2005 Mercedes Benz SL500 problems

Filed Feb 20, 2023 · Transmission · CA

This issue almost cause an accident on the freeway, Transmission went from drive to neutral and then reverse. This is cause by the range sensor. Conductor plate for transmission is very common for this type of vehicles. Please investigate. This can cause a fatal injury or death.

Filed Jan 14, 2022 · Brakes · 22,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL500. The contact stated that while driving from a complete stop, the brake warning light and other unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that he lost control of the vehicle but did not provide further information. The contact stated that while driving at 15 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed but failed to respond. The warning message "Reduced Braking Power, Depress Brake Pedal Fully" and another message advising the contact to take the vehicle to the nearest service station illuminated. The contact continued to depress the brake pedal all the way to the floorboard, but the brake pedal would not respond. The contact stated that the vehicle stopped independently at some point. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who test drove the vehicle and diagnosed that no issues were found as no warning lights were illuminated. The dealer also informed the contact that they could not repair the vehicle under an unknown extended warranty for the sensotronic brake control system replacement as his vehicle was not under the extended warranty. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and confirmed the information from the dealer. Later on, the manufacturer followed up with the contact and confirmed that his vehicle was under the sensotronic brake control system replacement extended warranty; however, the dealer would need to diagnose the vehicle at his expense before they would cover the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 22,000.

Filed Mar 25, 2020 · Electrical · 90,000 miles · CA · fire

Tl* the contact owns 2005 mercedes benz sl500. The contact stated that the whole right side of the vehicle trunk caught on fire while the vehicle was parked. The contact stated that the fire started in the upper right front area of the trunk where they were wires and saw sparks. The contact stated that the fire went out on its own because there was no oxygen. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that they will tow the vehicle to mercedes-benz of oakland (2915 broadway, oakland, ca 94611). The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.

Filed Oct 10, 2019 · Transmission · 33,000 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mercedes-benz sl500. While driving 75 MPH, the vehicle went into limp mode and the speed decreased to 35 MPH. In addition, the ABS and esp warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to mercedes-benz of palm beach (4000 okeechobee blvd, west palm beach, fl 33409, (561) 609-0902), but was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the fault conductor plate needed to be replaced. The contact was referred to the local dealer. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 33,000. The VIN was invalid.

Filed Jul 30, 2019 · Brakes · 48,000 miles · IL

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mercedes-benz sl500r. While driving 50 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed to the floorboard, but failed to stop the vehicle. The contact had to apply the emergency brake to stop the vehicle. The contact stated that several unknown warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was towed to mercedes-benz of orland park (located at 8430 w 159th st, orland park, il 60462, (708) 460-0400) where it was diagnosed with a low battery. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 48,000.

Filed Apr 3, 2018 · Engine · 86,400 miles · WA · fire

Tl* the contact owned a 2005 mercedes-benz sl500. After parking the vehicle, the contact heard a noise coming from the engine compartment and flames appeared. The fire department extinguished the fire. A police report was not filed. There were no injuries. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to a towing yard. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 86,400.

Filed Mar 9, 2018 · Brakes · WA

2005 mercedes sl500. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle brake system failure while driving. *smd the consumer stated without warning the sbc pump warning light appeared and the brakes failed. The sbc pump needed to replaced. The vehicle was repaired.

Filed Apr 28, 2017 · Transmission · 60,000 miles · CA

While driving in traffic at approximately 40 MPH the transmission disengaged (slipped) so much so that the RPM's shot up and the car no longer had power to the drive wheels. I needed to move over 2 lanes through traffic to pull over to the curb and get out of traffic. Once I stopped the car at the side of the road the transmission engaged and the car regained power the the rear wheels and I was able to drive the car off the road to safety with some minimal slipping of the transmission. Once I got the car home I checked for error codes even though there was no check engine light on. The error code was p2206 "the signal from component y#?*n3 output speed sensor (vgs) is not available". Looked the code up and discovered that this is a known problem to this 7 speed transmissions conductor plate/valve body which needs to be replaced by the dealer as a unit. I have recently had my 05 sl500 which has 60,000 miles serviced at a mercedes benz dealer for an unrelated issue and ould have hoped that the dealer or mbusa would have notified me about this common dangerous defect as the defect appears to be well known to the many owners who have experienced this failure as well as the dealers and mbusa who have needed to repair a large number of these early 7 speed transmissions.

Filed Sep 12, 2016 · Suspension · 87,000 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mercedes-benz sl500. While driving 40 MPH, "car too low stop driving" message appeared on the display panel. The contact coasted the vehicle into a fuel station, looked under the vehicle, and noticed that the frame was resting on top of the front driver and passenger wheels. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the hydraulic pump leaked into the reservoir and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 87,000.

Filed Dec 8, 2015 · Fuel system · 22,685 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mercedes benz sl 500. The contact stated that while driving, fuel odors emitted from the vehicle. The contact stated that when the vehicle was parked, he noticed fuel had leaked into the rear seats of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the fuel tank cap was leaking and the driver and the passenger side fuel tank caps needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 22,685.