2003 Mercedes-Benz SL500 vs 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL500
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL500 | 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL500 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 80 | 44 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 45 | 48 |
| Investigations | 1 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 2 | 4 |
| Fire reports | 3 | 3 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 16 | 17 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 62,859 mi | 76,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Mercedes-Benz SL500 | Mercedes-Benz SL500 |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 34 | 21 |
| Service Brakes | 8 | 9 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 11 | 5 |
| Electrical System | 10 | 4 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 8 | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 6 | 2 |
| Steering | 6 | 1 |
| Power Train | 4 | 3 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Clunking / rattling | 0 | 5 |
2003 Mercedes-Benz SL500
2004 Mercedes-Benz SL500
Compare all Mercedes-Benz SL500 vs Mercedes-Benz SL500 years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.