2003 Mercedes Benz SL500: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
80 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
62,859 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 67 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 34 of 80 complaints (42.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 17 | 21.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 16 | 20.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 8.8% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 7.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.3% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Suspension | 34 |
| Electrical System | 10 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 9 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 8 |
| Service Brakes | 8 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 6 |
| Steering | 6 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 5 |
Suspension: 34; Electrical System: 10; Fuel System, Gasoline: 9; Fuel/Propulsion System: 8; Service Brakes: 8; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 6; Steering: 6; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 5
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 | 13 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 29 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 14 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 29; 75,000 to 99,999: 14; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (29). 13 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 | 2 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 7 |
| 2011 | 7 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2014 | 12 |
| 2015 | 10 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 3 |
2007: 2; 2008: 4; 2009: 1; 2010: 7; 2011: 7; 2012: 5; 2013: 7; 2014: 12; 2015: 10; 2016: 5; 2017: 4; 2018: 1; 2019: 4; 2020: 1; 2021: 3; 2022: 4; 2023: 3
Pattern summary
Suspension leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 17 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 16 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 7 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10195548 · 2007-07-07 (July 7, 2007)
VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN LESS THAN 52,000 MILES AND BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS HAVE REQUIRED REPLACEMENT APPROXIMATELY 2 MONTHS APART. RETRACTABLE HOOD HAS NOW FAILED. CONCERNED THAT FAULTY DESIGN IN CATALYTIC CONVERTERS WILL CAUSEREPEAT FAILURES IN FUTURE. CONCERNED THAT RETRACTABLE HOOD FAILURE IS SIGN OF ADDITIONAL DESIGN FLAWS WITH THIS VEHICLE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 51,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10195548 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10204788 · 2007-10-03 (October 3, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ SL500. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. WHEN THE BRAKES FINALLY BEGAN TO OPERATE, THE ABS, COOLANT, AND ESP LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, BUT NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 17,889.
Owner-reported narrative. 17,889 miles reported. Look up ODI 10204788 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10226101 · 2008-04-30 (April 30, 2008)
2003 MERCEDES BENZ SL500 - BAFFLE BREAKS FREE WITHIN GAS TANK SEEMINGLY CAUSING A SAFETY HAZARD. MERCEDES DOES NOT REPLACE THE TANK FOR FREE IN ALL CASES. GAS TANK NEEDED REPLACED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 44,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10226101 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10231312 · 2008-06-17 (June 17, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ SL500. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTS TO USE THE TRUNK, THE TRUNK LID FALLS IMMEDIATELY BACK DOWN. THIS PREVENTS HIM FROM BEING ABLE TO USE THE TRUNK AT ALL. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TRUNK LID WOULD SLIGHTLY FALL WHEN PLACED IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,300 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10231312 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10240547 · 2008-09-01 (September 1, 2008)
IGNITION FAILURE, NO KEYS WORK TO START THE VEHICLE (IT DOESN'T RECOGNIZE THE KEYS) CAR HAD TO BE PUT ON A FLATBED TRUCK AND SENT TO DEALER FOR REPAID. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 21,123 miles reported. Look up ODI 10240547 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10240914 · 2008-09-04 (September 4, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ SL500. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE TRUNK. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE BAFFLES IN THE GAS TANK FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE RATTLING IN THE GAS TANK. THE GAS TANK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE DEALER REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME FAILURE. HE BELIEVES A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 65,000…
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10240914 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10272790 · 2009-06-03 (June 3, 2009)
2003 MERCEDES BENZ 500SL DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE CAR JUST DROPPED DOWN , THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL SYSTEM FAILED IT RUINED THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE THE CAR DOES NOT EVEN HAVE 50,000 MILES ON IT. IT'S HARD TO GET IT TOWED. IT IS VERY LOW AND IT CAN CAUSE A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT , THE FUNNY THING WAS THE NEXT DAY STARTED THE CAR UP THE CAR CAME UP BUT KNOWING MY UNDERCARRIAGE IS DESTROYED . I HAD COUPLE INCIDENTS HAPPEN TO MEN LUCK I WAS NOT ON THE FREEWAY. IT ALSO THROWS YOUR ALIGNMENT OUT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 49,820 miles reported. Look up ODI 10272790 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10318907 · 2010-03-11 (March 11, 2010)
MERCEDES-BENZ BUILT BAFFLES INSIDE THE FUEL TANK TO PREVENT FUEL SLOSHING NOISE DURING STOP AND GO MOTION. THESE BAFFLES WERE POORLY DESIGNED AND WEAKLY WELDED INTO PLACE RESULTING IN THEM COMING LOOSE AND BANGING AROUND INSIDE THE FUEL TANK. BEING A SMALL CONVERTIBLE AND GIVEN THAT FUEL TANK IS IMMEDIATELY BEHIND PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, END RESULT IS A VERY LOUD BANGING NOISE MAKING DRIVING A SLOW TORTURE. ASIDE FROM IRRITATING LOUD BANGING NOISE THERE IS ALSO A POTENTIAL OF EXPLOSION SINCE THIS IS A MOVING METAL PART INSIDE A METAL FUEL TANK C…
Owner-reported narrative. 70,739 miles reported. Look up ODI 10318907 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.