2004 Mercedes-Benz SL500 vs 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL500
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL500 | 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL500 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 44 | 19 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 48 | 56 |
| Investigations | 1 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 4 | 1 |
| Fire reports | 3 | 2 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 17 | 17 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 76,000 mi | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Mercedes-Benz SL500 | Mercedes-Benz SL500 |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 21 | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 9 | 6 |
| Electrical System | 4 | 4 |
| Power Train | 3 | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 5 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 4 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 | 2 |
| Wheels | 3 | 0 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Clunking / rattling | 5 | 0 |
2004 Mercedes-Benz SL500
2005 Mercedes-Benz SL500
Compare all Mercedes-Benz SL500 vs Mercedes-Benz SL500 years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.