2005 Mercedes-Benz SL Class Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL Class, and owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL Class
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Service brakes, hydraulic
On certain vehicles, the sensotronic brake control (sbc) system may prematurely shift to the hydraulic back-up function mode, due to deterioration of the wiring harness connection, or due to premature failure of the hydraulic pump.
Remedy: Dealers will install a bracket and replacement ground wire to the sbc pump unit on all vehicles free of charge. Additionally dealers will inspect and replace the sbc pump unit in sl vehicles produced during a limited…
2 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL Class have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a crash. Reports cite 1 injury and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 26,791 miles. Complaints peaked in 2007 with 1 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Tl*the contact owns a 2005 mercedes sl600. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the preceding vehicle stopped abrubptly. The contact depressed the brake pedal; however, the vehicle did not slow down or”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 15, 2008 · Vehicle speed control
“2005 mercedez benz c230 sport type has a low front end. In florida when you park in a public parking lot the front of the car is against a concrete tire stop. You are going out for the evening with an”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 5, 2007 · Suspension
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class (SL500, SL55 AMG, SL600, SL65 AMG). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 13–17 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 11–14 / 18–21 |
| Fuel | Premium |
| EPA class | Two Seaters |
| Engine | 8/12 cyl, 5/5.4/5.5/6 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (S5); Automatic 5-spd; Automatic 7-spd |
Compare Mercedes-Benz SL Class model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Mercedes-Benz SL Class model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 Mercedes-Benz SL Class | 2 | 2 |
| 1997 Mercedes-Benz SL Class | 1 | 2 |
| 1998 Mercedes-Benz SL Class | 0 | 12 |
| 2002 Mercedes-Benz SL Class | 0 | 1 |
| 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL Class | 3 | 9 |
| 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL Class | 3 | 3 |
| 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL Class | 1 | 2 |
| 2006 Mercedes-Benz SL Class | 1 | 0 |
| 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL Class | 1 | 0 |
| 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL Class | 1 | 0 |
Checking a specific 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL Class
How do I know if my 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL Class has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL Class; your car may already have been repaired under it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Mercedes-Benz dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 05V133000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Mercedes-Benz models
- C3003,469 complaints
- E3502,170 complaints
- E3201,164 complaints
- ML350952 complaints
- GLK350904 complaints
- ML320742 complaints
- C250726 complaints
- C230657 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.