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2013 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class has been recalled for, how often it fails the UK MOT and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 0safety recalls
- 18owner complaints
- 1crash report
- 0fire reports
- 16%fail the UK MOT
The most complained-about Mercedes-Benz SL-Class year on file: 18 complaints, against an average of 5 for the other 4 model years.
Every Mercedes-Benz SL-Class model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class?
The components named most often in the 18 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
Has the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class been recalled?
NHTSA lists no safety recalls for the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class as of October 25, 2026. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check your VIN before you rely on this.
Is the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class recalled in the UK or Europe?
Recalls issued by the UK's DVSA and through the EU's Safety Gate system that cover this model and build period. European models can differ from U.S. ones, and "years estimated" means the recall gave no build dates, so confirm your own car with your registration or VIN.
UK DVSAThe refrigerant in the air condition system does not meet legal requirements
Risk: The refrigerant used in the air conditioning system does not meet legal requirements
Fix: The air conditioning system will be adapted for the usage of the new refrigerant.
UK DVSAThe refrigerant used in the air conditioning system does not meet legal requirements
Risk: The refrigerant used in the air conditioning system does not meet legal requirements.
Fix: The air conditioning system will be adapted for the usage of the new refrigerant.
EU Safety GateFaulty configurations of the control units (traction systems, signal recording triggering modules, engine control units and headlights)…Faulty configurations of the control units (traction systems, signal recording triggering modules, engine control units and headlights) could cause one or more control units to malfunction, which could increase the risk of an accident. The exhaust emissions exceed the legal limits, posing a risk to the environment.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateRefrigerant of type R134a is used in the air conditioning system.As a result, the affected vehicles do not meet the requirements for type approval.
Measures: Type of economic operator to whom the measure(s) were ordered: Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateThe power-assisted steering control units may have been fitted with defectively welded contacts.As a result, a permanent electrical connection between the contacts cannot be guaranteed, which could lead to loss of support to the power-assisted steering and thus an increased risk of accidents.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
How often does the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class fail its MOT?
Why they failed: the share of failed tests with at least one fault in each area (a test can fail on several). Cars first registered in 2013, tested in Great Britain in 2023; first registration is usually, but not always, the model year. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, Open Government Licence v3.0.
What do 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class owners report?
12 of the 18 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
I was driving on a country road when all of a sudden my car lost power all the warning lights camo on the dashboard. Smoke started billowing out from the back and front of the car. It turned off and I only coasted about a 100 feet. I could not safely pull off to the side of the road as the car had no power. Thankfully the road was not very busy and the tow truck collected the vehicle. Upon further inspection I saw a lot of oil on the road and the mechanics were able to confirm that the engine block was cracked and there were 2 large holes. Upon further research I was able to find a lot of…
The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL550. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost power steering assist functionality. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the steering rack needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V899000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The failure…
Had some issues with turn signals and a check engine light. My car is a 2013 SL63 AMG with 22700 miles. It sits in garage 95 percent of the time under cover. Took car to dealer and they replaced both batteries it fixed al of the lights except my turn signal. I asked the dealer why didn't you check the turn signal I got no response. I had to drive to Louisville the next day and on the way home I noticed my headlights were out and had to drive 75 miles with only fog lights. I took it to another mechanic who took the bumper off and was shocked and how much water was in my headlights and in my…
Started the vehicle and used the gear selector to shift to Drive. Car did not go into gear. Towed to dealer. Dealer found faulty “ism module.” Apparently a very common issue with these cars. So common that the part is in an “indefinite back order.” The replacement part is also revised because Mercedes knows there was a manufacturer defect with the existing part. I am being charged more than $1600 on a part that the manufacturer has already acknowledged was faulty and created a replacement for it.
Our power steering went out all of a sudden. We took this to our mechanic who said it was a recall for the power steering. Fletcher Jones Mercedes' looked at the vehicle did a computer update recall and said the power steering is not covered. The car is very unsafe and we need this fixed.
Cam sensor seals failed which leaked oil into the wire harness, O2 sensors, and ECM. This happens to be a common problem with M278 engine. The repair was $10,217 to fix this issue. The car would not pass emissions without this repair. Could oil into the electrical system pose a fire hazzard?
JUN 2017: ANNUAL SERVICE. ASK TO HAVE BRAKES CHECKED BECAUSE BRAKE PEDAL WAS TRAVELLING DOWN TO THE FLOOR. JUN 2018: ANNUAL SERVICE. COMPLAINT: BRAKE PEDAL WOULD HIT THE FLOOR AND AS IT TRAVELED DOWN FURTHER, THE ENGINE ACCELERATION TICKED-UP, AT WHICH TIME I RELEASED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND RE-APPLIED THE BRAKES SUCCESSFULLY. JUN 2019: ANNUAL SERVICE: STRONG COMPLAINT: DITTO JUN 2018 EXCEPT AS THE BRAKE PEDAL APPROACHED THE FLOOR, THE ENGINE ACCELERATION WAS INCREASING. 12 MAR 2020: ACCIDENT: TIME 0645 AM PST, TRAVELING WEST-BOUND ON A NEAR-STRAIGHTAWAY (SLIGHT 5-DEGREE CURVE TO THE LEFT) AT 40…
AUTO MOVING AND NOT MOVING. MY HUSBAND IS OCD AND VERY PARTICULAR ABOUT OUR VEHICLES. I HAD A FLAT TIRE ON A RUN FLAT AND DAMAGED MY LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE BACK WHEEL. WE DECIDED TO REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES AND THAT WHEEL. MY SPOUSE REMOVED ALL 4 WHEELS FROM VEHICLE, CLEANED AND INSPECTED EACH WHEEL AND WE CAREFULLY PUT THEM IN THE BACK OF OUR TRUCK. I TOOK THEM TO ALDERSON MERCEDES IN LUBBOCK. I WATCHED AS MONTE THE SERVICE ADVISER CAREFULLY REMOVED ALL 4 WHEELS. LATER IN THE DAY ALDERSON CALLS AND SAYS THAT THE RIGHT BACK WHEEL HAS A CRACK IN IT AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I'M FLABBERGASTED AS I KNEW…
THE CAR SUDDENLY SLOW DOWN IN HIGHWAY GOES TO LIMP MODE FOR EXAMPLE FROM 69 TO 35 MILES IS VERY DANGEROUS I HAVE TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY
TRAVELING ON I-5 IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC 0- 60 MPH WHEN TRANSMISSION STARTED SHIFTING ROUGHLY. IT THEN SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO SHIFTER INPUTS. I WAS IN THE SECOND LANE FROM THE RIGHT DOING 10 OR 15 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO FORCE MY WAY INTO THE RIGHT LANE AND OFF TO THE SHOULDER. I PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN SPORT AND PADDLE SHIFTER MODE WITH NO RESPONSE FROM THE SHIFT SELECTOR. THINKING THIS IS A COMPUTER PROBLEM I REBOOTED BY SHUTTING CAR OFF AND RESTARTING. ALL FUNCTIONS RETURNED TO NORMAL. TOOK TO DEALER WHERE I GOT VERY GOOD SERVICE BUT IT TURNS OUT THERE WAS A MERCEDES BULLETIN…
TIRE WAS LOSING 1-2 POUNDS OF AIR A DAY. TOOK TO COSTCO TO FIX WHAT I BELIEVED WAS A TIRE LEAK. UPON EXAM COSTCO FOUND THAT WHEEL HAD A CRACK IN IT THAT WAS CAUSING PROBLEM AND TOLD ME THAT THEY SEE SEVERAL OF THESE CRACKS EACH YEAR ON MERCEDES. I THEN TOOK CAR TO MERCEDES DEALER AND BOUGHT A NEW WHEEL. MERCEDES WOULD NOT WARRANTY WHEEL ALTHO CAR STILL UNDER WARRANTY SAY I MUST HAVE CAUSED CRACK. I NEVER HIT ANYTHING THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE CRACK. MERCEDES DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE WAS BO EVIDENCE OF ANY DAMAGE TO WHEEL OR TIRE. I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF CAR. NO DAMAGE TO TIRE. IT WAS…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES BENZ SL550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE PADDLE SHIFTERS WERE OPERATED AND THE CONNECTOR PLATE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. ON ANOTHER OCCASION THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED HIM THAT THE SUDDEN LURCH WHEN THE VEHICLE CAME…
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2013 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class: questions owners ask
Is the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 18 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class; the most common categories were steering (5, 27.8%), engine (4, 22.2%), power train (4, 22.2%). There are no safety recalls listed for this model year. 1 complaint mentions a crash.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class?
Across 18 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are steering (27.8% of complaints), engine (22.2% of complaints), power train (22.2% of complaints), wheels (16.7% of complaints), vehicle speed control (11.1% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class have any recalls?
As of October 2026, NHTSA lists no safety recalls for the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Check your own SL-Class
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), DVSA anonymised MOT results (Open Government Licence v3.0), DVSA vehicle recalls (Open Government Licence v3.0), EU Safety Gate alerts (© European Union), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2013 only.