2003 Mercedes Benz SL CLASS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
9 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
14,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 7 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 9 complaints (22.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 22.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 22.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 11.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 11.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 |
| Suspension | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Back Over Prevention:Warnings:External/Pedestrian Alert | 1 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 1 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 2; Suspension: 2; Air Bags: 1; Back Over Prevention:Warnings:External/Pedestrian Alert: 1; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:Wiring: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 2 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
2003: 2; 2004: 2; 2005: 3; 2008: 1; 2013: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10086211 · 2004-08-05 (August 5, 2004)
HYDRAULIC BRAKE FAILURE, TOTALLY UNEXPECTED. CAR IS A MARCEDES BENZ SL500, 2003. ONLY 8,500 K. ON 6-24-04, MB ISSUED A SAFETY BULLETIN (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NO. 04V296000)MB HAS NOT NOTIFIED OWNERS LIKE ME. I RUN A 4-WAY STOP SIGN AND A LARGE PICK-UP TRUCK WAS WITHIN 1 OR 2 FEET FROM HITTING ME ON THE DRIVERS' SIDE. IWAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR ABOUT 50 YARDS AFTER THE STOP SIGN. MESSAGGE --IN RED LETTERS IN THE DASHBOARD-- WICH SAID "REDUCED BRAKE EFFECT. VISIT WORKSHOP".. I WAS NOT INJURED PHYSICALLY, BUT THIS WAS A NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE. THIS H…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10086211 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10553115 · 2013-11-20 (November 20, 2013)
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ABOUT 1/2 MILE FROM OUR HOUSE WHEN THE BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED. SHE WAS ON A BACK ROAD AND HAD TO BRAKE FOR A STOP SIGN. SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TO AVOID REAR ENDING A CAR STOPPED AT THE STOP SIGN, AND FINALLY BRING THE CAR TO A STOP. THE BRAKES STARTED TO WORK WITH ABOUT 1" OF PEDAL FROM THE FLOOR. SHE SAID IT WAS SO HARD TO PUSH ON THE PEDAL THAT SHE COULD BARELY DO IT. LUCKILY SHE WAS NOT HURT. HAD THIS HAPPENED ON A MAJOR ROAD OR HIGHWAY THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. APPARENT…
Owner-reported narrative. 71,525 miles reported. Look up ODI 10553115 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10031228 · 2003-08-15 (August 15, 2003)
THE HEATER MOTOR HAD BLOWN OUT. THE VEHICLE BOX CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK THE FIRE MELTED THE MELTED THE WIRING HARNESS. *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 2,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10031228 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10095713 · 2004-10-13 (October 13, 2004)
THE VEHICLE (2003 MB SLK320) WAS PURCHASED ON 4/14/2004 IN AZ AND BEGAN NOTICING PROBLEMS ON THE DRIVE BACK TO NM. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT SAFETY PROBLEM INVOLVES THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH HAS BEEN SERVICED BY THE MANUFACTURER 8 TIMES WITHOUT RESOLUTION. THE VEHICLE SLIPS IN AND OUT OF GEAR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE HAS SPENT A TOTAL OF OVER 68 DAYS IN THE SHOP FOR UNSATISFACTORY REPAIRS IN A ONE-YEAR PERIOD. TO THIS DATE, THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN UNCOOPERATIVE IN RESOLVING THESE PROBLEMS FORCING ME TO SEEK LEGAL SERVICES.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 9,132 miles reported. Look up ODI 10095713 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10225603 · 2008-04-24 (April 24, 2008)
NO INCIDENT. WAS DRIVING AND AS I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY, HEARD BUMPING SOUND FROM CAR. ASKED MERCEDES WHAT IT WAS, THEY SAID LOOSE BAFFLE IN GAS TANK. SOUNDS LIKE MANUFACTURING DEFECT. CHECKED ONLINE AND FOUND MANY OTHERS WITH SAME PROBLEM. IT IS A COSTLY REPAIR JUST OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY PERIOD. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 43,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10225603 at NHTSA ↗