2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

The BCM in the SL class (Mercedes chassis code r230) fails very often. It catches fire and burns down vehicles in MANY instances. Mercedes is not selling a replacement part because they want to save money. THIS VEHICLE HAS AN ELECTRONIC ASSISTED BRAKING SYSTEM!!! The BCM balances battery loads in the vehicle. When it fails it can make any electronic system in the car malfunction or simply not work. This could be as simple as the car not starting or as severe as it burning down your ENTIRE HOME. I would be okay if they simply sold a replacement part but they DO NOT forcing all owners of this vehicle to drive it despite the condition of that battery module. All I’m asking is for a part to be made. No one has managed to make a replacement or refurbished part but Mercedes who turned their backs on us. They were refurbishing the parts but stopped for some unknown reason. This is dangerous for all owners of the Mercedes SL chassis code r230. Please help you’re the only ones that can.

This issue almost cause an accident on the freeway, Transmission went from drive to neutral and then reverse. This is cause by the range sensor. Conductor plate for transmission is very common for this type of vehicles. Please investigate. This can cause a fatal injury or death.

The contact owns a 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL500. The contact stated that while driving from a complete stop, the brake warning light and other unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that he lost control of the vehicle but did not provide further information. The contact stated that while driving at 15 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed but failed to respond. The warning message "Reduced Braking Power, Depress Brake Pedal Fully" and another message advising the contact to take the vehicle to the nearest service station illuminated. The contact continued to depress the brake pedal all the way to the floorboard, but the brake pedal would not respond. The contact stated that the vehicle stopped independently at some point. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who test drove the vehicle and diagnosed that no issues were found as no warning lights were illuminated. The dealer also informed the contact that they could not repair the vehicle under an unknown extended warranty for the sensotronic brake control system replacement as his vehicle was not under the extended warranty. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and confirmed the information from the dealer. Later on, the manufacturer followed up with the contact and confirmed that his vehicle was under the sensotronic brake control system replacement extended warranty; however, the dealer would need to diagnose the vehicle at his expense before they would cover the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 22,000.

The contact owns a 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL55. The contact stated that the odor of fuel was present inside the cabin of the vehicle and inside the garage. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the fuel tank was cracked and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The cause of the crack was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 53,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 MERCEDES BENZ SL500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHOLE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE TRUNK CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FIRE STARTED IN THE UPPER RIGHT FRONT AREA OF THE TRUNK WHERE THEY WERE WIRES AND SAW SPARKS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FIRE WENT OUT ON ITS OWN BECAUSE THERE WAS NO OXYGEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WILL TOW THE VEHICLE TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF OAKLAND (2915 BROADWAY, OAKLAND, CA 94611). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND THE SPEED DECREASED TO 35 MPH. IN ADDITION, THE ABS AND ESP WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF PALM BEACH (4000 OKEECHOBEE BLVD, WEST PALM BEACH, FL 33409, (561) 609-0902), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FAULT CONDUCTOR PLATE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500R. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD, BUT FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SEVERAL UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF ORLAND PARK (LOCATED AT 8430 W 159TH ST, ORLAND PARK, IL 60462, (708) 460-0400) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A LOW BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND FLAMES APPEARED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A TOWING YARD. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,400.

WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE TRANSMISSION DISENGAGED (SLIPPED) SO MUCH SO THAT THE RPM'S SHOT UP AND THE CAR NO LONGER HAD POWER TO THE DRIVE WHEELS. I NEEDED TO MOVE OVER 2 LANES THROUGH TRAFFIC TO PULL OVER TO THE CURB AND GET OUT OF TRAFFIC. ONCE I STOPPED THE CAR AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGED AND THE CAR REGAINED POWER THE THE REAR WHEELS AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR OFF THE ROAD TO SAFETY WITH SOME MINIMAL SLIPPING OF THE TRANSMISSION. ONCE I GOT THE CAR HOME I CHECKED FOR ERROR CODES EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. THE ERROR CODE WAS P2206 "THE SIGNAL FROM COMPONENT Y#?*N3 OUTPUT SPEED SENSOR (VGS) IS NOT AVAILABLE". LOOKED THE CODE UP AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO THIS 7 SPEED TRANSMISSIONS CONDUCTOR PLATE/VALVE BODY WHICH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BY THE DEALER AS A UNIT. I HAVE RECENTLY HAD MY 05 SL500 WHICH HAS 60,000 MILES SERVICED AT A MERCEDES BENZ DEALER FOR AN UNRELATED ISSUE AND OULD HAVE HOPED THAT THE DEALER OR MBUSA WOULD HAVE NOTIFIED ME ABOUT THIS COMMON DANGEROUS DEFECT AS THE DEFECT APPEARS TO BE WELL KNOWN TO THE MANY OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS FAILURE AS WELL AS THE DEALERS AND MBUSA WHO HAVE NEEDED TO REPAIR A LARGE NUMBER OF THESE EARLY 7 SPEED TRANSMISSIONS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, "CAR TOO LOW STOP DRIVING" MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE DISPLAY PANEL. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE INTO A FUEL STATION, LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE, AND NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS RESTING ON TOP OF THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER WHEELS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYDRAULIC PUMP LEAKED INTO THE RESERVOIR AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.

THIS IS A COMPLAINT ON THE SBC SENSOTRONIC BRAKING SYSTEM. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL FROM MERCEDES AND IT IS NOT. IT IS LISTED AS AN "ISSUE" THAT THEY HAVE SPECIFICALLY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 10 YEARS JUST FOR THIS SYSTEM. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THE BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED OUT OF NOWHERE WHILE I WAS EXITING THE FREEWAY! AN ALERT CAME ON AND TOLD ME TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE FULLY WHICH I WAS UNABLE TO DO! I WAS PRESSING IT AS HARD AS I COULD AND THE CAR WAS NOT STOPPING. I HAD TO PULL THE CAR INTO THE DITCH NEXT TO THE RAMP TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR THAT WAS STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME. LUCKILY I HAD ALREADY SLOWED DOWN WHERE IT WOULD STOP RUNNING INTO THE SHRUBS ON THE SIDE. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS! MERCEDES SHOULD DEFINITELY DEAL WITH THIS! I HAD NO IDEA ABOUT ANY OF THIS AND NOW LOOKING IT UP ONLINE I SEE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH VERY SIMILAR STORIES ABOUT THIS SYSTEM. I AM SURPRISED THERE ISN'T A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT YET ON THIS. I MAY ATTEMPT TO FILE ONE AS THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS PRODUCT. CLEARLY MERDEDES AS A COMPANY KNOWS THIS AS THEY HAVE LISTED IT AS A "PROBLEM" FOR MY VIN #, BUT THEY HAVE NOT ISSUED IT AS A RECALL, WHICH I BELIEVE IS A GROSS ABUSE OF POWER FROM A HUGE COMPANY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND IS PROBABLY CAUSING ACCIDENTS RIGHT NOW AS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CARS WITH THIS DEFECTIVE SYSTEM ARE ON THE ROAD.

2005 MERCEDES SL500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WITHOUT WARNING THE SBC PUMP WARNING LIGHT APPEARED AND THE BRAKES FAILED. THE SBC PUMP NEEDED TO REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ SL500. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES, THE BRAKE FAILED TO ENGAGE AND THE WARNING MESSAGE TO STOP THE VEHICLE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000. UPDATED 02/19/16*LJ UPDATED 02/22/16.*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ SL 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, FUEL ODORS EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, HE NOTICED FUEL HAD LEAKED INTO THE REAR SEATS OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK CAP WAS LEAKING AND THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER SIDE FUEL TANK CAPS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,685.

I DROVE OUT OF MY DRIVE AND TRIED TO BRAKE THE CAR AND A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON SAYING THAT MY BRAKES WERE MALFUNCTIONING. THE CAR WOULD NOT BRAKE. THE BRAKES ON THE CAR WERE DEAD.FORTUNATELY THERE IS A HILL AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ROAD WHERE I LIVE AND BY GOING UP THE HILL THE CAR CAME TO A STOP. FORTUNATELY THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS OR PEDESTRIANS ON THE ROAD OTHERWISE I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP. WHEN I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID THAT IT WAS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM AND THEY WOULD FIX IT FOR FREE. A FEW MONTHS BEFORE, I HAD TAKEN THE CAR IN TO THE SAME MB DEALER FOR GENERAL MAINTENANCE. WHY DIDN'T THE DEALER REPAIR THE SOFTWARE BRAKE ISSUE? DO I HAVE TO GET KILLED OR DAMAGE OTHER CARS BEFORE THEY AUTOMATICALLY REPAIR THE BRAKE SOFTWARE, THAT THEY OBVIOUSLY KNEW TO BE DEFECTED AND A POTENTIAL FOR ACCIDENTS? THE ISSUE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ITEM, DUE TO THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE MATTER. THE SAME CAR HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION WHICH APPEARS TO BE ANOTHER SOFTWARE ISSUE. WHY DOESN'T THE DEALER AUTOMATICALLY FIX THE SOFTWARE ISSUE BEFORE I HAVE AN ACCIDENT? THE "FIX-IT" COST HAS TO BE MINIMAL AND THE PREVENTION OF DAMAGE HAS TO BE HUGE. THE MB DEALER WANTS TO REPLACE ANYTHING THAT ISN'T RIGHT. THEY REPLACED MY ENGINE MOUNTS AT 42,000 MILES FOR $1,600 WHETHER THEY NEEDED IT OR NOT, BUT THEY WON'T FIX SOME SIMPLE SOFTWARE ISSUES THAT COULD KILL OR DAMAGE PROPERTY? IF THE MB DEALER DOESN'T WANT TO DO IT BECAUSE THEY DON'T MAKE ENOUGH MONEY, THEN HOPEFULLY THE DOT WILL FORCE THEM TO DO IT. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. THESE ARE SERIOUS ISSUES WHICH I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ 500SL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SAT ABNORMALLY LOW TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

GAS TANK BAFFLE BROKE LOOSE. AS YOU'RE AWARE, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IN THAT SLOSHING OF FUEL BACK AND FORTH AFFECTS THE VEHICLE'S HANDLING IN MANY WAYS. IN DISCUSSING WITH OTHER SL OWNERS INCLUDING THROUGH MERCEDES BENZ WORLD AND BENZ WORLD, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT MERCEDES IS WELL AWARE OF BUT WON'T VOLUNTARILY RECALL THE VEHICLES. WE NEED HELP IN ENSURING THE COMPANY STANDS BY ITS PRODUCTS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SHOCKS FELT AS IF THEY HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V133000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,060.

MY MERCEDES BENZ HAS A FAULTY ELECTRICAL WIRING IN THE COMMAND NAVIGATION UNIT IN MY SL500. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 16,385 MILES ON IT, THOUGH IT IS A 2005 MODEL, AND HAS BEEN HOUSED IN A HIGH-END GARAGE WITH NO TRAUMA, NO DAMAGE, AND VERY LITTLE WEAR AND TEAR. I PURCHASED THE CAR USED ABOUT 6 WEEKS AGO. WITHIN THE LAST 3 WEEKS THE UNIT HAS GONE FROM WORKING INTERMITTENTLY TO NOT WORKING AT ALL, SIMPLY PROVIDING A SCREEN MESSAGE: SYSTEM UNAVAILABLE. ON MARCH 5, 2012 I TOOK MY SL 500 THE AUTHORIZED DEALER HERE, AND CONTACTED THE SERVICE MANAGER . AFTER HAVING MY VEHICLE OUT OF COMMISSION FOR TWO DAYS, I READ THE DIAGNOSIS/REPAIR REPORT AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS NOT AN ERROR BY ME OR THE PREVIOUS OWNER BUT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED SOMEWHERE IN THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS, PROBABLY ON THE ASSEMBLY LINE, AS THE SOUND AMPLIFIER HAD AN INTERNAL ELECTRICAL FAULT. ADDITIONALLY, I HAVE BEEN TO TWO INDEPENDENT MERCEDES BENZ DEALERS AND THEY COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I'VE ALSO LEARNED THAT I CANNOT SIMPLY REPLACE THE STEREO WITH A WORKING MODEL FROM ANY ELECTRICAL STORE (LIKE BEST BUY OR CAR STEREO GUYS). IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT TO REPLACE THE COMMAND UNIT WOULD COST SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT WHILE THE CAR IS NOT WITHIN A TYPICAL FIVE OR SIX YEAR WARRANTY PERIOD (I JUST MISSED THAT PERIOD) IT IS CLEARLY A CAR THAT HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF, BARELY DRIVEN, PROPERLY HOUSED, AND MAINTAINED. GIVEN THE FINDINGS FROM YOUR AUTHORIZED TECHNICIANS, IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT CAME WITH THE CAR THAT WOULD HAVE SURFACED AT SOME POINT. LUCKY ME THAT IT IS SURFACING NOW. I AM HOPING THAT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION WILL CONTACT MERCEDES ABOUT THIS FAULTY COMMAND UNIT. THERE ARE MANY OTHER MERCEDES OWNERS WHO HAVE AND ARE EXPERIENCING THIS ELECTRICAL NIGHTMARE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ SL-500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, HE FELL ASLEEP BEHIND THE WHEEL AND CRASHED INTO TWO PARKED VEHICLES. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO FLIP OVER,HOWEVER THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SEVERE ARM AND SHOULDER INJURIES. THE TWO VEHICLES HE CRASHED INTO WERE TOTALED AS WELL AS THE CONTACTS VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 7,800. UPDATED 8/4/10 *CN UPDATED 08/09/10*JB