Most common 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL500 problems
Share of the 19 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mercedes-Benz SL500 complaints by model year
Best SL500 years: 1995, 1998, 1996. Years to avoid: 2003. Compare all years →
What 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL500 owners say
Brakes
The contact owns a 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL500. The contact stated that while driving from a complete stop, the brake warning light and other unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that he lost control of the vehicle but did not provide further information. The contact stated that while driving at 15 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed but failed to respond. The warning message "Reduced Braking Power, Depress Brake Pedal Fully" and another message advising the contact to take the vehicle to the nearest service station illuminated. The contact continued to depress the brake pedal all the way to the floorboard, but the brake pedal would not respond. The contact stated that the vehicle stopped independently at some point. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who test drove the vehicle and diagnosed that no issues were found as no warning lights were illuminated. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Mercedes-Benz sl500r. While driving 50 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed to the floorboard, but failed to stop the vehicle. The contact had to apply the emergency brake to stop the vehicle. The contact stated that several unknown warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was towed to Mercedes-Benz of orland park (located at 8430 w 159th st, orland park, il 60462, [phone]) where it was diagnosed with a low battery. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 48,000.
Electrical system
Tl* the contact owns 2005 Mercedes Benz SL500. The contact stated that the whole right side of the vehicle trunk caught on fire while the vehicle was parked. The contact stated that the fire started in the upper right front area of the trunk where they were wires and saw sparks. The contact stated that the fire went out on its own because there was no oxygen. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that they will tow the vehicle to Mercedes-Benz of oakland (2915 broadway, oakland, ca 94611). The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Mercedes SL500. The contact stated that the ignition switch was faulty and caused multiple malfunctions in the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the battery needed to be replaced. The battery was replaced however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was 9,000 and the current mileage was 25,000. Updated 6/10/14 updated 06/17/14 the consumer stated the ignition switch was faulty, and was eventually replaced, which resolved the problem. Also, the windshield wipers were inoperative. Updated 07/23/14 updated 7/29/17
Transmission & drivetrain
This issue almost cause an accident on the freeway, Transmission went from drive to neutral and then reverse. This is cause by the range sensor. Conductor plate for transmission is very common for this type of vehicles. Please investigate. This can cause a fatal injury or death.
While driving in traffic at approximately 40 MPH the transmission disengaged (slipped) so much so that the RPM's shot up and the car no longer had power to the drive wheels. I needed to move over 2 lanes through traffic to pull over to the curb and get out of traffic. Once I stopped the car at the side of the road the transmission engaged and the car regained power the the rear wheels and I was able to drive the car off the road to safety with some minimal slipping of the transmission. Once I got the car home I checked for error codes even though there was no check engine light on. The error code was p2206 "the signal from component y#?*n3 output speed sensor (vgs) is not available". Looked the code up and discovered that this is a known problem to this 7 speed transmissions conductor plate/valve body which needs to be replaced by the dealer as a unit. …
2005 Mercedes-Benz SL500 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.0L 8-cyl | 7-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 21 / 17 |
EPA ratings. Class: Sports car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL500 a good car?
Based on 19 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2005 SL500 rates average: 1.4× as many complaints as a typical year of the SL500 at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL500?
The brakes — 7 complaints, 37% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the electrical system (4) and transmission & drivetrain (3).
How many recalls does the 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL500 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL500. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mercedes-Benz SL500?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1995, 1998 and 1996. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2003. See the full Mercedes-Benz SL500 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL500 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 40,000 miles; 65% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.