2007 Mercedes Benz SL550 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
16 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
42,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2007 model year. Data snapshot: . 13 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 16 complaints (37.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 7 | 43.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 18.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 12.5% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 6.3% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 6.3% |
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 | 6 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 |
| Suspension | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
Service Brakes: 6; Electrical System: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 2; Suspension: 2; Air Bags: 1; Engine: 1; Power Train: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 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 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 3 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 |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2007: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2013: 2; 2015: 2; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 4; 2022: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 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 10263273 · 2009-03-27 (March 27, 2009)
DEFECTIVE BRAKES AND ROTORS ON MERCEDES S550 WEAR AT UNACCEPTABLE RATE RESULTING IN THE MERCEDES BENZ OF SARASOTA SERVICE CENTER ADVISING THE S550 IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 25,298 miles reported. Look up ODI 10263273 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10496498 · 2013-02-05 (February 5, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES CL550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 300 YARDS WHEN A LOUD POP WAS HEARD UNDER THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THIS HAPPENED 3 WEEKS AFTER THE DEALER SAID THAT THE ABS SUSPENSION UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT JUST AS THEY PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THERE WAS ANOTHER LOUD POP AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE STARTED AT THE SHOCK UNDER THE WHEEL BASE OF THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPART…
Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10496498 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10204387 · 2007-09-28 (September 28, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ SL550. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. TWO MINUTES LATER, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT NO LONGER WANTED THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT ONLY HAD 80 MILES AND THE DEALER PROVIDED HIM WITH A NEW ONE. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80.
Owner-reported narrative. 80 miles reported. Look up ODI 10204387 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10437905 · 2011-11-30 (November 30, 2011)
THE INCIDENT I AM REPORTING IS ALMOST IDENTICAL TO THE COMPLAINT I READ ON YOUR WEB PAGE. I WAS ENROUTE TO THE MERCEDES DEALER SHIP TO PURCHASE A SWITCH FOR MY ELECTRIC WINDOWS. I HAD NOTICED ENROUTE THAT THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO NOT BE SHIFTING. I LOOKED DOWN TO SEE IF I HAD SOMEWAY MANUALLY SHIFTED DOWN. I HAD NOT AND WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE IT SEEMED I WAS IN SECOND GEAR. I WAS APPROX THREE BLOCKS FROM THE DEALERSHIP SO I SLOWED TO ABOUT 20 MPH. I STOPPED AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT IN FRONT OF THE DEALERSHIP AND WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED--THE VEH…
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10437905 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11082147 · 2018-03-30 (March 30, 2018)
THIS VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE ON ITS OWN WHILE PARKED IN A LOCKED GARAGE. THE FIRE WAS IN THE TRUNK AND INVOLVED VARIOUS ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL COMPONENTS AND WIRING HARNESSES. THE CAR FILLED WITH DENSE SMOKE WHICH COATED EVERYTHING WITH THICK SOOT. THE SMOKED SEEPED INTO EVERYTHING INCLUDING THE CLOSED CONSOLE COMPARTMENT AND GLOVE COMPARTMENT. I BELIEVE THE FIRE ITSELF DID NOT SPREAD BECAUSE OF A LACK OF OXYGEN AS THE CAR WAS PARKED WITH TOP FOLDING METAL TOP UP AND THE WINDOWS CLOSED. THE FIRE OCCURRED ON FEB. 16, 2018, AND WAS NOT DISCOV…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11082147 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11693184 · 2025-10-13 (October 13, 2025)
I purchased this vehicle in a private sale in September 2025. The battery Warning light was on and the radio was not working either. I had the vehicle inspected by the Mercedes dealer and was told the batteries were being drained because the BCM (Battery Control Module) I was told there was nothing they can do because Mercedes discontinued the replacement parts. So I started to investigate the BCM issue in this model and come to find out when they go bad the vehicles will get on fire, many owners around the world have posted the burned BCM & ca…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11693184 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11076437 · 2018-03-06 (March 6, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES-BENZ SL550. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED CATASTROPHIC BRAKE FAILURE. THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT HAD TO COAST THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD AND APPLY EXTREME FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AN EMERGENCY WARNING INDICATOR FLASHED AND VARIOUS OTHER WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE POWER STEERING BECAME DISABLED WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AND DISABLED THE ALARM SYSTEM FROM T…
Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11076437 at NHTSA ↗