Total Complaints
4 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ SL550 · model year
2017 MERCEDES-BENZ SL550
4 NHTSA complaints, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2017MERCEDES-BENZSL550 carries 4 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 2017 SL550 is steering with 1 filings, followed by electrical system (1) and 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. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, 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 2017 SL550. 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.
4
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 |
|---|---|
| STEERING | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
Recalls (1)
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
20250530POWER TRAIN
When pulling into an intersection after stopping at a 3-way stop the car unexpectedly went into neutral gear. An oncoming car had to stop suddenly to avoid a collision. I was able to shift the car back to drive and got it home. Now the car will not start and there's a warning message on the dash saying to get the car to a dealer. The car is now at the Mercedes dealer. Apparently the problem exists on other Mercedes models.
20220803SERVICE BRAKES
2007 MERCEDES BENZ SL500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO BRAKE FAILURE. THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE ROLLED THROUGH THE STOP SIGN. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKING CONTROL. THE VEHICLE FAULT CODES WERE 5611, C26DE, C26BB, AND C25D5. THE CODES WERE CLEARED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DECLINED TO ASSIST UNTIL THE FAILURE RECCURED, LEAVING THE BRAKE FAILURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY.
20210302ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2017 MERCEDES BENZ SL 550. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE PRE SAFE OPTION ON VEHICLE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATES THE SAFETY BELTS TIGHTEN RESTRICTING AND DISTRACTING THE DRIVER WHEN IT IS UNNECESSARY TO DO SO. THE FAILURE OCCURS IN ONE PARTICULAR SPOT WHERE TWO METAL PLATES OVERLAP IN THE STREET. *JS
20210123STEERING
STEERING WHEEL STUCK IN UP POSITION. IT WOULD NOT ADJUST TO THE PRESET UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE. FOUND A FIX ONLINE TURNED OFF THE EASY ENTRY/EXIT FEATURE AND HAD TO SLAP THE WHEEL DOWNWARD TO GET IT UNSTUCK. IF THIS HAPPENS IN MOTION IT COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF CONTROL AND DRIVING WITH THE WHEEL IN FULL UP POSITION BLOCKS THE INSTRUMENTS.
Mileage: 42,675
Compare 2017MERCEDES-BENZSL550 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2017 MERCEDES-BENZ SL550 have?▼
The 2017 MERCEDES-BENZ SL550 has 4 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2017 MERCEDES-BENZ SL550?▼
Yes, the 2017 MERCEDES-BENZ SL550 has 1 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 2017 MERCEDES-BENZ SL550?▼
The most-complained component for the 2017 MERCEDES-BENZ SL550 is STEERING with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and SERVICE BRAKES.
Is the 2017 MERCEDES-BENZ SL550 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.