2007 Mercedes Benz SL550: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
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 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 10339966 · 2010-06-25 (June 25, 2010)
POWER ASSIST HYDRAULIC PUMP FAILED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 10,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10339966 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 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 10554964 · 2013-12-05 (December 5, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ SL550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE FAILED TO ENGAGE WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED THAT DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKING SYSTEM EXPERIENCED A TOTAL FAILURE. THE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 57,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10554964 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10671361 · 2015-01-09 (January 9, 2015)
ALMOST EXACTLY ONE YEAR AFTER DEALERSHIP "FIXED" THE SAME PROBLEM, THE BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE TOTALLY FAILED WHILE DRIVING. AFTER THE INITIAL FAILURE IN 2013, I WAS ASSURED THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS FIXED. I WAS VERY RETICENT, BUT DROVE THE CARE AGAIN. HOWEVER, BASED ON THE SECOND TOTAL FAILURE OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM, THE VEHICLE IS WORTHLESS. MERCEDES BENZ SAYS THEY HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM, BUT IT IS THE SAME ASSURANCE THEY GAVE ME THE FIRST TIME. THE CAR IS 2007 SL 550 WITH APPROXIMATELY 60K MILES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10671361 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10692093 · 2015-03-04 (March 4, 2015)
FREQUENTLY AND INTERMITTENTLY (NOT EVERY TIME) WHEN I START MY CAR'S ENGINE, THE SRS MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHT AND "TAKE CAR TO SERVICE FACILITY" MESSAGE DISPLAY APPEAR ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. WHEN THE SRS WARNING LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK, IRRESPECTIVE OF HOW THE WIPER CONTROLS ARE MANIPULATED (ONE SWIPE ... INTERMITTENT SWIPE ... SLOW SWIPE ... FAST SWIPE ... WINDSHIELD WASHER SQUIRTER). WHEN I TRY TURNING ON THE WIPERS WHILE THE SRS MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED, THE ROLL BAR MALFUNCTION ALERT …
Owner-reported narrative. 34,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10692093 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
22V168000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Engine Control Module (Ecu/Ecm):Software | Electronic Stability Control (Esc):Control Module:Software | Exterior Lighting:Lighting Control Module:Software
Reported: 2022-03-18 (March 18, 2022)
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2010 E350, 2014 G550, 2008-2009 C300, 2008 C350, 2009 CLK550, 2007 SL550, SLK280, and 2008 SLK350 vehicles. Various control units may have been updated with incorrect software configuration during a service repair. This can result in various system failures, such as loss of drive power, reduced exterior lighting, or loss of dynamic control functions, including stability and traction control.
Consequence: Various system failures, such as loss of drive power, reduced exterior lighting, or loss of dynamic control functions including stability and traction control, can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the software configuration on the affected control units, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 3, 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2022040003.
NHTSA campaign record ↗