2003 Mercedes-Benz SL500 Owner Complaints

To who may this concerned, I have a 2003 Mercedes SL500 and recently found my battery control module caught on fire and burnt a section of my car. I have tried reaching out to Mercedes directly first and they said the car is 20 years ago and it could have not be a manufactured defect. Please I need help this problem could’ve burn down my house or while I was driving. Mercedes requested I send them a letter in writing if I have to get the car inspected. Please setup and date so I can write them this is 100% liability on their brand as there is no schedule maintenance for a battery control module.

NHTSA ID

11557470

Incident

Nov 14, 2023

I am concerned with the battery control module. I have noticed there has been a lot of incidents out there where the battery control module in the SL 500s have caught fire! I am concerned for my safety due to this defect!

NHTSA ID

11556968

Incident

Nov 27, 2023

The contact owns a 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL500. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the ABC warning light illuminated. Additionally, the message "Drive Carefully" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the ABC tandem pump, struts, and hoses needed to be replaced. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they did not provide service for older vehicles. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000.

NHTSA ID

11540123

Incident

Aug 1, 2023

Mileage

88,000 mi

ABC (Active Body Control) light keeps coming on and body goes up and down when I drove car. Light says do not drive. Mercedes would not take responsibility for this in spite there are so many complaints about this. Really irresponsible by Mercedes.

NHTSA ID

11486932

Incident

May 1, 2017

I was driving my car at 45 mph and suddenly, unexpectedly a red light flashed ABC do not drive. Smoke was coming from under the car and the front end of the vehicle collapsed downwardly. I had to call for a tow truck to take my vehicle to the MB dealership. I'm I am waiting for the prognosis. I've had numerous issues with the All Body Control system. Expensive repairs in the $3000-$8000 range. This is a safety issue the breakdown happens abruptly and I was fortunate other cars weren't on the parkway with me. Otherwise a crash could gave occurred.

NHTSA ID

11474844

Incident

Jul 19, 2022

The contact owns a 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL500. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed however, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The contact depressed the brake pedal firmly however, the vehicle failed to respond. The parking brake was activated however, the vehicle failed to respond as designed. The contact was however able to pull over and eventually the vehicle came to a complete stop. The vehicle was towed. The dealer and the manufacturer were contacted and stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 05V133000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The failure mileage was 126,000. The consumer stated the part put on the vehicle for the recall was a defective part and not installed correctly.

NHTSA ID

11474801

Incident

Jul 5, 2022

Mileage

126,000 mi

The 2003 SL500 with seemingly no instigating incident or event had the gas tank baffle come apart due to the poor and faulty design of this component. This baffle now is loose and floats on the gas in the gas tank, banging around when there is acceleration or deceleration, even turning sometimes causes it to bang around. Speed bumps are another source of loud banging from the baffle bumping into the sides of the tank. The issue with 2003 SL500's is ubiquitous, it is not a question of what percentage of them will experience as it appears it will happen to this vehicle at some point due to the poor design and implementation of the baffle. This wouldn't be such a big problem if this was a minor repair and was a reasonable price to have a shop perform or for the more mechanically inclined owner to perform themselves, but it is a ridiculously complex and time-consuming job just to get to the gas tank and take it off. My mechanic told me it is akin to taking the transmission or engine out and as such labor is outstandingly and outrageously expensive with this job requiring approximately $2000-$2500 to perform according to my mechanic and other SL500 owners who have also had to deal with this issue. This is an issue that you may not experience if you don't own one of these vehicles for long enough, but the vehicle will have this problem during it's lifetime and Mercedes should be responsible for allowing such a design to make it into production.

NHTSA ID

11456885

Incident

Feb 14, 2022

The contact owns a 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL500. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle, the following day he noticed that the front of the vehicle was lowered down. The contact stated that the car was too low a warning light was illuminated. The contact stated while starting the vehicle and taking his foot off the brake pedal, the vehicle would raise up independently and would be able to drive to his destination. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the front strap suspension to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 52,500.

NHTSA ID

11445617

Incident

Aug 21, 2021

Mileage

52,500 mi

It has been nearly two years I have stopped driving my 2003 Mercedes SL500, although I only have about 80,000 miles on the car. This is due to ABC warning light(red display: please drive carefully)comes on intermittently and the car drives very bouncy and it feels the car has no shocks, definitely feeling it would be unsafe to drive. The diagnostic message comes up saying "visit workshop". This is the third time this ABC pump issue is stopping me from driving the car, since it first appeared when I had 29,000 miles on the car which was under manufacturer warranty (50,000 miles or four years) and the dealership replaced the ABC pump and also replaced the engine mounts. The ABC red light appeared again when I had about 51,000 miles on the car. It happened also the engine mounts were in need of replacement again. As the Warranty was only for 50,000 miles, Mercedes refused to repair the ABC pump and the engine mounts under warranty and finally I agreed to a 50% cost to me to have repairs done. I expressed my opinion that the ABC pump and the engine mounts had engineering and manufacturing defect and they should have 50,000 miles warranty as the original warranty, from the time of replacement. Regrettably, same ABC malfunction and engine mounts became an issue at 78,000 miles and now the dealer and Mercedes refuse to replace the ABC pump and engine mounts under warranty and have given an estimate of $7336.36 for the necessary replacement of parts, including labor, but excluding taxes. To divert attention from ABC pump, the dealer is now referring to the problem as "power Steering pump"I have extensively researched the issues and it appears the mentioned problems with my car are prevailing issues with other Mercedes 2003 SL 500, and there are 100's of owners who feel Mercedes is not taking responsibility for replacement and repair of these defective parts under warranty. My car is unsafe to drive. There should be a recall by Mercedes to fix these dangerous to drive cars.

NHTSA ID

11430048

Incident

Mar 29, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ SL500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL (ABC) WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN MERCEDES-BENZ DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL (ABC) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 95,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11414395

Incident

Jan 1, 2018

Mileage

95,000 mi

HEARING CLANGING, THUMP NOISE BETWEEN SEATS AND TRUCK, TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP AND WAS ADVISED IT IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL - PROBLEM WITH BAFFLE IN THE TANK AND MIGHT HAVE COME OFF, SEARCHED ON-LINE AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME ISSUE, WAS THIS EVER ADDRESSED BY MB AND RECALLED?

NHTSA ID

11337602

Incident

Jun 25, 2020

Mileage

87,500 mi

MY CAR IS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ SL500. THE ABC LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND THE CARS SUSPENSION CONTINUES TO RAISE AND FALL. MANY TIMES ONE SIDE HIGHER THAN THE OTHER AND NOT EVENLY. IN 2013 I HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM AND ENDED UP COSTING ROUGHLY $3200. OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS AN UNSAFE MECHANICAL ISSUE. AFTER REVIEWING YOU SITE FOR RECALLS ON MB 2003 SL500, IT APPEARS THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM ON MY MODEL YEAR AND CAR. AFTER SPEAKING TO MB OF SARASOTA AND MBUSA IT WAS VIN# SPECIFIC AND MY VIN WASNT INCLUDED. I AM VERY CONFUSED HOW THIS DOESNT COVER MY VEHICLE. NHTSA CAAMPAIGN NUMBER : 08V405000. OBVIOUSLY, THIS SHOULD NOT BE VIN SPECIFIC AS MY CAR HAS THIS PROBLEM FOR THE SECOND TIME AND VERY EXPENSIVE TO CORRECT. IT IS A DANGEROUS MECHANICAL DEFECT THAT MB SHOULD TAKE CARE OF. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

NHTSA ID

11267359

Incident

Oct 1, 2019

Mileage

78,000 mi

SOMETIMES WHEN I START THE CAR THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH WILL NOT COME ON AND NONE OF THE GAUGES WORK ! THEN I TURN IT OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN AND IT WORKS! ALSO WHEN I'M DRIVING AND HIT A LITTLE BUMP ON THE FREEWAY AND ROAD THE DASH LIGHTS TURN RED AND SAYS DRIVE CAREFULLY THEN 2 SECONDS LATER GOES BACK TO NORMAL!

NHTSA ID

11230269

Incident

Feb 5, 2018

THE ABC SUSPENSION SYSTEM FAILS WHILE DRIVING CAUSING SUSPENSION TO LOWER AND VEHICLE IS DIFFICULT TO HANDLE. THE FRONT END IS SPONGY AND DIPS UP AND DOWN. RED WARNING DO NOT DRIVE ILLUMINATES. VERY UNSAFE.

NHTSA ID

11196858

Incident

Apr 4, 2019

Mileage

66,000 mi

MERCEDES BENZ 2003 SL 500. IN 2011 WITH 34,000 MILES ON ENGINE, WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY HEARD LOUD NOISE HAD TO PULL OVER QUICKLY BECAUSE FRONT OF CAR DROPPED RUBBING ON TIRES WHICH RESULTED IN ONE BLOWN OUT TIRE AND HAD CAR TOWED TO NEAREST DEALERSHIP, THANK GOD CUZ INNOCENT PEOPLE OR MYSELF COULD HAVE BEEN HURT SERIOUSLY, THIS WAS A $5,000 JOB . 2014 WITH 45,000 MILES ON ENGINE WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY I HEARD AGAIN THAT DISTINCTIVE LOUD SOUND WHICH RESULTED IN LEFT SIDE OF CAR DROPPED RUBBING ON TIRES, FENDER AND TIRE WAS DAMAGED HAD CAR TOWED TO NEAREST MB DEALERSHIP. HYDRAULIC FLUID PROBLEMS HAS PLAGUE THIS QUALITY SERIES CAR . THIS UNFORTUNATE EVENT COST ME $9,800.00 BECAUSE I ALSO HAD TO REPAIR THE ROOF AS IT IS A CONVERTIBLE AND HYDRAULICS PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE OPERATIONS OF THE ROOF . 2018 WITH 60,000 MILES ON ENGINE, WHILE DRIVING IN THE CITY, I HEARD LOUD THUD UNDER CAR I QUICKLY SWERVE OFF ROAD TO SAFE SPOT CUZ I KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM AGAIN, THE RIGHT SIDE OF CAR DROPPED WITH FLUID SPRAYING OUT , CAR THEN STARTED RESTING ON FRONT AND REAR TIRES WITH HYDRAULIC FLUID SPRAYED EVERY WHERE ,HAD THIS PROBLEM FIXED COST WAS $2,000 . FEW MONTHS AFTER THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN . THIS CAR THAT I LOVE SO MUCH HAS BEEN SITTING IN MY GARAGE BECAUSE CAR CANT BE DRIVEN AND THE FRONT END / BODY OF CAR IS RESTING ON BOTH TIRES LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE . I AM MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY DRAINED AND ALSO MY POCKETS . MERCEDES BENZ CORP. IS FULLY AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS JUST LIKE MYSELF . AS A MULTI MILLION DOLLAR COMPANY THEY SHOULD HAVE TAKEN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF A RECALL IN GOOD FAITH TO ASSIST US , AFTER ALL THEY WOULD NOT BE WHERE THEY ARE TODAY WITHOUT US CUSTOMERS . MERCEDES BENZ CORP. WILLFULLY AND INTENTIONALLY IS KEEPING A BLIND EYE TO THIS BIG PROBLEM WHILE WE THE CUSTOMERS ARE BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OFF

NHTSA ID

11165574

Incident

Jun 10, 2011

Mileage

34,000 mi

ABC AND CONVERTIBLE ARE NOT FUNCTIONING AS ITS SUPPOSED, WHILE THE CAR NOT BENN DRING NOR USING THE FEATURES. THE KEYLESS REMOTE KEY ENTRY IS NOT WORKING!

NHTSA ID

11061280

Incident

Jan 1, 2015

ABS PROBLEM MY CAR WONT GO UP OR DOWN IT IS IN THE DOWN POSITION ABS LIGHT IS ON DON T NO WHAT PROBLEM IS I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

11057019

Incident

Nov 1, 2017

Mileage

56,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING MY MERCEDES BENZ 2003 SL500 THE BRAKES BECAME DISABLED WITHOUT WARNING. IT WAS A TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE. THE FIRST MERCEDES DEALER I PHONED TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NO KNOWN SAFETY RECALLS FOR THE BRAKES. THE SECOND MERCEDES DEALER THAT I CONTACTED INFORMED ME ABOUT 2 RECALLS IN 2004 AND 2005. I PHONED THE MERCEDES BENZ USA HEADQUARTERS AND SPOKE TO A CASE MANAGER WHO TOLD ME THAT MERCEDES' RESPONSIBILITY WITH THIS SAFETY ISSUE EXPIRED IN 2012. HOW CAN A SAFETY ISSUE SUCH AS HAVING NO BRAKES WHILE DRIVING EXPIRE? HOW CAN A CORPORATION BE ALLOWED TO WALK AWAY FROM THIS TYPE OF POTENTIALLY DEADLY SAFETY ISSUE? THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS CAR.

NHTSA ID

11023809

Incident

Sep 11, 2017

Mileage

87,800 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IN TOWN ON CITY STREETS THE SBS BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED AS I CAME TO A TURN LEAVING ME WITH NO BRAKE RESPONSE EVEN THOUGH THE DEALER SAYS IT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE HYDRAULIC BACK-UP TO STOP THE CAR. I WAS ABLE TO COAST AND STOP THE CAR ONLY WITH THE EMERGENCY HAND BRAKE. THE SBS SYSTEM HAS BEEN RECALLED TWICE BY THE FACTORY BUT THERE IS STILL SOMETHING VERY WRONG WHEN A MODERN CAR HAD NO BACK-UP SYSTEM. THESE CARS ARE DANGEROUS! LUCKILY FOR ME THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT AND I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER AND IT IS BEING REPAIRED.

NHTSA ID

10969321

Incident

Mar 29, 2017

Mileage

85,000 mi

I OWN A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ SL 500 AND REPLACED THE HYDRAULIC PUMP IN 2014 FOR $6400.00. THE CAR WOULD DROP LOW (ON ONE SIDE IF PARKED FOR A FEW HOURS). TODAY, JANUARY 5, 2017 - THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN. WHILE DRIVING, I HEARD A LOUD BURSTING SOUND AND THEN HYDRAULIC FLUID BEGAN SEEPING OUT ALSO, THE ABC RED DASH LIGHT ILLUMINATED STATING THAT THE CAR IS "TOO LOW TO DRIVE". I MANAGED TO SLOWLY DRIVE HOME (WITHOUT POWER STEERING). THIS IS A HUGE DEFECT IN MERCEDES BENZ TECHNOLOGY AND MANUFACTURING - A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. THIS VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE AND DANGEROUS TO OPERATE. ALSO, CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT SPEND THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON DEFECTIVE PARTS. BY THE WAY, THIS VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED BY MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP TECHNICIANS. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR SUPPORT FROM THE NHTSA AS I PURSUE VIABLE RECOURSE OPTIONS. THANK YOU! *TR

NHTSA ID

10940037

Incident

Jan 5, 2017

Mileage

116,578 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500. WHILE DRIVING INTO THE GARAGE, THE ABC PUMP WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED A LARGE AMOUNT OF HYDRAULIC FLUID ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR AXLE VALVE LOCK, AND PRESSURE RESERVOIR FOR THE ABC SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED AND FLUSHED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V263000 (SUSPENSION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,620. *TR

NHTSA ID

10936250

Incident

Oct 10, 2012

Mileage

55,620 mi

SUSPENSION DROPS OVERNIGHT AND HAS DROPPED WHILE IN MOTION ON THE EXPRESSWAY. RED WARNING TO LIMIT SPEED CONSTANTLY COMES ON ESPECIALLY IF LOW ON FLUID AND ON BUMPS. THE DEALER CANNOT ISOLATE THE CAUSE OF PRESSURE OR EXCESSIVE HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAKS. FRONT BUMPER DAMAGED AS A RESULT. OVER $8000.00 SPENT AND PROBLEM NOT RESOLVED. NO CONFIDENCE IN THE CAR UNLESS THE SUPPLY OF FLUID IS CARRIED IN THE CAR AT ALL TIMES. DEALER WANTED $16,000.00 TO DIAGNOSE AND POSSIBLY REPAIR BUT OFFERED NO WARRANTY FOR WORK.

NHTSA ID

10920135

Incident

Jul 9, 2015

Mileage

71,000 mi

HERE A BANGING NOISE BEHIND THE SEAT, TOOK IT TO A MERCEDES BENZ REPAIR SHOP. THEY INFORMED ME THE FUEL TANK BAFFLE IS BROKEN FREE. HE SAID IT IS VERY COMMON ON THIS MODEL. BUT NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR RECALL. IT WOULD CONT ME OVER 2,500.00 TO REPAIR. DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AT MBWORLD FORUM. THIS HAPPEN ON ALMOST EVERY CAR LIKE THIS. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO FIX THIS. AND I AM WORRIED THIS MIGHT BLOW UP OR SOMETHING, SINCE SOMETHING BANGING AROUND THE THE INSIDE OF THE FUEL TANK CAN NOT BE SAFE, THIS CAR RUNS ON PREMIUM GASOLINE. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN LOUDER WHEN THE TANK IS FROM 3/4 FULL TO 1/2. IF I LET IT RUN TO LOW THE FUEL GAUGE STICKS ON EMPTY UNTIL I GO OVER A BIG BUMP. I BELIEVE THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT AS THE CAR ONLY HAS 60,000 MILES ON IT. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO REPLACE THE FUEL TANK ON A CAR THAT COST ABOUT 100,000.00 NEW. BUT MORE IMPORTANT, I DO NOT FEEL THIS CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE IN THIS CONDITION. THE DEALER STATED IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, JUST AN ANNOYANCE???

NHTSA ID

10865292

Incident

Jan 5, 2016

Mileage

52,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AS IT LOWERED TO THE GROUND. A "TOO LOW TO DRIVE" MESSAGE DISPLAYED ACROSS THE MESSAGE BOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ACCUMULATORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A COMPLETE DIAGNOSTIC HAD NOT BEEN PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

NHTSA ID

10863874

Incident

May 1, 2016

Mileage

84,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING AN 03 SL500 AND FROM THE START THE BATTERY LIGHT (WHITE STAYED ON) REPLACED BOTH FRONT AND BACK BATTERY AND VOLTAGE REGULATOR, NOW THE RED BATTERY LIGHT IS ON AND STAYS ON. ON LAST NIGHT, WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, I HEARD A POP, CAR DROPPED AND WARNING CAME ON SAYING CAR WAS TOO LOW AND FLUID IS LEAKING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE LOOK LIKE BY THE FRONT WHEEL. MECHANIC DID A LOT OF GUESSING AND STILL NOT FIXED.

NHTSA ID

10862721

Incident

May 1, 2016

Mileage

84,000 mi