2013 Mercedes-Benz SL550
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL550 has 20 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is steering problems (25% of all complaints), specifically: my 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 th.
20
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
0.3x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
STEERING
5 complaints- • MY 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 TH
- • MY CAR HAD 30,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THE STEERING MECHANISM QUIT WORKING UP AND DOWN. IT TURNS OUT THE PROBLEM IS IN THE FORM OF IMPROPER INSTALLATION. THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE PART. PART NO. 231 460 02 31. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED AT THE FACTORY. THE TECHNICIAN OVER SHOT THE ADJUSTMENT LENGT
- • The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL550. The contact stated while the vehicle was being serviced at a tire shop, he was informed that the power steering assist warning light was illuminated. The steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer to be diagn
“MY 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 TH”
— NHTSA complaint filing
TRANSMISSION
4 complaints- • TL* 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 WHIL
- • TRAVELING ON I-5 IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC 0- 60 MPH WHEN TRANSMISSION STARTED SHIFTING ROUGHLY. IT THEN SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO SHIFTER INPUTS. I WAS IN THE SECOND LANE FROM THE RIGHT DOING 10 OR 15 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO FORCE MY WAY INTO THE RIGHT LANE AND OFF TO THE SHOULDER. I PUT
- • THE 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
“TL* 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 WHIL”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
4 complaints- • THE 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
- • MY VEHICLE HAS A CAM SEAL LEAK THAT LEAKED OIL INTO THE WIRING HARNESS AND WIRING HARNESS AND OTHER COMPONENTS NEED TO BE REPLACED -- THE BILL IS $10,800 --- THIS CAM SEAL WAS A RECALL ISSUE FOR THE C CLASS AND FROM WHAT I READ SEEMS TO BE THE SAME OR SIMILAR ISSUE --- NOT AN ORDINARY WEAR AND TEAR
- • Cam sensor seals failed which leaked oil into the wire harness, O2 sensors, and ECM. This happens to be a common problem with M278 engine. The repair was $10,217 to fix this issue. The car would not pass emissions without this repair. Could oil into the electrical system pose a fire hazzard?
“THE 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”
— NHTSA complaint filing
WHEELS
3 complaints- • TL* 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
- • TIRE WAS LOSING 1-2 POUNDS OF AIR A DAY. TOOK TO COSTCO TO FIX WHAT I BELIEVED WAS A TIRE LEAK. UPON EXAM COSTCO FOUND THAT WHEEL HAD A CRACK IN IT THAT WAS CAUSING PROBLEM AND TOLD ME THAT THEY SEE SEVERAL OF THESE CRACKS EACH YEAR ON MERCEDES. I THEN TOOK CAR TO MERCEDES DEALER AND BOUGHT A NE
- • AUTO MOVING AND NOT MOVING. MY HUSBAND IS OCD AND VERY PARTICULAR ABOUT OUR VEHICLES. I HAD A FLAT TIRE ON A RUN FLAT AND DAMAGED MY LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE BACK WHEEL. WE DECIDED TO REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES AND THAT WHEEL. MY SPOUSE REMOVED ALL 4 WHEELS FROM VEHICLE, CLEANED AND INSPECTED EACH WHEEL AND
“TL* 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 ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
SPEED CONTROL
2 complaints- • TL* 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 WHIL
- • THE 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
“TL* 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 WHIL”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 20 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐STEERING: MY 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 TH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐TRANSMISSION: TL* 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 WHIL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: THE 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐WHEELS: TL* 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Mercedes-Benz SL550 — Year Comparison
How does 2013 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
Full years-to-avoid analysis →NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 20
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 0
- Crash reports
- 1
- Injury reports
- 0
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL550