Skip to content
Mercedes-Benz SL500Model year report

2006 Mercedes-Benz SL500 Problems

Complaints
13filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
54,000miles, 11 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
17 mpgcombined, 5.0L 8-cyl RWD · 14 city / 22 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2006 Mercedes-Benz SL500 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 13 consumer complaints for the 2006 Mercedes-Benz SL500. The part named most often is brakes, with 4 complaints (31% of the total), followed by suspension (4) and electrical system (1). 11 of the complaints include a mileage, and 45% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 54,000 miles. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 59 technical service bulletins for this model year. Brakes complaints overlap with 5 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Suspension complaints overlap with 5 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.

Example complaints

Brakes: “On 04/14/2019 while driving, red dash warning lights came on warning of lost braking and to stop. At the same time two separate warning sounds filled the cars cabin. I tried the brakes, no response, I down shifted, and stood both feet on brakes and finally shifted to neutral to come to complete stop. Turned car off warning sign and warning sounds continued after engine was turned off. Opened hood, clicking and wurling sounds were coming from the sbc braking system. Call m/b the following day and had vehicle towed to nearest m/b dealer. Dealer found no faults. Afraid to drive. …”

NHTSA complaint #11196708, filed 2019-04, 125,000 miles

Suspension: “The 2006 mb SL500's are prone to abc (active body control) failures. Mercedes benz is aware of this issue, but they will not offer any assistance in repairing it. The cost to repair this system is approx. $4,000. If the vehicle is in motion, it is very possible that the driver may lose control of the car. The abc system affects both the air suspension, and braking. It could lead to a catastrophic accident, resulting in injury or death. I was fortunate in that I was not on the highway when the failure occurred.”

NHTSA complaint #11308750, filed 2020-02, 65,000 miles

Electrical system: “When the car is turned on, the srs light comes on, the rollbar light on, command center off/on/off/on, windshield wipers don't work, seat warmers/coolers inop, auto headlights inop.....all these problems are connected and intermittent. Reading throught the mb forum and mbworld forum, many sl owners are experiencing the same thing and it all seems to point to the electronic ignition switch. I wrote a letter to mb in january 2015 and they didn't want to help. …”

NHTSA complaint #10787102, filed 2015-10, 85,000 miles

Exterior lighting: “Hid headlights should be banned from the roads. There is no way the benefits of allowing one car to supposedly see better at night outweigh the risks to every oncoming car they encounter. These lights should at least be outlawed and ideally, manufacturers should be forced to recall vehicles and reimburse the consumer for the costs of the lights.”

NHTSA complaint #10161807, filed 2006-07

Mileage when problems were reported

45% of the 11 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 29,000 and 76,200 miles.

9%0–109%10–2527%25–5027%50–7518%75–1009%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (11 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 54,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

22009201322015201820202
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2006 Mercedes-Benz SL500 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
SL500 RWD5.0L 8-cyl7-speed automatic142217$4,850

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2006 Mercedes-Benz SL500 in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by 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. 59 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 59 bulletins →

Other model years of the Mercedes-Benz SL500

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20061354,0000—17—Not enough data
20051940,2820—17—Falling
20044575,0000—17Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20038062,8590—16Not compared (before 2008)Falling
1998645,0000—17—Not enough data
19979122,0001—16—Not enough data
1996685,0000—17—Not enough data
19952297,5000—16—Stable
1994890,0000—16—Not enough data
1993666,0000———Not enough data

All Mercedes-Benz SL500 model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2006 Mercedes-Benz SL500 have?

NHTSA recorded 13 consumer complaints for the 2006 Mercedes-Benz SL500 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2006 Mercedes-Benz SL500 is reported most often?

Brakes is named most often, in 4 complaints (31% of the total), followed by suspension with 4.

Has the 2006 Mercedes-Benz SL500 been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2006 Mercedes-Benz SL500 get?

The EPA rates the 2006 Mercedes-Benz SL500 (SL500, 5.0L 8-cyl) at 17 mpg combined, 14 city and 22 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,850 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2006 Mercedes-Benz SL500 reported?

Among the 11 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 54,000 miles and the middle half falls between 29,000 and 76,200 miles; 45% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

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.