Is your car affected?
Check by VIN to confirm the
exact model and see every recall for it.
Recalls are issued for a make, model and model year. Whether the repair has already been done on one specific car is known only to its manufacturer and dealers. Check your vehicle's official status at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a dealer.
US recalls (1)
Service brakes, hydraulic
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL (SBC) SYSTEM MAY PREMATURELY SHIFT TO THE HYDRAULIC BACK-UP FUNCTION MODE, DUE TO DETERIORATION OF THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTION, OR DUE TO PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE HYDRAULIC PUMP.
Risk and remedy
Risk: IN THE HYDRAULIC BACK-UP MODE, THE DRIVER HAS BRAKING POWER SUFFICIENT TO STOP THE VEHICLE, ALTHOUGH GREATER BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE IS REQUIRED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL WILL BE NOTICEABLY LONGER.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A BRACKET AND REPLACEMENT GROUND WIRE TO THE SBC PUMP UNIT ON ALL VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. ADDITIONALLY DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE SBC PUMP UNIT IN SL VEHICLES PRODUCED DURING A LIMITED PRODUCTION PERIOD. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 8, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.
Canadian recalls (2)
Show 2 Canadian recalls
Other
2008-08-15 · campaign 2008-290 · 279 vehicles
Certain vehicles equipped with Active Body Control (ABC) the sensors on the front struts may not operate within tolerances. As such, the sensor signal may not be accurately transmitted to the Electronic Control Unit (ECU). A variation in the transmitted values can result in one front strut adjusting to a value while the other does not adjust and presenting the driver with an uneven front suspension. This situation could have an effect on the vehicle's directional stability, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash with injuries or death. Correction: Dealers will inspect and replace affected AZ-sensors
Brakes
2005-04-04 · campaign 2005-094
On certain vehicles, the Sensotronic Brake Control (SBC) unit may contain a pump piston which is out of permissible tolerances. Also, vibrations within the electrical connector may cause a loss of electrical continuity. Both conditions may result in the system reverting to hydraulic function mode. A loss of brake power assist would result in increased pedal effort and extended stopping distance. Correction: Dealers will inspect and, if required, replace the SBC pump unit.
Owner complaints (2)
Owners filed 2 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class (1 crashes, 1 injuries reported). Among 7 model years of this model, it ranks #4 for the most complaints (median 2).
| Most-reported problem | Complaints | |
|---|
| Suspension | 1 | |
| Air bags | 1 | |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | |
Crash test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|
| 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class C-DR | – | – | – | – |
Fuel economy
EPA ratings for each 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class version.
| Version | City MPG | Highway MPG | Combined | Yearly fuel cost |
|---|
| SL500 5.0 L Automatic 7-spd | 14 | 21 | 17 | $4,850 |
| SL55 AMG 5.4 L Automatic (S5) | 12 | 18 | 14 | $5,850 |
| SL600 5.5 L Automatic 5-spd | 11 | 18 | 14 | $5,850 |
| SL65 AMG 6.0 L Automatic (S5) | 11 | 18 | 13 | $6,300 |
Need this data in your app?
Recalls, complaints, crash ratings and fuel economy as a JSON API. Decode up to 50 VINs per call and get a daily feed of new recalls.
Explore the API →Sources: NHTSA recalls, complaints and 5-Star Safety Ratings, US EPA fuel economy and Transport
Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database (contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada).
Recalls updated 2026-10-30.