2006 Mercedes Benz SL500: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
13 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
54,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 11 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 13 complaints (30.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 5 | 38.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 7.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 7.7% |
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 | 4 |
| Service Brakes | 3 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Fog Lights | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 1 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 |
Suspension: 4; Service Brakes: 3; Electrical System: 1; Exterior Lighting:Fog Lights: 1; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 1; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 1; Power Train: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 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 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 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 |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 |
2006: 2; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2013: 2; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2019: 1; 2020: 2
Pattern summary
Suspension leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10151328 · 2006-02-27 (February 27, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 30MPH, THE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY UNLOCKED AND THE PASSENGER'S DOOR CAME OPEN; HOWEVER NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS.
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10151328 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10161807 · 2006-07-07 (July 7, 2006)
HID HEADLIGHTS SHOULD BE BANNED FROM THE ROADS. THERE IS NO WAY THE BENEFITS OF ALLOWING ONE CAR TO SUPPOSEDLY SEE BETTER AT NIGHT OUTWEIGH THE RISKS TO EVERY ONCOMING CAR THEY ENCOUNTER. THESE LIGHTS SHOULD AT LEAST BE OUTLAWED AND IDEALLY, MANUFACTURERS SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL VEHICLES AND REIMBURSE THE CONSUMER FOR THE COSTS OF THE LIGHTS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10161807 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10255378 · 2009-01-16 (January 16, 2009)
CHANGE TIRE AND JACK WOULD NOT HOLD IT WEIGHT AND BUCKLED INWARD DEALER AND MERCEDES BENZ NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY THAT THE JACK NEED TO BE RECALL AND PAY FOR THE DAMAGE CAUSE BY THE DROP DUE TO JACK FAILURE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 12,550 miles reported. Look up ODI 10255378 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10299007 · 2010-01-11 (January 11, 2010)
I HAVE A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ SL500. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE WHICH WERE ALL COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. ON 12-6-2009 I HAD A TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. LUCKILY I WAS IN A STOPPED POSITION AND THE CAR STARTED MOVING FORWARD. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS FULL PRESSED TO THE FLOOR AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DID NOT WORK. MERCEDES BENZ OF GREENWAY PLAZA(HOUSTON) [phone removed] DID THE REPAIR. I WAS ADVISED BY KEVIN GRAVES(MY SERVICE ADVISOR) THAT THERE WAS A RECALL AND ALL REPAIRS WERE COVERED UNDER A EXTENDED RECALL WARRANTY. ON 1-7-2010 THE EXAC…
Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10299007 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10502144 · 2013-03-08 (March 8, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ SL500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 33,500. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 33,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10502144 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10515546 · 2013-06-06 (June 6, 2013)
WE BOUGHT A GOOD CAR SO THE CAR CAN LAST WITH FEW ISSUES BUT WE HAVE HAD LOTS OF MAINTENANCE ON THIS CAR AND LAST ONE WAS THE MALFUNCTION OF THE SUSPENSION AND THIS COST US OVER $1800 TO GET FIX. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM FROM MERCEDES BENZ AS LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE FIX FOR THE CONSUMER. MY CAR ONLY HAS 43K MILES AND WE HAVE REPLACED 3 SETS OF TIRES AND IT IS SO EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE. WE HAVE OTHER MAJOR ISSUES WITH TIRE PRESSURE ERRORS AND HAVE TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE MANY TIMES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10515546 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10663955 · 2014-12-12 (December 12, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ SL500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, A LOUD NOISE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE AND THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MERGED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V405000 (SUSPENSION). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10663955 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10787102 · 2015-10-29 (October 29, 2015)
WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED ON, THE SRS LIGHT COMES ON, THE ROLLBAR LIGHT ON, COMMAND CENTER OFF/ON/OFF/ON, WINDSHIELD WIPERS DON'T WORK, SEAT WARMERS/COOLERS INOP, AUTO HEADLIGHTS INOP.....ALL THESE PROBLEMS ARE CONNECTED AND INTERMITTENT. READING THROUGHT THE MB FORUM AND MBWORLD FORUM, MANY SL OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING AND IT ALL SEEMS TO POINT TO THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH. I WROTE A LETTER TO MB IN JANUARY 2015 AND THEY DIDN'T WANT TO HELP. MY INDEPENDENT DEALER IMMEDIATELY TOLD ME IT WAS THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH (THEY…
Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10787102 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.