2009 Mercedes Benz SL550: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
15 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
8,580 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 8 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 15 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 6 | 40.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 13.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 6.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 5 |
| Tires | 4 |
| Wheels | 4 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 |
| Structure | 1 |
| Structure:Body | 1 |
| Tires:Pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems | 1 |
Service Brakes: 5; Tires: 4; Wheels: 4; Electrical System: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 1; Structure: 1; Structure:Body: 1; Tires:Pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems: 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 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 7 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 |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2025 | 2 |
2010: 2; 2011: 3; 2012: 1; 2015: 1; 2017: 1; 2022: 5; 2025: 2
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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 10319393 · 2010-03-13 (March 13, 2010)
I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE MARCH 2009 AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 11 TIRES AND 2 WHEELS AND HAVE HAD 3 WHEELS REPAIRED. THIS IS DUE TO LOW PROFILE TIRES WHICH DEVELOP BULGES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10319393 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10358122 · 2010-09-28 (September 28, 2010)
UNKNOWN CAUSE, CRACKED AND BENT WHEEL RIMS, REPLACED WITH NEW. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 9,660 miles reported. Look up ODI 10358122 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10389952 · 2011-03-13 (March 13, 2011)
AT 2595 MILES,I NEEDED TO REPLACE 3 TIRES AND REPAIR 2 RIMS ON MY 2009 MERCEDES BENZ SL550;AT 7400 MILES,ANOTHER TIRE WITH A BULGE;AT 8000 MILES,3 MORE TIRES WITH BUBBLES...AWAITING MY SERVICE APPOINTMENT;AFAID TO DRIVE AND APPREHENSIVE TO CALL THE INSURANCE COMPANY FOR FEAR OF LOSING COVERAGE.THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OUT-NO TIRE WARRANTY AND THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT TELLS ME IT IS ME! MY CAR IS JUST TWO YEARS OLD AND HAS LESS THAN 8500 MILES ON IT.I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THIS MAKE/MODEL FOR 23 YEARS WITH NO PRIOR INCIDENT. THIS CAR WILL HAVE ITS …
Owner-reported narrative. 2,595 miles reported. Look up ODI 10389952 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10390176 · 2011-03-14 (March 14, 2011)
PREPARING TO PUT A THIRD SET OF TIRES ON MY MERCEDES BENZ SL550 @8500 MILES. ALREADY REPAIRED 2 RIMS.?! NO WARRANTY. 3 TIRES HAVE BUBBLES ON THEM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 7,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10390176 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10390177 · 2011-03-14 (March 14, 2011)
TIRE FAILURE--BULGING/RIM DAMAGE ;REPLACING THIRD SET OF TIRES AT 8500 MILES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 7,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10390177 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10450455 · 2012-03-06 (March 6, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ SL550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED INTO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BETWEEN 12/27/11 AND 12/28/11. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,892 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 15,000. UPDATED 03/28/12*LJ UPDATED 04/09/12 THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE FRONT GRILL, BUMPER AND RETRACTABLE ROOF W…
Owner-reported narrative. 13,892 miles reported. Look up ODI 10450455 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10700587 · 2015-03-20 (March 20, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ SL550. WHILE TRYING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, THE DOOR HANDLE FRACTURED AND ALL OF THE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED PREVENTING THE CONTACT FROM EXITING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMPUTER'S THEFT SYSTEM ENGAGED ONCE THE DOOR HANDLE FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10700587 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10945750 · 2017-01-17 (January 17, 2017)
MY CAR WAS PARKED AND I ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR AS I WAS SEATED IN DRIVER'S SEAT AND I HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE. THE DOOR LOCK MECHANISM HAS FAILED SUCH THAT THE DRIVER'S DOOR CAN NOT BE OPENED FROM THE INTERIOR WHICH PRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. DESPITE BEING COVERED BY AN EXTENDED A MERCEDES CPO WARRANTY MERCEDES REFUSES TO COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE ACROSS MANY MERCEDES MODELS INCLUDING THE R230 SL550. PART OF THE DOOR HANDLE ACTUATION MECHANISM IS MADE OF FRAGILE PLASTIC AND, OR NYLON THAT WEA…
Owner-reported narrative. 92,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10945750 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.