2005 Mercedes Benz Sl500: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 22 complaints
22
Total Complaints
38,641mi
Median Mileage
SERVICE BRAKES
Top Issue
1
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

14,538 25th Percentile
38,641 Median Mileage
70,350 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

SERVICE BRAKES
6
POWER TRAIN
3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
3
SUSPENSION
2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
1
AIR BAGS
1
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
1
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
1
ENGINE
1

Severity Assessment

1
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 (2005), 4000 MILES. BRAKES FAILED. IT WOULD SEEM TO BE AN ELECTRICAL OR COMPUTER FAILURE OF SOME KIND. AUTO WAS SERVICED A WEEK AGO. HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH ELECTRICAL AND/ORL FEATURES FROM FIRST DAY OF PURCHASE. THE MOST DANGEROUS WAS TODAY'S BRAKE FAILURE. HAD TO PLACE CAR I..."
"MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 (2005), 4000 MILES. BRAKES FAILED. IT WOULD SEEM TO BE AN ELECTRICAL OR COMPUTER FAILURE OF SOME KIND. AUTO WAS SERVICED A WEEK AGO. HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH ELECTRICAL AND/ORL FEATURES FROM FIRST DAY OF PURCHASE. THE MOST DANGEROUS WAS TODAY'S BRAKE FAILURE. HAD TO PLACE CAR I..."
"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ SL500. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE THE DOOR HANDLE WOULD NOT FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE HANDLE ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 40282."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28