The Used Car Index

2003 Mercedes-Benz SL55 problems

NHTSA lists 11 complaints for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL55, 1 of them mention a crash and 2 mention a fire. 1 complaints mention an injury, with 1 injuries and 0 deaths reported.

Data build 2026-10-09.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as MERCEDES BENZ SL55.

At a glance

Complaints
11
With crash
1
With fire
2
With injury (complaints)
1
Injuries
1
Deaths
0
Recalls
0
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
Unavailable
Investigations
1
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
41

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
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM218.2%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING218.2%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE218.2%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC218.2%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM19.1%
POWER TRAIN19.1%
SUSPENSION19.1%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER19.1%
Top subsystems
SystemSubsystemComplaints
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGCOOLING SYSTEM1

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.

0 recalls.

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

41 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
EXTERIOR LIGHTING11
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM6
POWER TRAIN5
EQUIPMENT3
SUSPENSION3
SEATS2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC2
STEERING2

11038186

Date: 2026-09-22. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: SERVICE BRAKES.

Complaint Repeat workshop visit for vehicle vibration while braking from 60MPH. NOTE: Although the symptom is similar to a tire or wheel vibration, it is usually readily noticeable that it is distinctly different if it happens at all times or only while braking. Cause Although the cause of the vibra

11036101

Date: 2026-08-06. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STRUCTURE.

Complaint Clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors. Cause Under analysis. Remedy To narrow down the cause, first of all remove the door trim. a ? If the noise continues to occur even with the door trim removed, then continue the diagnosis working towards the speaker and if necessary

11035005

Date: 2026-07-14. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.

Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). The noise is heard once in each instance when changing direction of travel. Note: Sound file in attachment Cause If the complaint is eliminated by experimentally loosening the outboard collar n

11032875

Date: 2026-05-19. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: VISIBILITY/WIPER.

Complaint There are several types of complaint about noises or poor windshield wiper wiping performance: A: Wiper blades squeaking, chattering, shuddering B: The windshield is not wiped completely (streaking) C: During the downward movement water is pulled back onto the windshield from the A-pillar

11031580

Date: 2026-04-16. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EXTERIOR LIGHTING.

Complaint Headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged. Cause Fogging of the headlamps is a natural phenomenon, which can occur under certain climatic conditions. It does not lead to any technical impairment of the headlamp. If a pressure compensation diaphragm is fitted in the housing cover, then the l

11029959

Date: 2026-03-09. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EXTERIOR LIGHTING.

Complaint Headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged Cause Fogging of the headlamps is a natural phenomenon, which can occur under certain climatic conditions. It does not lead to any technical impairment of the headlamp. If a pressure compensation diaphragm is fitted in the housing cover, then the la

11029062

Date: 2026-02-25. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EXTERIOR LIGHTING.

Complaint Headlamps leaking or fogged Cause The fogging of the headlamp is a natural phenomenon which can occur under certain climatic conditions. In contrast to a leaky headlamp, physical fogging does not result in a technical impairment of the headlamp. A leak test must be performed to determine i

11028989

Date: 2026-02-24. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EXTERIOR LIGHTING.

Complaint Headlamps leaking or fogged Cause The fogging of the headlamp is a natural phenomenon which can occur under certain climatic conditions. In contrast to a leaky headlamp, physical fogging does not result in a technical impairment of the headlamp. A leak test must be performed to determine i

11029025

Date: 2026-02-24. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EXTERIOR LIGHTING.

Complaint Headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged Cause Fogging of the headlamps is a natural phenomenon, which can occur under certain climatic conditions. It does not lead to any technical impairment of the headlamp. If a pressure compensation diaphragm is fitted in the housing cover, then the la

11019018

Date: 2025-05-21. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.

Complaint Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). The clunk is heard once when changing from forward to reverse (and vice versa). Note: Sound file in attachment Cause If the complaint is eliminated by experimentally loosening the out

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
SL5511

Same model, other years

All model years | All Mercedes-Benz models

Other Mercedes-Benz models, 2003

Sources

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