The Used Car Index

2004 Mercedes-Benz SL Class problems

NHTSA lists 3 complaints for the 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL Class, 0 of them mention a crash and 0 mention a fire. 0 complaints mention an injury, with 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported.

Data build 2026-10-09.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as MERCEDES BENZ SL CLASS.

At a glance

Complaints
3
With crash
0
With fire
0
With injury (complaints)
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
0
Recalls
3
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
204,000
Investigations
1
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
16

Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. No sales source is available for this record.

Where the complaints are

Top systems
SystemComplaintsShare of this vehicle's complaints
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC266.7%
EQUIPMENT133.3%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING133.3%
STRUCTURE133.3%
SUSPENSION133.3%
Top subsystems
SystemSubsystemComplaints
EQUIPMENTAPPLIANCE1
EXTERIOR LIGHTINGHEADLIGHTS1
STRUCTUREFRAME AND MEMBERS1

One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.

Model-generated complaint tags: This model year has not been tagged.

Recalls

See new recalls and investigations this week.

3 recalls.

08V303000

Date: 2008-07-07. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Defect: MERCEDES-BENZ IS RECALLING MY 2006-2008 M-CLASS, R-CLASS, MY 2005-2009 SLK-CLASS, MY 2005-2008 C-CLASS, MY 2003-2004 AND 2006-2008 CLK-CLASS, MY 2003-2008 E-CLASS, MY 2004 AND 2008 CL-CLASS, MY 2008 CLS-CLASS, MY 2004 AND 2007-2008 S-CLASS, MY 2003 G-CLASS, AND MY 2003-2004, 2006 AND 2009 SL-CLASS VEHICLES. A SOFTWARE CALIBRATION NUMBER (SCN) CODING RECEIVED ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES DURING A RECE (excerpt)

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE ELECTRICAL FUEL PUMP MAY NOT RECEIVE A CRASH SIGNAL THAT IS REQUIRED FOR THE FUEL PUMP TO DISCONNECT AND PREVENT FUTURE FUEL DELIVERY AS DESIGNED. (excerpt)

Remedy: DEALERS WILL RECODE THE SCN FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 30, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372. (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

05V133000

Date: 2005-04-01. Systems: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC.

Defect: 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.

Consequence: 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.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

04V296000

Date: 2004-06-22. Systems: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC.

Defect: ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE ELECTRONIC MONITORING SYSTEM OF THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL (SBC) IS DESIGNED TO MONITOR THE PRESSURE GRADIENT WITHIN THE HIGH PRESSURE LINE OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. IF AN UNACCEPTABLE PRESSURE GRADIENT IS DETECTED, THE SYSTEM WILL SWITCH, AS IT IS DESIGNED TO DO, INTO THE HYDRAULIC FUNCTION MODE.

Consequence: IF VEHICLES ARE NOT ROUTINELY SERVICED AND HAVE EXTREMELY HIGH MILEAGE COMBINED WITH A HIGH NUMBER OF BRAKE ACTUATIONS, OR A HIGH BRAKE ACTUATION FREQUENCY, THE PUMP MOTOR OF THE SBC MAY RUN OUT OF PERMISSIBLE TOLERANCES, THEREBY TRIGGERING THE HYDRAULIC FUNCTION MODE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SBC HYDRAULIC UNIT, REPLACING IT IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 21M 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

Investigations

1 investigations; 0 open.

PE07042

Opened: 2007-08-14. Closed: 2007-11-20.

AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM FAILURE

THE SUBJECT S-CLASS VEHICLES CONTAIN A COMPRESSED AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM THAT USES AIR STRUTS ON EACH OF THE FOUR WHEELS IN LIEU OF TRADITIONAL SPRINGS AND SHOCK ABSORBERS.THESE AIR STRUTS USE COMPRESSED AIR TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE AND CONTROL RIDE HEIGHT.IN THE EVENT OF THE LOSS OF AIR FROM THE SYSTEM, AN ALERT WILL FLASH ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WARNING THE DRIVER TO EITHER DRIVE CA

Systems: SUSPENSION.

Linked campaign numbers: None listed.

Manufacturer communications

16 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3
POWER TRAIN3
PARKING BRAKE1
STRUCTURE1
SUSPENSION1
TIRES1
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM1

10030939

Date: 2009-07-31. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: PARKING BRAKE.

MERCEDES: PARKTRONIC INTERMITTENTLY NOT FUNCTIONING. THE FUNCTION WORKS AGAIN AFTER A SHORT TIME OR DISTANCE. WHEN THE FOOT OPERATED PARKING BRAKE IS APPLIED, THE PARKTRONIC SYSTEM IS DEACTIVATED. IF THE FOOT OPERATED PARKING BRAKE IS ON AT THE FIRST NOTCH, THE CONTACT SWITCH MAY REACT WITH A CO

10030941

Date: 2009-07-06. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

MERCEDES: CRACKING NOISE FROM THE AREA OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL/FIREWALL WHEN CORNERING, DURING THROTTLE LIFT OFF AND ON UNEVEN ROADS. STRESS AT THE SPOT WELDS ON THE FIREWALL TO THE RIGHT OF THE BRAKE BOOSTER CAN RESULT IN CRACKING NOISES. NO RIGHT HAND DRIVE. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED.

10030929

Date: 2009-06-15. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC.

MERCEDES: CORROSION PROTECTION COATINGS FOR BRAKE COMPONENTS AND HARDWARE MAY BE DAMAGED AND OR STRIPPED AWAY IF HIGHLY CONCENTRATED ACID BASED CLEANERS ARE USED. ONCE THE CORROSION PROTECTION IS DAMAGED OR REMOVED THE BRAKE COMPONENTS AND OR HARDWARE CAN BEGIN TO CORRODE. INCLUDE ALL MODELS AN

10030964

Date: 2009-06-05. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM.

MERCEDES: THE LIMITED WARRANTY ON THE SBC HYDRAULIC UNIT FOR MODELS 211, MODEL 219 AND MODELS 230 WAS EXTENDED FROM THE ORIGINAL 4 YEARS/50,000 MILES TO 10 YEARS WITH NO MILEAGE LIMITATION. THE SBC HYDRAULIC UNIT EXTENDED LIMITED WARRANTY APPLIES TO ALL CONDITIONS THAT JUSTIFY THE REPLACEMENT OF T

10019822

Date: 2007-01-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.

INSPECT TRANSMISSION PILOT BUSHING AT ELECTROCHYDRAULIC UNIT AND REPLACE IF NECESSARY. THE TRANSMISSION PILOT BUSHING MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED ON THE CONTROL UNITS WITH NON-TEMPERED SEALING RINGS WHICH MAY CAUSE A SMALL LEAK TO OCCUR. *TT UPDATED 04-11-07. *KB

10020181

Date: 2006-07-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: TIRES.

THE TIREFIT HOSE CONNECTOR MAY NOT SCREW ONTO THE TIRE VALVE WITH AN AIR TIGHT SEAL. IN CASE OF A FLAT TIRE, THE CUSTOMER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO INFLATE THE SPARE TIRE USING TIREFIT. *TT

10019993

Date: 2006-05-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

A POTENTIAL MALFUNCTION WHICH COULD RENDER THE SECONDARY AIR INJECTION PUMP RELAY INOPERABLE THEREBY AFFECTING THE PROPER OPERATION OF THE SECONDARY AIR INJECTION PUMP. *TT

10016632

Date: 2006-04-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

THE ALTERNATOR REGULATOR MAY FAIL TO PREVENT VOLTAGE VALUES RANGING BEYOND THE SPECIFIED TOLERANCE LIMITS. *TT

10019128

Date: 2006-01-10. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: SUSPENSION.

STEERING WHEEL TWITCH DURING BRAKE APPLICATION. VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING MERCEDES BENZ 2006 MODEL 230. *TT

10018832

Date: 2006-01-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC.

INSPECT SBC SUCTION HOSE, REPLACE IF NECESSARY, TO IMPROVE THE BRAKE BLEEDING PROCESS. *TT

Notes on this record

  • Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
  • System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
  • Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
  • A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.

Other names NHTSA uses

None listed.

Matched NHTSA models

Matched labels and complaints
NHTSA model labelComplaints
SL CLASS3

Same model, other years

All model years | All Mercedes-Benz models

Other Mercedes-Benz models, 2004

Sources

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