Model year record
2008 Mercedes-Benz Sl 550 recalls & problems
The 2008 Mercedes-Benz Sl 550 has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 4 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (1 complaint).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2008 Mercedes-Benz Sl 550.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Fuel economy
SL550
| City / highway | 14 / 21 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Premium Gasoline |
5.5 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 7-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $5,150/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | — |
| Seats | 1 | — |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 1 | — |
| Steering | 1 | — |
| Service brakes | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Service brakes
WHILE DRIVING AT 50MPH, AUDIBLE AND VISUAL WARNINGS OF BRAKE FAILURE. NO BRAKING AVAILABLE OTHER THAN TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFT FOR ENGINE BRAKING.
- Service brakes, hydraulic
THE SUBJECT CAR, A 2008 MERCDES BENZ SL550, THAT HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND IS STORED IN A GARAGE. THE CAR WAS STARTED AND DRIVEN OUT OF THE GARAGE ON TO THE STREET, APPROXIMATELY 50 YARDS LATER WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH, THE BRAKES 100% FAILED AND THE POWER ASSISTED STEERING STOP WORKING. AFTER COASTING TO A STOP AND PLACING THE CAR IN PARK. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE DASH BOARD FLASHED A STOP SIGN SYMBOL AND A MESSAGE THAT INCREASE PEDAL PRESSURE WOULD BE REQUIRED. THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. AT FIRST THE BRAKES AND STEERING SEEM NORMAL BUT AFTER ABOUT 10 SECONDS, AGAIN THE BRAKES AND STEERING FAILED. AT THIS POINT A TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED AND THE…
- Seats
DRIVER PLACED A PURSE BEHIND THE FRONT SEAT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS POWER SEATS WHICH OPERATE ON A MOTOR. THE STRAP FROM THE PURSE APPARENTLY CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE SEAT IN MOTION CAUSING SMOLDERING AND EVENTUALLY THE SEAT MOTOR TO BURN ITSELF OUT. A FIRE WAS AVOIDED DUE TO A FUSE CAUSING THE MOTOR TO STOP HOWEVER THE MOTOR WHILE IT WAS OPERATING AND PRIOR TO THE FUSE KICKING IN NEARLY CAUSED A FIRE. THE SEAT SHOULD BE EQUIPPED WITH A CONTACT MECHANISM ( SIMILAR TO THAT IN THE WINDOW AND ELEVATOR DOORS OR GARAGE DOORS WHICH CAUSES THE SEAT TO STOP UPON CONTACT. IF MAKEUP OR OTHER FLAMMABLE PRODUCTS HAD BEEN IN THE BAG, THERE SURELY WOULD HAVE BEEN A FIRE. *KB
- Engine and engine cooling
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ SL550. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE COMPUTER SYSTEM WAS REPAIRED. APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS LATER, THE RECURRED WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION OR STOPPED. DURING THE RECURRENCES, THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART AFTER STALLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE IN THE PROCESS OF DIAGNOSING THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.