2003 Mercedes-Benz SL Class Problems
- Complaints
- 9filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 14,000miles, 7 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 3campaigns on record
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL Class (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
NHTSA recorded 9 consumer complaints for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL Class. The part named most often is brakes, with 3 complaints (33% of the total), followed by electrical system (2) and engine cooling (2). 7 of the complaints include a mileage, and 86% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 14,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 1 a fire, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 12 technical service bulletins for this model year. Brakes complaints overlap with 2 recall campaigns and 6 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Electrical system complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign and 3 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Brakes3 33%
- Electrical system2 22%
- Engine cooling2 22%
- Body and structure2 22%
- Suspension2 22%
- Air bags1 11%
- Exterior lighting1 11%
- Fuel system1 11%
Also reported: Interior lighting (1), Tires (1), Transmission and drivetrain (1), Vehicle speed control (1).
Example complaints
Brakes: “My wife was driving about 1/2 mile from our house when the brakes completely failed. She was on a back road and had to brake for a stop sign. She was able to pull off on the side of the road, to avoid rear ending a car stopped at the stop sign, and finally bring the car to a stop. The brakes started to work with about 1 of pedal from the floor. She said it was so hard to push on the pedal that she could barely do it. Luckily she was not hurt. Had this happened on a major road or highway the results could have been catastrophic. …”
NHTSA complaint #10553115, filed 2013-11, 71,525 milesElectrical system: “The vehicle (2003 mb slk320) was purchased on 4/14/2004 in az and began noticing problems on the drive back to nm. The most significant safety problem involves the transmission, which has been serviced by the manufacturer 8 times without resolution. The vehicle slips in and out of gear at highway speeds. The vehicle has spent a total of over 68 days in the shop for unsatisfactory repairs in a one-year period. To this date, the manufacturer has been uncooperative in resolving these problems forcing me to seek legal services.”
NHTSA complaint #10095713, filed 2004-10, 9,132 milesEngine cooling: “2003 mercedes benz slk 320 experiencing problems with hesitation when the accelerator is depressed. On one occasions when the consumer attempted to apply the gas the vehicle did not move for a few seconds and then all of a sudden the vehicle lurched forward and the consumer hit another vehicle. The there was also a rattle in the exhaust.”
NHTSA complaint #10117517, filed 2005-03Body and structure: “In the right door panel there is a glue that seals the panels together. This glue gives off toxic fumes. Consumer's wife is currently seeing a neurologist for problems suffered from inhaling the fumes. The manufacturer and the dealer have been notified.”
NHTSA complaint #10039715, filed 2003-09, 14,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
86% of the 7 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 9,132 and 23,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Recalls and investigations
- 08V303000Jul 7, 2008Electrical systemCovers: Mercedes-Benz SL Class 2003–2004, 2006, 2009, SLK 2005–2009, E Class 2003–2006 +13 more
Mercedes-benz is recalling my 2006-2008 m-class, r-class, my 2005-2009 slk-class, my 2005-2008 c-class, my 2003-2004 and 2006-2008 clk-class, my 2003-2008 e-class, my 2004 and 2008 cl-class, my 2008 cls-class, my 2004 and 2007-2008 s-class, my 2003 g-class…
- 05V133000Apr 1, 2005Service brakes, hydraulicCovers: Mercedes-Benz SL Class 2003–2005, E Class 2003–2005, CLS Class 2006
On certain vehicles, the sensotronic brake control (sbc) system may prematurely shift to the hydraulic back-up function mode, due to deterioration of the wiring harness connection, or due to premature failure of the hydraulic pump.
- 04V296000Jun 22, 2004Service brakes, hydraulicCovers: Mercedes-Benz SL Class 2003–2004, E Class 2003–2005
On certain vehicles, the electronic monitoring system of the sensotronic brake control (sbc) is designed to monitor the pressure gradient within the high pressure line of the brake system. If an unacceptable pressure gradient is detected, the system will…
Recall details for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL Class → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 12 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 10030939Jul 31, 2009Brakes. Mercedes: parktronic intermittently not functioning. The function works again after a short time or distance. When the foot operated parking brake is applied, the parktronic system is deactivated…
- 10030941Jul 6, 2009Electrical system. Mercedes: cracking noise from the area of the instrument panel/firewall when cornering, during throttle lift off and on uneven roads. Stress at the spot welds on the firewall to the right of the…
- 10030929Jun 15, 2009Brakes. Mercedes: corrosion protection coatings for brake components and hardware may be damaged and or stripped away if highly concentrated acid based cleaners are used. Once the corrosion protection is…
- 10030964Jun 5, 2009Brakes, Other or unknown. Mercedes: the limited warranty on the sbc hydraulic unit for models 211, model 219 and models 230 was extended from the original 4 years/50,000 miles to 10 years with no mileage limitation. The sbc…
- 10019993May 1, 2006Electrical system. A potential malfunction which could render the secondary air injection pump relay inoperable thereby affecting the proper operation of the secondary air injection pump.
- 10016632Apr 1, 2006Electrical system. The alternator regulator may fail to prevent voltage values ranging beyond the specified tolerance limits.
- 10019128Jan 10, 2006Suspension. Steering wheel twitch during brake application. Various models including mercedes benz 2006 model 230.
- 10019138Jan 1, 2006Body and structure. Penetration of water into the vario (hardtop) roof.
- 10018832Jan 1, 2006Brakes. Inspect sbc suction hose, replace if necessary, to improve the brake bleeding process.
- 10015604May 13, 2005Body and structure. Thumping/rumbling noise from front of vehicle. Mercedes-benz model 230. Model year 2003-2005.
Other model years of the Mercedes-Benz SL Class
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 9 | 14,000 | 3 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1998 | 12 | 25,094 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
All Mercedes-Benz SL Class model years
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL Class have?
NHTSA recorded 9 consumer complaints for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL Class as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL Class is reported most often?
Brakes is named most often, in 3 complaints (33% of the total), followed by electrical system with 2.
Has the 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL Class been recalled?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
At what mileage are problems with the 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL Class reported?
Among the 7 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 14,000 miles and the middle half falls between 9,132 and 23,000 miles; 86% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.