2005 Mercedes-Benz SL500 Engine Problems
- Complaints
- 1about this part
- Share
- 5%of 19 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 86,400miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 1 complaints about the engine of the 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL500, 5% of the 19 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 86,400 miles. 1 a fire, according to the filers.
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 contact owned a 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL500. After parking the vehicle, the contact heard a noise coming from the engine compartment and flames appeared. The fire department extinguished the fire. A police report was not filed. There were no injuries. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to a towing yard. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 86,400.”
NHTSA complaint #11082698, filed 2018-04, 86,400 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10158329Oct 9, 2017Oil in engine wiring harness
Engine: other model years
Other parts of the 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL500
7 complaintsElectrical system
4 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
3 complaintsSuspension
2 complaintsAir bags
1 complaintsFuel system
1 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
1 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL500
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