2013 Mercedes-Benz SL550: complaints, problems and recalls

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES BENZ SL550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE PADDLE SHIFTERS WERE OPERATED AND THE CONNECTOR PLATE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. ON ANOTHER OCCASION THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10558190 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES BENZ SL550. WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE NEEDED AIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE WHEELS WERE REMOVED AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES WERE CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,472. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Owner-reported narrative. 14,472 miles reported. Look up ODI 10749993 at NHTSA ↗

TIRE WAS LOSING 1-2 POUNDS OF AIR A DAY. TOOK TO COSTCO TO FIX WHAT I BELIEVED WAS A TIRE LEAK. UPON EXAM COSTCO FOUND THAT WHEEL HAD A CRACK IN IT THAT WAS CAUSING PROBLEM AND TOLD ME THAT THEY SEE SEVERAL OF THESE CRACKS EACH YEAR ON MERCEDES. I THEN TOOK CAR TO MERCEDES DEALER AND BOUGHT A NEW WHEEL. MERCEDES WOULD NOT WARRANTY WHEEL ALTHO CAR STILL UNDER WARRANTY SAY I MUST HAVE CAUSED CRACK. I NEVER HIT ANYTHING THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE CRACK. MERCEDES DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE WAS BO EVIDENCE OF ANY DAMAGE TO WHEEL OR TIRE. …

Owner-reported narrative. 33,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10981492 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

THE CAR SUDDENLY SLOW DOWN IN HIGHWAY GOES TO LIMP MODE FOR EXAMPLE FROM 69 TO 35 MILES IS VERY DANGEROUS I HAVE TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11109568 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

Reported: 2013-11-01 (November 1, 2013)

Mercedes-Benz (Mercedes) is recalling certain model year 2013 SL63, SL550, and SL65 vehicles manufactured January 16, 2013, through April 30, 2013. The affected vehicles are equipped with an occupant classification system (OCS) that may not detect a very light person sitting in the front passenger seat.

Consequence: If the OCS does not detect a very light person sitting in the seat, the passenger side air bag would be turned off. In the event of a crash necessitating side air bag deployment, the passenger would be at an increased risk of injury.

Remedy: Mercedes will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side seat cushion including the OCS. The recall began on December 20, 2013. Owners may contact Mercedes at 1-201-573-0600.

Reported: 2016-12-14 (December 14, 2016)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 SL550, 2013-2014 SL63 AMG, 2014-2016 E350, 2014 E350 Cabriolet, E350 Coupe, 2014-2015 S550, 2015 E350 Bluetec, 2015-2016 E400, 2016 E550 Coupe, and Maybach S600 vehicles manufactured August 23, 2012, to August 14, 2015. The affected vehicles use an electric power steering system that may have improperly soldered contacts inside the control unit, potentially resulting in the power steering system deactivating while driving.

Consequence: If the control unit pins lose connection, there would be a loss of electric power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash. The increase in pin contact resistance can also increase the risk of a fire, even while the vehicle is parked and ignition is off.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electric power steering control unit, free of charge. The recall began October 13, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

Reported: 2019-11-01 (November 1, 2019)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2013-2017 vehicles due to a software fault that may cause the date and time for the emergency call system (eCall) to differ from the actual date and time, potentially relaying an inaccurate vehicle location. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V787-4620.pdf

Consequence: An inaccurate vehicle location may delay emergency responders, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: MBUSA has initiated an Over the Air (OTA) remote update. MBUSA will also notify owners, and dealers will check software for a successful OTA or update the communication module software as needed, free of charge. The recall began December 23, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2019120008.