2003 Mercedes-Benz SL Class Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 2about this part
- Share
- 22%of 9 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 9,132miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 2 complaints about the electrical system of the 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL Class, 22% of the 9 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 9,132 miles. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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 miles“I turned key and car did not start. I ended up getting stuck either at home or in a shopping center. Car had to be put on a flat bed. Dealer relpaced parts each time , but could not find the cause of the problem.”
NHTSA complaint #10118750, filed 2005-04Related recalls
- 08V303000Jul 7, 2008Mercedes-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…Covers: Mercedes-Benz SL Class 2003–2004, 2006, 2009, SLK 2005–2009, E Class 2003–2006 +13 more
Related service bulletins
- 10030941Jul 6, 2009Mercedes: 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…
- 10019993May 1, 2006A 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, 2006The alternator regulator may fail to prevent voltage values ranging beyond the specified tolerance limits.
Electrical system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 2 | 22% |
Other parts of the 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL Class
3 complaintsEngine cooling
2 complaintsBody and structure
2 complaintsSuspension
2 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
2 complaintsAir bags
1 complaintsBack-over prevention (rear camera)
1 complaintsExterior lighting
1 complaintsFuel system
1 complaintsInterior lighting
1 complaintsTires
1 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL Class
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.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology