2004 Mercedes-Benz SL500 problems
Owners have filed 64 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL500. Suspension is the most reported problem area, at 38% of complaints. After that come brakes (19%) and fuel system (14%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 64 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Suspension 38% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 5 and 4
- Injuries and deaths
- 8 and 2
- Typical mileage
- 61,000 miles 49 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 5 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 7 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 6 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 13 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 7 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 8 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 2 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 1 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 49 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 61,000 miles. For suspension specifically, the median reported mileage is about 56,000 miles (20 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 5 complaints mention a crash; 4 complaints mention a fire; 8 injuries reported; 2 deaths reported. Its complaints are more severe on average than those of 90% of model years in our database.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Addendum info to original complaint #10308437 shows that mb service advisor j. Steach advised m .b. Not responsible as driver should "miss" potholes. Engineering analysis shows that it is not possible for driver to steer around potholes. At 70MPH mb sl500 travels 103 ft/sec and it is not possible to observe the pothole hazard and categorize as safety risk at speeds of 70MPH(103ft/sec) react physiologically and actuate steering system -all in less than one second-one half second each for human response and same for…
Was traveling behind another vehicle at approximately 35 MPH around 6pm when traffic ahead begun to slow and stop for the traffic light signal a change, upon attempting to stop the ABS brake system failed and only gave a warning until after my vehicle rear ended the car in front of causing me bet thrown violently forward and backward which, gave rise to whiplash injury, damaging the front end of my vehicle and the rear end of the vehicle in front with similar injuries the driver of the vehicle in front of me.
Red abc warning light on. Suspension system in failure mode reducing road handling and vehicle control below minimum safety levels. Mb repair costs exceed blue book car value even though vehicle use less than half life. Lic. P.e #6274 notes mb design/engineering failure--intentional mal-design scheme set-up to defraud consumers of billions $.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 mercedes-benz sl500. The contact stated on various occasions while his vehicle was stationery and in park, either the right side or the left side of the vehicle would raise up then descend to ground over a thirty second period independently without warning. The contact also stated that the hydraulic fluid leaked out of the engine. The vehicle had yet to be taken to a dealer to be diagnosed or serviced for the failure.