Mercedes-Benz SL550 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
29 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
31,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 to 2017 model years. Data snapshot: . 19 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 29 complaints (24.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 6 | 20.7% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 10.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 10.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 3.4% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 7 |
| Steering | 6 |
| Power Train | 5 |
| Wheels | 4 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Structure:Body | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
Engine: 7; Steering: 6; Power Train: 5; Wheels: 4; Air Bags: 2; Service Brakes: 2; Structure:Body: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2
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 | 9 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 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: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 10 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 |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 2 |
2014: 2; 2015: 2; 2016: 1; 2017: 2; 2018: 2; 2019: 3; 2020: 3; 2021: 6; 2022: 2; 2023: 1; 2024: 3; 2025: 2
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 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 11204099 · 2019-04-27 (April 27, 2019)
MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED IN 12/12. I TOOK MY CAR IN LAST YEAR BECAUSE SUDDENLY MY POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING ON ME. MY HUSBAND MAN-HANDLED THE STEERING AND DROVE IT 70 MILES TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP IN LUBBOCK, TX. THEY SAID IT WAS A COMPUTER ERROR AND HOOKED UP A DEVICE AND SAID THEY UPDATED THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE, NO PARTS REPLACED. TODAY, SUDDENLY MY POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING AGAIN. I READ ONLINE THERE IS A RECALL BUT MY VIN DOESN'T SHOW UP AS RECALLED. I CAN'T DRIVE IT BECAUSE NO POWER STEERING BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY IT SAYS IT CAN CA…
Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11204099 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11204106 · 2019-04-27 (April 27, 2019)
MY CAR HAD 30,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THE STEERING MECHANISM QUIT WORKING UP AND DOWN. IT TURNS OUT THE PROBLEM IS IN THE FORM OF IMPROPER INSTALLATION. THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE PART. PART NO. 231 460 02 31. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED AT THE FACTORY. THE TECHNICIAN OVER SHOT THE ADJUSTMENT LENGTH ON INSTALLATION, CAUSING THE POWER STEERING WHEEL ADJUSTMENT UP AND DOWN TO OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. IT GETS STUCK IN THE UP POSITION MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO EXIT THE CAR, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE A BIG PERSON. ALL MY HUSBAND HAD TO DO TO FIX IT WA…
Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11204106 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10745357 · 2015-07-31 (July 31, 2015)
ON JULY 10, 2015 DURING 5 PM TRAFFIC MY WIFE WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN FROM THE TURNING LANE INTO OUR COMPLEX WHERE WE LIVE, UPON MAKING HER LEFT TURN, SHE HAD TO CROSS TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC, BOTH LANES HAD STOPPED TO ALLOW HER THROUGH SAFELY, AS SHE WAS CLEARING THE SECOND LANE LOOKING AS SHE PROGRESSED, NO ONE WAS IN THE OUTER LANE TURNING INTO OUR COMPLEX, A MAN PULLED OUT OF LINE AND ATTEMPTED TO ALLUDE TRAFFIC BY GOING AROUND IT AND STRUCK HER CAR IN THE PASSENGER DOOR, HE NEVER HIT HIS BRAKES TO STOP AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE THROUGH A TUR…
Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10745357 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11320598 · 2020-04-08 (April 8, 2020)
JUN 2017: ANNUAL SERVICE. ASK TO HAVE BRAKES CHECKED BECAUSE BRAKE PEDAL WAS TRAVELLING DOWN TO THE FLOOR. JUN 2018: ANNUAL SERVICE. COMPLAINT: BRAKE PEDAL WOULD HIT THE FLOOR AND AS IT TRAVELED DOWN FURTHER, THE ENGINE ACCELERATION TICKED-UP, AT WHICH TIME I RELEASED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND RE-APPLIED THE BRAKES SUCCESSFULLY. JUN 2019: ANNUAL SERVICE: STRONG COMPLAINT: DITTO JUN 2018 EXCEPT AS THE BRAKE PEDAL APPROACHED THE FLOOR, THE ENGINE ACCELERATION WAS INCREASING. 12 MAR 2020: ACCIDENT: TIME 0645 AM PST, TRAVELING WEST-BOUND O…
Owner-reported narrative. 36,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11320598 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11144468 · 2018-10-31 (October 31, 2018)
MY VEHICLE HAS A CAM SEAL LEAK THAT LEAKED OIL INTO THE WIRING HARNESS AND WIRING HARNESS AND OTHER COMPONENTS NEED TO BE REPLACED -- THE BILL IS $10,800 --- THIS CAM SEAL WAS A RECALL ISSUE FOR THE C CLASS AND FROM WHAT I READ SEEMS TO BE THE SAME OR SIMILAR ISSUE --- NOT AN ORDINARY WEAR AND TEAR ISSUE - THIS IS SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE AND MERCEDES SHOULD FIX -- THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME IN AND THEY SAID ENGINE WOULD NOT HAVE STARTED AND I WOULD HAVE BEEN STRANDED -- IT IS CURRENTLY BEING FIXED AT THE DEALER AT MY EXPENSE
Owner-reported narrative. 74,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11144468 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11442087 · 2021-11-30 (November 30, 2021)
Cam sensor seals failed which leaked oil into the wire harness, O2 sensors, and ECM. This happens to be a common problem with M278 engine. The repair was $10,217 to fix this issue. The car would not pass emissions without this repair. Could oil into the electrical system pose a fire hazzard?
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11442087 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11021314 · 2017-09-04 (September 4, 2017)
TRAVELING ON I-5 IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC 0- 60 MPH WHEN TRANSMISSION STARTED SHIFTING ROUGHLY. IT THEN SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO SHIFTER INPUTS. I WAS IN THE SECOND LANE FROM THE RIGHT DOING 10 OR 15 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO FORCE MY WAY INTO THE RIGHT LANE AND OFF TO THE SHOULDER. I PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN SPORT AND PADDLE SHIFTER MODE WITH NO RESPONSE FROM THE SHIFT SELECTOR. THINKING THIS IS A COMPUTER PROBLEM I REBOOTED BY SHUTTING CAR OFF AND RESTARTING. ALL FUNCTIONS RETURNED TO NORMAL. TOOK TO DEALER WHERE I GOT VERY GOOD SER…
Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11021314 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
2011: 0; 2013: 3; 2014: 4; 2015: 3; 2016: 1; 2017: 1