MERCEDES-BENZ SL550 totals are aggregated from the linked NHTSA model-year rows; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.