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NHTSA recalls & complaints · 2003–2007

Mercedes-Benz SL230 recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 1 owner complaint for the Mercedes-Benz SL230, covering model years 2003 to 2007. Service Brakes, Hydraulic is the component owners name most often.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint flat files, updated September 25, 2026.

Decode your Mercedes-Benz SL230 VIN

See the model year, plant and build details of one vehicle, then the recalls for its exact year.

  • 1 recall campaign on file
  • 1 owner complaint (unverified reports to NHTSA)
  • 5 model years with data (2003–2007)
  • top component: Service Brakes, Hydraulic (1 complaint)
  • latest recall 08V405000 (reported Aug 14, 2008)
  • 0 complaints reporting a crash (0.0%)
  • 0 complaints reporting a fire (0.0%)
  • 0 complaints reporting an injury (0.0%)
  • 0 complaints reporting a death (0.0%)

Mercedes-Benz SL230 complaints by model year

1 model year · NHTSA complaints

All 1 complaints are for the 2003 model year.

Mercedes-Benz SL230 complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Mercedes-Benz SL230 complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model yearComplaintsReporting a crashReporting a fireReporting an injuryReporting a death
200310000

Crash, fire, injury and death columns count complaints that report at least one of them, not people.

Most-reported Mercedes-Benz SL230 components

top 1 · NHTSA categories

Service Brakes, Hydraulic is the component named most often, in 1 complaint (100.0% of all 1).

Components named most often in Mercedes-Benz SL230 complaints (top 1)
Components named most often in Mercedes-Benz SL230 complaints (top 1)
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints
Service Brakes, Hydraulic1100.0%

One complaint can name several components, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Component names are NHTSA’s top-level categories.

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

These figures count complaints that vehicle owners and other members of the public have submitted to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA uses complaints, together with other data, to spot safety issues that may warrant an investigation and to check whether existing recalls go far enough.

  • They are reports, not findings. Each complaint is the submitter's own account. Its presence in the database does not mean NHTSA has confirmed a defect.
  • Counts are not defect rates. The data doesn't say how many vehicles were sold, so a raw count can't tell you what share of vehicles had a problem.
  • Popular models collect more complaints. A model sold in large numbers will usually gather more complaints than a rare one, simply because more people own it.
  • One complaint can name several components. Totals by component can therefore add up to more than the number of complaints.
  • Coverage starts in 1995. NHTSA's complaint file contains complaints received since January 1, 1995.

Use complaint patterns as a prompt for questions: whether a recall covers the issue, whether the vehicle you are considering has had the fix, and what a mechanic finds on inspection. For confirmed safety defects, see the recall list for this model.

Mercedes-Benz SL230 recalls

1 campaign · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name SL230, newest first. The only campaign, 08V405000, covers model years 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.

  • 1 recall campaign
Mercedes-Benz SL230 recall campaigns covering each model year
2003: 1 campaign2004: 1 campaign2005: 1 campaign2006: 1 campaign2007: 1 campaign

  1. NHTSA campaign 08V405000

    Reported

    Suspension

    Model years 2003–2007

    Mercedes Benz is recalling 4,564 MY 2001-2006 CL-class (model 215), MY 2002-2006 s-class (model 220), MY 2003-2007 SL-class (model 230), MY 2007-2008 CL-class (model 216), and MY 2007 s-class (model 221)passenger vehicles equipped with active body control (abc) acceleration sensors on the front struts. These sensors measure acceleration around the z-axis of the vehicle and assure an automatic adaptation of the front struts to maintain a relatively level body position. Variations in the soldering process resulted in soldering points on the board of the abc sensors which may not be within design tolerances. Signals from the affected sensors measuring the acceleration may not be accurately transmitted to the engine control unit.

    Consequence:
    A variation in the transmitted values between affected and unaffected sensors can result in one front strut adjusting to a value indicating body movement while another strut does not adjust presenting the driver with an uneven front suspension. This condition may lead to unexpected body movements at the front axle which can adversely influence the vehicle's directional stability and could lead to a vehicle crash.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will inspect and replace, if necessary, the front abc sensors in all potentially affected vehicles. The recall began on September 22, 2008. Owners may contact Mercedes-Benz at 1-800-367-6372.

    Filed by Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC

Recall text is shown as NHTSA publishes it; older campaigns, which NHTSA stores in capital letters, are shown in sentence case. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, also answers recall questions.

How to read this recall list

This list shows every safety recall campaign NHTSA has on file for this make, model and model year. It is not specific to one vehicle: a recall often covers only vehicles built in a certain date range or with a certain part, and many of the vehicles it covers will already have been repaired.

What each recall field means
What each recall field means
FieldWhat it tells you
Campaign numberNHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
ComponentThe system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
SummaryWhat the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
ConsequenceThe safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
RemedyWhat the manufacturer will do, such as a repair, replacement or software update, and whether it is free.
  • Some recalls carry an NHTSA consumer advisory, “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside”. Follow it until the repair is done.
  • A single campaign often covers several models or model years, so the same campaign number can appear in more than one list.
  • Recalls are shown as NHTSA publishes them. Very recent campaigns may take time to appear.

Does your vehicle have an open recall? Only a VIN check can tell you. Enter the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or on the manufacturer's website. Our VIN recall check guide explains what each option covers.

Mercedes-Benz SL230 questions

4 questions

How many recalls does the Mercedes-Benz SL230 have?

NHTSA lists 1 vehicle recall campaign for the Mercedes-Benz SL230, covering model years 2003 to 2007. The campaign, 08V405000, was reported on August 14, 2008 and is filed under “Suspension”.

What is the most common Mercedes-Benz SL230 complaint?

Service Brakes, Hydraulic is the component named most often: 1 complaint, or 100.0% of all 1. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects, and one complaint can name several components.

Does every recall on this page apply to my Mercedes-Benz SL230?

Not necessarily. Each campaign lists specific model years, and many cover only vehicles built in a certain period or fitted with a certain part; repairs already carried out aren’t shown. To see whether a recall is open on your vehicle, enter its VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or ask a Mercedes-Benz dealer.

How many Mercedes-Benz SL230 complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 1 complaint, 0 report a crash, 0 a fire, 0 at least one injury and 0 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.

Other Mercedes-Benz models

8 models · most complaints first

The Mercedes-Benz models with the most NHTSA complaints, and the Mercedes-Benz VIN decoder with every Mercedes-Benz model page, WMI code and VIN note.

All Mercedes-Benz models and WMI codesLook up recalls by year

Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files, updated September 25, 2026. Recall campaigns are vehicle (V) campaigns listed for this model name; complaints are counted once per NHTSA ODI number and model year.