2014 Mercedes-Benz SL550 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
4 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
21,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2014 model year. Data updated: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 4 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Structure:Body | 1 |
| Wheels | 1 |
| Wheels:Rim | 1 |
Air Bags: 1; Structure:Body: 1; Wheels: 1; Wheels:Rim: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 1 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2014: 1; 2016: 1; 2020: 1; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
4 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 2011 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 150.0%ODI 10745357 · 19,000 miON JULY 10, 2015 DURING 5 PM TRAFFIC MY WIFE WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN FROM THE TURNING LANE INTO OUR COMPLEX WHERE WE LIVE, UPON MAKING HER LEFT TURN, SHE HAD TO CROSS TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC, BOTH LANES HAD STOPPED TO ALLOW HER THROUGH SAFELY, AS SHE WAS CLEARING THE SECOND LANE LOOKING AS SHE PROGRESSED, NO ONE WAS IN THE OUTER LANE TURNING INTO OUR COMPLEX, A MAN PULLED OUT OF LINE AND ATTEMPTED TO ALLUDE TRAFFIC BY GOING AROUND IT AND STRUCK HER CAR IN THE PASSENGER DOOR, HE NEVER HIT HIS BRAKES TO STOP AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE THROUGH A TUR… | 423.5%ODI 11109568THE CAR SUDDENLY SLOW DOWN IN HIGHWAY GOES TO LIMP MODE FOR EXAMPLE FROM 69 TO 35 MILES IS VERY DANGEROUS I HAVE TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 2100.0%ODI 11341734 · 50,730 miCHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. MERCEDES DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THE CAM SOLENOID FAILED, WHICH CAUSED OIL TO LEAK TO OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE ENGINE THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED INCLUDING ENGINE WIRING HARNESS, CONTROL UNIT, SOLENOID, POSITION SENSOR, OXYGEN SENSOR, LAMBDA PROBE AND INJECTORS. CAR WAS JUST AT DEALERSHIP AT THE END OF MARCH/APRIL DUE TO MISFIRE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. NO MENTION OF DAMAGE OR LEAKAGE. PREMATURE FAILURE ON PART. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Steering | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 529.4%ODI 11204099 · 31,000 miMY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED IN 12/12. I TOOK MY CAR IN LAST YEAR BECAUSE SUDDENLY MY POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING ON ME. MY HUSBAND MAN-HANDLED THE STEERING AND DROVE IT 70 MILES TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP IN LUBBOCK, TX. THEY SAID IT WAS A COMPUTER ERROR AND HOOKED UP A DEVICE AND SAID THEY UPDATED THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE, NO PARTS REPLACED. TODAY, SUDDENLY MY POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING AGAIN. I READ ONLINE THERE IS A RECALL BUT MY VIN DOESN'T SHOW UP AS RECALLED. I CAN'T DRIVE IT BECAUSE NO POWER STEERING BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY IT SAYS IT CAN CA… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 11389567 · 42,675 miSTEERING WHEEL STUCK IN UP POSITION. IT WOULD NOT ADJUST TO THE PRESET UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE. FOUND A FIX ONLINE TURNED OFF THE EASY ENTRY/EXIT FEATURE AND HAD TO SLAP THE WHEEL DOWNWARD TO GET IT UNSTUCK. IF THIS HAPPENS IN MOTION IT COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF CONTROL AND DRIVING WITH THE WHEEL IN FULL UP POSITION BLOCKS THE INSTRUMENTS. |
| Power Train | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 423.5%ODI 10558190 · 1,200 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES BENZ SL550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE PADDLE SHIFTERS WERE OPERATED AND THE CONNECTOR PLATE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. ON ANOTHER OCCASION THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 11663920When pulling into an intersection after stopping at a 3-way stop the car unexpectedly went into neutral gear. An oncoming car had to stop suddenly to avoid a collision. I was able to shift the car back to drive and got it home. Now the car will not start and there's a warning message on the dash saying to get the car to a dealer. The car is now at the Mercedes dealer. Apparently the problem exists on other Mercedes models. |
| Wheels | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 317.6%ODI 10749993 · 14,472 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES BENZ SL550. WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE NEEDED AIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE WHEELS WERE REMOVED AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES WERE CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,472. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. | 125.0%ODI 11374282 · 21,000 miREAR WHEELS CRACKED AND NEEDED REPLACING. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED. ONLY DROVE THE VEHICLE 4,500 MILES WHEN I WAS TOLD AT INSPECTION THAT BOTH REAR WHEELS NEED REPLACING DUE TO CRACKS. THE INSPECTION BEFORE THIS LATEST INSPECTION, ONE OF THE REAR WHEELS CRACKED AND WAS REPLACED. THESE WHEELS ARE DEFECTIVE AND DANGEROUS. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Air Bags | 150.0%ODI 10745357 · 19,000 miON JULY 10, 2015 DURING 5 PM TRAFFIC MY WIFE WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN FROM THE TURNING LANE INTO OUR COMPLEX WHERE WE LIVE, UPON MAKING HER LEFT TURN, SHE HAD TO CROSS TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC, BOTH LANES HAD STOPPED TO ALLOW HER THROUGH SAFELY, AS SHE WAS CLEARING THE SECOND LANE LOOKING AS SHE PROGRESSED, NO ONE WAS IN THE OUTER LANE TURNING INTO OUR COMPLEX, A MAN PULLED OUT OF LINE AND ATTEMPTED TO ALLUDE TRAFFIC BY GOING AROUND IT AND STRUCK HER CAR IN THE PASSENGER DOOR, HE NEVER HIT HIS BRAKES TO STOP AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE THROUGH A TUR… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 10609051 · 1,500 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 MERCEDES BENZ SL550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS CONCERNED FOR HIS SAFETY SINCE THE DEALER CONTACTED HIM TO ADVISE NOT TO HAVE THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT OCCUPIED UNTIL THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V386000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,500. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Service Brakes | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 15.9%ODI 11320598 · 36,800 miJUN 2017: ANNUAL SERVICE. ASK TO HAVE BRAKES CHECKED BECAUSE BRAKE PEDAL WAS TRAVELLING DOWN TO THE FLOOR. JUN 2018: ANNUAL SERVICE. COMPLAINT: BRAKE PEDAL WOULD HIT THE FLOOR AND AS IT TRAVELED DOWN FURTHER, THE ENGINE ACCELERATION TICKED-UP, AT WHICH TIME I RELEASED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND RE-APPLIED THE BRAKES SUCCESSFULLY. JUN 2019: ANNUAL SERVICE: STRONG COMPLAINT: DITTO JUN 2018 EXCEPT AS THE BRAKE PEDAL APPROACHED THE FLOOR, THE ENGINE ACCELERATION WAS INCREASING. 12 MAR 2020: ACCIDENT: TIME 0645 AM PST, TRAVELING WEST-BOUND O… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 114773772007 MERCEDES BENZ SL500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO BRAKE FAILURE. THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE ROLLED THROUGH THE STOP SIGN. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKING CONTROL. THE VEHICLE FAULT CODES WERE 5611, C26DE, C26BB, AND C25D5. THE CODES WERE CLEARED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DECLINED TO ASSIST UNTIL THE FAILURE RECCURED, LEAVING THE BRAKE FAILURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THE MANUFA… |
| Structure:Body | 150.0%ODI 10745357 · 19,000 miON JULY 10, 2015 DURING 5 PM TRAFFIC MY WIFE WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN FROM THE TURNING LANE INTO OUR COMPLEX WHERE WE LIVE, UPON MAKING HER LEFT TURN, SHE HAD TO CROSS TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC, BOTH LANES HAD STOPPED TO ALLOW HER THROUGH SAFELY, AS SHE WAS CLEARING THE SECOND LANE LOOKING AS SHE PROGRESSED, NO ONE WAS IN THE OUTER LANE TURNING INTO OUR COMPLEX, A MAN PULLED OUT OF LINE AND ATTEMPTED TO ALLUDE TRAFFIC BY GOING AROUND IT AND STRUCK HER CAR IN THE PASSENGER DOOR, HE NEVER HIT HIS BRAKES TO STOP AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE THROUGH A TUR… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 11490757The whole dashboard leather has come apart. The seam around the vent is peeling up, the top part is looking really bad. The top part of the instrumental console, the leather cloth has fell and you cannot see the face of the panel. This car should not be falling apart like that. The color is great, just coming aprt from the seams. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 211.8%ODI 10558190 · 1,200 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES BENZ SL550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE PADDLE SHIFTERS WERE OPERATED AND THE CONNECTOR PLATE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. ON ANOTHER OCCASION THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | Too few reports for a range | 1,500 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10609051 · 1,500 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 MERCEDES BENZ SL550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS CONCERNED FOR HIS SAFETY SINCE THE DEALER CONTACTED HIM TO ADVISE NOT TO HAVE THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT OCCUPIED UNTIL THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V386000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,500. |
| Wheels | Too few reports for a range | 21,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 11374282 · 21,000 miREAR WHEELS CRACKED AND NEEDED REPLACING. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED. ONLY DROVE THE VEHICLE 4,500 MILES WHEN I WAS TOLD AT INSPECTION THAT BOTH REAR WHEELS NEED REPLACING DUE TO CRACKS. THE INSPECTION BEFORE THIS LATEST INSPECTION, ONE OF THE REAR WHEELS CRACKED AND WAS REPLACED. THESE WHEELS ARE DEFECTIVE AND DANGEROUS. |
| Wheels:Rim | Too few reports for a range | 27,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10884787 · 27,000 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 MERCEDES-BENZ SL550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED BY THE DEALER AND IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE RIM WAS PREMATURELY FRACTURED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE RIM AND THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE RIM, SHOWING THE PRESENCE OF A CRACK. THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING INDICATOR KEPT RANDOMLY FLASHING AS THE TIRE PRESSURE LOWERED. THE DEALER ASKED THE CONTACT TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. IN ADDITION, THE MANUFACTURER WAS TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION TO T… |
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2016: 0 complaints · 2017: 0 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Air Bags | Structure:Body | Wheels | Wheels:Rim |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure:Body | 0 | — | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| Wheels:Rim | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.