Short answer
Among Mercedes-Benz SL-Class model years through 2024, 2002, 2008, 2010 and 2 more years have the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (0) and 2023 has the most (5). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Mercedes-Benz SL-Class: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 24 (2002–2026)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 24
- Fewest recalls
- 2002, 2008, 2010 and 2 more years (0)
- Most recalls
- 2023 (5)
- Most recalled system
- Electrical system (14)
Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Recent: still collecting recalls | 1 | Not rated | Electrical system |
| 2025 Recent: still collecting recalls | 1 | Not rated | Electrical system |
| 2024 | 3 | Not rated | Electrical system |
| 2023 | 5 | Not rated | Electrical system, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2022 | 4 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Electrical system, Steering |
| 2020 | 3 | Not rated | Communication, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2019 | 4 | Not rated | Communication, Air bags, Power train |
| 2018 | 2 | Not rated | Air bags, Communication |
| 2017 | 1 | Not rated | Communication |
| 2016 | 1 | Not rated | Communication |
| 2015 | 3 | Not rated | Communication, Exterior lighting, Steering |
| 2014 | 4 | Not rated | Air bags, Communication, Electrical system |
| 2013 | 4 | Not rated | Air bags, Communication, Equipment |
| 2012 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2011 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2010 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2009 | 1 | Not rated | Electrical system |
| 2008 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2007 | 1 | Not rated | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2006 | 1 | Not rated | Electrical system |
| 2005 | 1 | Not rated | Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2004 | 3 | Not rated | Service brakes, hydraulic, Electrical system |
| 2003 | 3 | Not rated | Service brakes, hydraulic, Electrical system |
| 2002 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20261 recall
- 20251 recall
- 20243 recalls
- 20235 recalls
- 20224 recalls
- 20203 recalls
- 20194 recalls
- 20182 recalls
- 20171 recall
- 20161 recall
- 20153 recalls
- 20144 recalls
- 20134 recalls
- 20120 recalls
- 20110 recalls
- 20100 recalls
- 20091 recall
- 20080 recalls
- 20071 recall
- 20061 recall
- 20051 recall
- 20043 recalls
- 20033 recalls
- 20020 recalls
Mercedes-Benz SL-Class: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Mercedes-Benz SL-Class recalls are electrical system (14), communication (10), fuel system, gasoline (5), service brakes, hydraulic (5) and air bags (4). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
FAQ: Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2002, 2008, 2010 and 2 more years are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 0 each.
Which Mercedes-Benz SL-Class model years have the most recalls?
2023 has the most, with 5 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "SL-Class", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy