2003 Mercedes-Benz SL Class Body and structure Problems
- Complaints
- 2about this part
- Share
- 22%of 9 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 11,566miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 2 complaints about the body and structure of the 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL Class, 22% of the 9 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 11,566 miles.
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.
“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 miles“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 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10019138Jan 1, 2006Penetration of water into the vario (hardtop) roof.
- 10015604May 13, 2005Thumping/rumbling noise from front of vehicle. Mercedes-benz model 230. Model year 2003-2005.
Body and structure: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 2 | 22% |
| 1998 | 1 | 8% |
Other parts of the 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL Class
3 complaintsElectrical system
2 complaintsEngine cooling
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