Most common 2006 Mercedes-Benz SL500 problems
Share of the 13 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 2006 Mercedes-Benz SL500 owners say
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.
We bought a good car so the car can last with few issues but we have had lots of maintenance on this car and last one was the malfunction of the suspension and this cost us over $1800 to get fix. I believe this should be a recall item from Mercedes Benz as lots of people are having the same problem and this is a very expensive fix for the consumer. My car only has 43K miles and we have replaced 3 sets of tires and it is so expensive to replace. We have other major issues with tire pressure errors and have taken in for service many times.
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. Dealer will not do any work on car w/o codes to verify problem.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Mercedes Benz SL500. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the ABS warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to astorg motor company located at 2908 7th st, parkersburg, wv 26102, who replaced the ABS brake compressor. Later while driving, the message stop pump brakes, was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was towed back to the same dealer. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 68,000.
2006 Mercedes-Benz SL500 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.0L 8-cyl | 7-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 22 / 17 |
EPA ratings. Class: Sports car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2006 Mercedes-Benz SL500 a good car?
Based on 13 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2006 SL500 rates average: 1.3× 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 2006 Mercedes-Benz SL500?
The suspension — 4 complaints, 31% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the brakes (4) and locks & latches (1).
How many recalls does the 2006 Mercedes-Benz SL500 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2006 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 2006 Mercedes-Benz SL500 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 54,000 miles; 45% 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.