NHTSA Data Explorer

Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG

Data refreshed May 30, 2026

Select a model year to filter results to that year of the Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG.

Complaints

99

Active records

Recalls

9

Active records

TSBs

105

Active records

Filing history

Monthly totals over the last 20 years. Click a legend item to show or hide that series.

Reported severity

Based on consumer complaints filed since 2000. Recalls and TSBs do not include severity data.

Deaths

0

Injuries

5

Crashes

4

Fires

9

Top reported issues — Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG

Click a category to expand its values.

Condition issue

42

Operating state

22

Engine behavior

15

Noise

15

Safety restraint issue

13

Braking behavior

12

Electrical issue

12

Thermal issue

12

Reporting mechanism

11

Ride/handling behavior

9

Safety restraint behavior

9

Access/entry issue

8

Fluid issue

6

Transmission/drivetrain behavior

6

Performance issue

5

Lighting behavior

4

Smell

4

Starting behavior

4

Steering behavior

3

Driver assistance issue

2

HVAC behavior

2

Infotainment behavior

1

Powering on/off behavior

1

Vibration/harshness

1

Recent filings

The 10 most recent filings for each type.

2007 MERCEDES BENZ SL55

Filed Feb 20, 2026


The contact owns a 2007 Mercedes-Benz SL55. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message Service Active Body Control was displayed on the instrument panel. In addition, the contact stated that prior to receiving the Active Body Control message, several fluid stains were found on the ground. The contact believed that the stains were hydraulic fluid. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with active body control failure, which caused the leak of…

2005 MERCEDES BENZ SL55

Filed Feb 22, 2024


The BCM in the SL class (Mercedes chassis code r230) fails very often. It catches fire and burns down vehicles in MANY instances. Mercedes is not selling a replacement part because they want to save money. THIS VEHICLE HAS AN ELECTRONIC ASSISTED BRAKING SYSTEM!!! The BCM balances battery loads in the vehicle. When it fails it can make any electronic system in the car malfunction or simply not work. This could be as simple as the car not starting or as severe as it burning down your ENTIRE…

2003 MERCEDES BENZ SL55

Filed Nov 27, 2023


Fire

The battery control module (known as the BCM or BNS) failed, triggering a fire. The incident occurred while the vehicle was parked in a garage and had not been operated for several weeks. The fire consumed the module, insulation on wiring connected to and close to the module, part of the trunk lining material, and burned through a total of five hydraulic lines (retractable roof hydraulics). It appears that the trunk seal limited air to the point that the fire was self extinguished. This is…

2003 MERCEDES BENZ SL55

Filed Apr 29, 2023


Fire

It appears the BCM (Battery Control Module) caught fire and burned a significant portion of the trunk and associated wiring.

2003 MERCEDES BENZ SL55

Filed Apr 28, 2023


My car (the SL55 and all SL models) has a Battery Control Module (BCM) also referred to as the Battery Stabilization Control Load Module which shows signs of imminent failure which will lead to a meltdown or fire. I inspected the module after finding that this was a common problem with these cars online. This model of car has been documented to completely catch on fire, even when parked after driving. I have pictures of the burnt board inside my BCM. I am very concerned as it could literally…

2005 MERCEDES BENZ SL55

Filed Jun 29, 2021


The contact owns a 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL55. The contact stated that the odor of fuel was present inside the cabin of the vehicle and inside the garage. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the fuel tank was cracked and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The cause of the crack was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 53,000.

2004 MERCEDES BENZ SL55

Filed Feb 15, 2019


THE VEHICLE HAS 70000 MILES AND ON JANUARY 10, 2019 I WAS APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT AND SUDDENLY WITH NO WARNING (UNTIL AFTER THE FACT ) HAD NO BRAKES, FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO ACCELERATE THROUGH THE LIGHT IMMEDIATELY AFTER BRAKE WARNING LIGHT AND BEEPING. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE ON THE ROADSIDE. CODES INDICATED FAILED SBC.

2003 MERCEDES BENZ SL55

Filed Aug 26, 2015


PLASTIC PIECE ON GEARSHIFT ASSEMBLY BROKE NOT ALLOWING CAR TO BE PLACED IN GEAR. IS APPARENTLY A PROBLEM WITH 1000'S OF THESE CARS BASED ON INTERNET SEARCH. CONTACTED MERCEDES AND THEY SAID NOT THEIR PROBLEM. THEY CHARGE $1300.00 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY STATED TO SAVE MONEY ON THIS PART BEING REPLACED TO TAKE A MALLET AND FINISH BREAKING PIECE THEREBY RENDERING CHILD SAFETY FEATURE USELESS. APPARENTLY LOOKING AT THE INTERNET THIS IS WHAT 1000'S OF PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY DONE. HOW MERCEDES…

2003 MERCEDES BENZ SL

Filed May 13, 2014


IGNITION SHUT OFF MULTIPLE TIMES OVER DAYS WHILE DRIVING CUTTING OFF ALL ELECTRICAL RADIO, BRAKES STEERING ETC HAS HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SINCE 2004 OR 2005 WITH BATTERY SUDDENLY BEING DEAD BOTH ACCESSORY BATTERY IN TRUNK AND STARTING BATTERY AND HAS HAD MANY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS SPENT ON VARIOUS PARTS AND COMPUTERS THAT WERE SAID TO BE DRAWING DOWN THE BATTERY, ABOUT A YEAR AGO CONTACTED PRESIDENT OF MB NORTH AMERICA AND GOT NO HELP FROM CUSTOMER REP THEN LAST MONTH CAR LEFT ME IN…

2006 MERCEDES BENZ SL

Filed Apr 5, 2014


I WAS DRIVING A 2006 SL65. THE CAR HAD AN ELECTRONIC BRAKING SYSTEM. THUS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS CONNECTED TO A SENSOR WHICH WAS CONNECTED TO A PUMP WHICH TURNED THE BRAKES ON. SOMETHING FAILED. THERE WERE NO BRAKES! LUCKILY I DID NOT CRASH DESPITE BEING ON A CHICAGO CITY STREET. I WAS PROBABLY ON THE ONLY STREET WHERE I WOULD NOT HAVE CRASHED. THERE WAS A PRIOR RECALL ON OLDER SLS FOR THIS PROBLEM THAT WAS SUPPOSEDLY REMEDIED BUT THIS SHOULD BE A NEVER EVENT. THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. I…

Data sourced from NHTSA's public datasets. Issue classifications are generated by Repair Surge. About this data.

Updated May 30, 2026. Refreshed nightly.