Most common 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS problems
Share of the 4 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mercedes-Benz SLS complaints by model year
Best SLS years: 2013, 2014. Compare all years →
2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS recalls (3)
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2014 C250, C300 4Matic, C350, C63 AMG, E350 4Matic Coupe, E350 Cabrio, E350 Coupe, SLS AMG Cabrio, SLS AMG Coupe, 2014-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 4Matic Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, GLK 350, GLK250 BlueTec 4Matic, GLK350 RWD, 2015-2017 E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabrio, E400…
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began March 29, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2012 C300 4Matic, C250, C250 Coupe, C350, C350 Coupe 4Matic, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG, C63 AMG Coupe, E350 Coupe 4Matic, E350 Cabrio, E350 Coupe, E550 Cabrio, E550 Coupe, GLK350 4Matic, GLK350, SLS AMG Cabrio, and SLS AMG Coupe vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in…
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag modules, free of charge. Owners were sent an interim notification in March 2017.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 ML320 BlueTec 4Matic, GL320 BlueTec 4Matic and R320 CDI 4Matic, 2011 E350 Cabriolet and E550 Cabriolet, 2009-2011 ML350, ML350 4Matic, ML550 4Matic, ML63 AMG, and C63 AMG, 2010-2011 ML450 4Matic Hybrid, E350 Coupe, E350 4Matic, E550 Coupe, E550 4Matic,…
Remedy: MBUSA will their notify owners, and Fiat Chrysler will notify the affected Chrysler owners. Dealers for the respective brands will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS:
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
What 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS owners say
Air bags
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 16V081000 (air bags) and 17V017000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The dealer (Mercedes-Benz of sarasota, 4754 clark rd, sarasota, fl 34233, [phone]) was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedies. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Takata recall. Do you have any idea when Mercedes is going to have a fix for my car? They don't seem to be working on the problem. I have received a couple of notices that they are going to start repairing them but then send another notice months later that it's been delayed again.
2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.2L 8-cyl | 7-speed dual-clutch | RWD | 14 / 20 / 16 |
EPA ratings. Class: Sports car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS a good car?
Based on 4 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 SLS rates few complaints: 1.5× as many complaints as a typical year of the SLS 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 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS?
The air bags — 4 complaints, 100% of all complaints for this model year.
How many recalls does the 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS, the most recent from January 9, 2019 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mercedes-Benz SLS?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2013 and 2014. See the full Mercedes-Benz SLS years comparison.
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.