RoadVitals

2004 Mercedes-Benz SL500 Fuel system Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the fuel system system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Fuel system reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest May 7, 2022
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
20%
of 45 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming fuel system

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Fuel system
Filed May 7, 2022

On many 2003 and 2004 models. Broken fuel tank baffle inside fuel tank. This is well documented and could possibly cause explosion.

NHTSA ID
11463728
Incident
May 1, 2022
Fuel system
Filed Jul 30, 2020

ON JULY 22, 2020 THE VEHICLE (2004 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 (R230)BEGAN MAKING A LOUD BANGING NOISE IN THE REAR WHEN STOPPING AND TURNING. I DELIVERED THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL SHOP WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING A BROKEN BAFFLE IN THE FUEL TANK. THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE FUEL TANK. MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MODEL HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE AND IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT; THIS CANNOT BE CAUSED BY EXCESS WEAR ON THE VEHICLE. BECAUSE THERE IS NOW A LARGE SECTION OF THE FUEL TANK FREELY SWINGING INSIDE, THERE IS A CHANCE THAT THIS COULD CAUSE A SPARK AND SUBSEQUENT EXPLOSION. I CANNOT SAFELY DRIVE THIS VEHICLE UNTIL THE FUEL TANK IS REPLACED AT A VERY LARGE COST. THIS MODEL SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED WHEN THIS ISSUE WAS FIRST COMING TO LIGHT OVER 15 YEARS AGO.

NHTSA ID
11342296
Incident
Jul 22, 2020
Mileage
118,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jun 2, 2020

I EXPERIENCE A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL WHEN ENTERING MY VEHICLE AND WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE, ALSO WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE I HEART A LOUD THUMPING SOUND COMING FROM THE TRUNK AREA. SOUNDS TO ME AS THOUGH SOMETHING IS FLOATING INSIDE GAS TANK. THIS ODOR HAS SICKENED ME AND HAS SEVERELY UPSET MY STOMACH TO THE POINT THAT I'M UNABLE TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE EXCEPT FOR A SHORT DISTANCE. THE THUMPING SOUND IS CREATED WHEN VEHICLE IS MOVING OR COMING TO A STOP BUT HAPPENS CONTINUOUSLY WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID
11326987
Incident
May 1, 2020
Mileage
88,620 mi
Fuel system
Filed Dec 6, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING SOUND UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE NEAR THE FUEL TANK. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS A CONSTANT FUEL ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF VIRGINIA BEACH (LOCATED AT 4949 VIRGINIA BEACH BLVD, VIRGINIA BEACH, VA 23462, (757) 499-3771) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT ONE OF THE BAFFLES IN THE FUEL TANK FRACTURED, SEPARATED, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11156602
Incident
Jun 15, 2018
Mileage
144,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Oct 15, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ SL500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, A KNOCKING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

NHTSA ID
10644773
Incident
Oct 13, 2014
Mileage
78,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Aug 8, 2014

THE GAS TANK BAFFLE HAD BROKEN AND IT IS KNOCKING INSIDE THE TANK. I AM CONCERNED THAT IT WILL BREAK AND CAUSE A FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10620891
Incident
Aug 8, 2014
Mileage
125,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Mar 28, 2011

BAFFLE IN MY FUEL TANK ON MY 2004 MERCEDES SL 500 HAS BROKEN. CAUSES A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND. ENTIRE FUEL TANK HAS TO BE REPLACED. RESEARCHING MANY BLOGS AND FORUMS FOUND MANY OF SL OWNERS HAS SAME EXPERIENCED. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE HANDLED UNDER A RECALL FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10393097
Incident
Jan 20, 2011
Mileage
80,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Mar 20, 2011

2004 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500, LOUD KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE REAR.FUEL TANK MIGHT NEED TO BE REPLACED... SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10392283
Incident
Mar 20, 2011
Mileage
118,200 mi
Fuel system
Filed Nov 4, 2010

BAFFLE IN MY FUEL TANK ON MY 2004 MERCEDES SL 500 HAS BROKEN. CAUSES A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND AND THE ONLY REMEDY IS TO SPEND $3000 TO HAVE THE ENTIRE FUEL TANK REPLACED. THIS IS HAPPENING TO HUNDREDS OF MERCEDES BENZ SL OWNERS. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE HANDLED UNDER A RECALL FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10364000
Incident
Nov 1, 2010
Mileage
50,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Suspension21Brakes11

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .