2004 Mercedes Benz SL600: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
4 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
63,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 4 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 50.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 50.0% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 25.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 25.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 1 |
Electrical System: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 1; Service Brakes: 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 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 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 |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2010: 1; 2014: 1; 2023: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 2 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 10341914 · 2010-07-07 (July 7, 2010)
KNOCKING NOISE BEGIN TO APPEAR BEHIND THE DRIVER'S SEAT. AT FIRST, BELIEVED TO BE LOOSE ITEM IN THE TRUNK BUT CHECK AND CAN'T FIND. LOOKED AT FORUM AND FOUND THAT MANY 2003/2004 MERCEDES BENZ SL CLASS HAS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH DEFECTIVE GAS TANK BAFFLE. WHENEVER I BRAKE OR ACCELERATE, I HEAR THE KNOCKING NOISE, WHICH ALSO KNOCKS TWO OR THREE TIMES EVERYTIME I BRAKE OR ACCELERATE. IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING IS HANGING FROM A STRING OR FLOATING AND THEN BECAUSE OF INERTIA IT KNOCKS AGAINST THE SIDE OF A CONTAINER. THE HAZARD THAT I FEAR IS THA…
Owner-reported narrative. 86,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10341914 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10614504 · 2014-07-18 (July 18, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ SL600. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,100.
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10614504 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11557421 · 2023-11-29 (November 29, 2023)
Mercedes SL600 BCM has electrical issues leading to a fire it is available for inspection. The car can burn down in a garage putting me and all others in or near the dwelling at risk. Yes the problem has been confirmed independently. No BCM issues lead to red light on dash.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11557421 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11702808 · 2025-12-03 (December 3, 2025)
The safety component that is covered under the SBC warranty is the entire brake master cylinder specifically the part that is bad is the brake pedal position sensor The car is undriveable without it, they have a 25-year warranty on it yet they have no parts and no way to fix it which is obviously unacceptable they've also refused to provide a loaner car until they come up with a way to fix my car leaving me on the side of the road with nothing to drive it's unacceptable! My safety and everybody's safety on the road is affected by this because …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11702808 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.