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Mercedes-Benz SL550Model year report

2013 Mercedes-Benz SL550 Problems

Complaints
17filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
31,000miles, 11 complaints with mileage
Recalls
3campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
20 mpgcombined, 4.7L 8-cyl RWD · 17 city / 25 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL550 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 17 consumer complaints for the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL550. The part named most often is steering, with 5 complaints (29% of the total), followed by engine (4) and transmission and drivetrain (4). 11 of the complaints include a mileage, and 73% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 31,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 87 technical service bulletins for this model year. Steering complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign and 4 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Engine 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

Steering: “My car was manufactured in 12/12. I took my car in last year because suddenly my power steering quit working on me. My husband man-handled the steering and drove it 70 miles to the nearest dealership in lubbock, tx. They said it was a computer error and hooked up a device and said they updated the computer software, no parts replaced. Today, suddenly my power steering quit working again. I read online there is a recall but my VIN doesn't show up as recalled. I can't drive it because no power steering but more importantly it says it can catch on fire. …”

NHTSA complaint #11204099, filed 2019-04, 31,000 miles

Engine: “My vehicle has a cam seal leak that leaked oil into the wiring harness and wiring harness and other components need to be replaced -- the bill is $10,800 --- this cam seal was a recall issue for the c class and from what I read seems to be the same or similar issue --- not an ordinary wear and tear issue - this is should be a recall issue and mercedes should fix -- the check engine light came in and they said engine would not have started and I would have been stranded -- it is currently being fixed at the dealer at my expense”

NHTSA complaint #11144468, filed 2018-10, 74,000 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “Traveling on I-5 in stop and go traffic 0- 60 MPH when transmission started shifting roughly. It then shifted to neutral and would not respond to shifter inputs. I was in the second lane from the right doing 10 or 15 MPH. I was able to force my way into the right lane and off to the shoulder. I put the transmission in sport and paddle shifter mode with no response from the shift selector. Thinking this is a computer problem I rebooted by shutting car off and restarting. All functions returned to normal. …”

NHTSA complaint #11021314, filed 2017-09, 28,000 miles

Wheels: “Auto moving and not moving. My husband is ocd and very particular about our vehicles. I had a flat tire on a run flat and damaged my left driver's side back wheel. We decided to replace all 4 tires and that wheel. My spouse removed all 4 wheels from vehicle, cleaned and inspected each wheel and we carefully put them in the back of our truck. I took them to alderson mercedes in lubbock. I watched as monte the service adviser carefully removed all 4 wheels. Later in the day alderson calls and says that the right back wheel has a crack in it and needs to be replaced. …”

NHTSA complaint #11204109, filed 2019-04, 31,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

73% of the 11 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 28,000 and 60,000 miles.

9%0–109%10–2555%25–5027%50–750%75–1000%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: 31,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

201420152017201820193202020213202432025
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 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL550 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
SL550 RWD4.7L 8-cyl7-speed automatic172520$4,100

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

Recall details for the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL550 → · 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. 87 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 87 bulletins →

Other model years of the Mercedes-Benz SL550

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20131731,0003—20—Stable
2009158,5800—16—Falling
20071642,0001—16—Stable

All Mercedes-Benz SL550 model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL550 have?

NHTSA recorded 17 consumer complaints for the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL550 as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL550 is reported most often?

Steering is named most often, in 5 complaints (29% of the total), followed by engine with 4.

Has the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL550 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL550 get?

The EPA rates the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL550 (SL550, 4.7L 8-cyl) at 20 mpg combined, 17 city and 25 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,100 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL550 reported?

Among the 11 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 31,000 miles and the middle half falls between 28,000 and 60,000 miles; 73% 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. 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.