The 2005 Mercedes-Benz Sl Class has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 204,000 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the air bags. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC05V1330002005-04-01204,000 affected
Defect
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL (SBC) SYSTEM MAY PREMATURELY SHIFT TO THE HYDRAULIC BACK-UP FUNCTION MODE, DUE TO DETERIORATION OF THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTION, OR DUE TO PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE HYDRAULIC PUMP.
Consequence
IN THE HYDRAULIC BACK-UP MODE, THE DRIVER HAS BRAKING POWER SUFFICIENT TO STOP THE VEHICLE, ALTHOUGH GREATER BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE IS REQUIRED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL WILL BE NOTICEABLY LONGER.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A BRACKET AND REPLACEMENT GROUND WIRE TO THE SBC PUMP UNIT ON ALL VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. ADDITIONALLY DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE SBC PUMP UNIT IN SL VEHICLES PRODUCED DURING A LIMITED PRODUCTION PERIOD. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 8, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT…
Complaints by component
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
1
1crashes1injuries
SUSPENSION:FRONT
1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
1
1crashes1injuries
Total complaints3
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Tl*the contact owns a 2005 mercedes sl600. While driving approximately 45 mph, the preceding vehicle stopped abrubptly. The contact depressed the brake pedal; however, the vehicle did not slow down or stop. The contact crashed into another vehicle, and the front air bags failed to deploy. He…”
“Tl*the contact owns a 2005 mercedes sl600. While driving approximately 45 mph, the preceding vehicle stopped abrubptly. The contact depressed the brake pedal; however, the vehicle did not slow down or stop. The contact crashed into another vehicle, and the front air bags failed to deploy. He…”
“2005 mercedez benz c230 sport type has a low front end. In florida when you park in a public parking lot the front of the car is against a concrete tire stop. You are going out for the evening with another couple you drop off the 3 people at the door and park against the concrete piece stop. After…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2005 Mercedes-Benz Sl Class as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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