Suspension Problems of Mercedes Benz SL500 - part 2

I have had major problems with the suspension. The abc light came on before. The car dropped on the freeway. I almost lost control. It is a major problem that should have been recalled and fixed properly. I've only driven 400 miles in the last few years total because I'm afraid something bad will happen again.

See all problems of the 2004 Mercedes Benz SL500 🔎.

The contact owns a 2004 mercedes-benz Sl500. The contact stated that the vehicle abruptly accelerated while driving 2 mph. The activate body control system failed and caused the hydraulic system to drop lower while driving. The contact was able to coast onto the road shoulder. The active body control system warning light illuminated after the failure occurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the hydraulic system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 56,000.

Immediately after purchase, noticed a considerable front nose drop while driving issue repeated frequently while driving. Overnight, the vehicle would drop 3-4 inches. Took vehicle to repair shop and watched as vehicle "bucked up and down" as if in a low-rider show. Mechanic stated it was a common occurence and recommended changing sensors. Vehicle taken to mercedes dealer with copy of recall notice 08v405000. Dealer replaced left front strut ($1500) instead, stating my vehicle is not part of this recall. Strut replacement eliminated the 3-4 inch overnight drop, but the nose drop during driving was not fixed. Dealer now wants to replace the abc sensors ($1200-$1500). To date, 3 of 4 struts/shocks have been replaced. Car is in an unsafe condition. Numerous posts on internet regarding this issue! please help.

See all problems of the 2003 Mercedes Benz SL500 🔎.

Additional information provided for complaint filed 8/3/2013. . Read more...

We were driving 65mph on the highway when suddenly our 2003 mb 500sl became erratic with the suspension dropping down on the driver's side. I was forced to quickly pull off the highway. It was a terrifying experience and we were extremely lucky to pull over right away without hitting other cars. The car was very low to the ground on one side. After restarting the car, the suspension improved enough to get us home. On my drive to the dealership the car was very low everywhere forcing me to drive 35mph and it bottomed out on a bump on the highway. The dealership informed us that the abc system pump had failed and the car additionally had leaking rear shocks. Our car has low mileage and very little wear. The dealership quoted $7600 to install a new pump, flush out and replace the hydraulic fluid and install new rear shocks! they stated that this may not completely fix the abc problem as additional damage may have occurred from the failed pump and debris in the system. This is outrageous! there is clearly an ongoing and very prevalent and dangerous defect with the Mercedes Benz abc system, as it is happening to so many vehicles. There must be a recall on these vehicles. This is a very serious problem which could easily result in multiple highway fatalities. Mercedes benz has to take responsibility for their defective system before someone is killed.

We bought a good car so the car can last with few issues but we have had lots of maintenance on this car and last one was the malfunction of the suspension and this cost us over $1800 to get fix. I belive this should be a recall item from mecedes benz as lots of people are having the same problem and this is a very expensive fix for the consumer. My car only has 43k miles and we have replaced 3 sets of tires and it is so expensive to replace. We have other major issues with tire pressure errors and have taken in for service many times.

See all problems of the 2006 Mercedes Benz SL500 🔎.

My 2003 sl 500 with 22,500 miles is dangerously unsteady and pulls to the right also has a knock in the right rear. I took it to the local dealer and they replaced the fluid in the abc system for $300 +. It did not help. They say that they can begin replacing parts in each wheel at $2000 per wheel and see if it works, but no guarantee. It appears that they don't have a clue. I have contacted mercedes help line but they just said to take it to the dealer. I bought this car new in 2003 for my wife and expected it to last a long time and she will not drive it anymore. Here I have $100,000 car that is like new inside and out that is not drivable. Mercedes should be ashamed of themselves for not backing up their product. I have had 9 mercedes starting with a 1962 diesel sedan but I will never, ever buy another and I spread the word to everyone I see interested in buying an expensive car.

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.

See all problems of the 2005 Mercedes Benz SL500 🔎.

The contact owns a 2003 mercedes-benz Sl500. While driving into the garage, the abc pump warning indicator illuminated and the contact noticed smoke inside the vehicle. In addition, the contact noticed a large amount of hydraulic fluid on the garage floor. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the front and rear axle valve lock, and pressure reservoir for the abc system needed to be repaired and flushed. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 07v263000 (suspension, engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 55,620.

The contact owns a 2003 Mercedes Benz Sl500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 mph, the front end of the vehicle collapsed to the ground without warning. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for a diagnosis. The technician stated that the front passenger's side suspension was faulty. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 82,000. The VIN was unavailable.

The vehicle has a bracket on top of the gas tank that comes disengaded and causes this distinctive noise which sounds like something swinging and tapping against the gas tank and I has to happen a lot due to every service I have been asked about the problem. It also has to be something with multiple vehicles due to online mercedes owners are having the same problem. The sound is really disturbing and I would like an answer as to what to do. Thanks charles t. Willis.

Abc system valve failure then high pressure hoses failed.

Parked the car . When tried to backup the car from parked space, the front of the car got stuck over the concrete barriers and broke the front. Upon inspection I realized that the front driver side of the car is dropped about 3 inches. I took it to dealer and after 2-3 months testing and flushing , they told me they need to replace the valve at a cost of $3500. 00. A few weeks later, the hole driver side is dropping both front and back. They tell me another valve needs to be replaced. I check different site on internet and realize this issue is known to dealers and there a great deal of documentation on-line. I appreciate if your office could investigate and get back to me. Thanks.

I have had ongoing / continual problems with the 2003 sl 500 model 230 abc (active body control) system. The resulting issues occur at random and with little consistency. The resulting effect causes the car to drive soft on some occasions and rigid on others. The problem has been diagnosed and reported to the local dealership and other opportunities to attempt to repair the issue. Thus far there seems to be no one who can properly affect and improve the situation. I contacted my local mb dealership on June 27, 2011 inquiring regarding a recall reported in the NHTSA recall system. The dealership said this was not a recall however the recall 08v405000 suggests otherwise. The continual problems with the abc systems makes me weary of mb ability to correct safety and driving issues. While this has not resulted in an accident or damage my fear is if mb nor the dealership recognizes there is an issue with abc systems, how many unrepaired and unsafe vehicles do we have on our streets?.

Mercedes benz 2003 sl 500. In 2011 with 34,000 miles on engine, while driving on highway heard loud noise had to pull over quickly because front of car dropped rubbing on tires which resulted in one blown out tire and had car towed to nearest dealership, thank god cuz innocent people or myself could have been hurt seriously, this was a $5,000 job . 2014 with 45,000 miles on engine while driving on highway I heard again that distinctive loud sound which resulted in left side of car dropped rubbing on tires, fender and tire was damaged had car towed to nearest mb dealership. Hydraulic fluid problems has plague this quality series car . This unfortunate event cost me $9,800. 00 because I also had to repair the roof as it is a convertible and hydraulics plays an important role in the operations of the roof . 2018 with 60,000 miles on engine, while driving in the city, I heard loud thud under car I quickly swerve off road to safe spot cuz I knew there was a problem again, the right side of car dropped with fluid spraying out , car then started resting on front and rear tires with hydraulic fluid sprayed every where ,had this problem fixed cost was $2,000 . Few months after the same problem occurred again . This car that I love so much has been sitting in my garage because car cant be driven and the front end / body of car is resting on both tires left and right side . I am mentally and physically drained and also my pockets . Mercedes benz corp. Is fully aware of this problem because of thousands of complaints from owners just like myself . As a multi million dollar company they should have taken the responsibility of a recall in good faith to assist us , after all they would not be where they are today without us customers . Mercedes benz corp. Willfully and intentionally is keeping a blind eye to this big problem while we the customers are being taken advantage off.

Vehicle began having minor leak of pink color fluid that an auto repair shop identified as hydraulic fluid for abc suspension system. From a visual inspection, the fluid was leaking from abc tandem pump. The leak got worse by the week and the vehicle was immediately parked after a considerable amount of fluid was building up on the driveway. After a week, there was a large puddle of fluid under the engine and the whole left side of vehicle bottomed out and literally sunk over the front left and rear left tires. Mercedes dealership (walnut creek) said it was likely the abc pump was defective and would not fix because the car was out of warranty. My mechanic friend confirmed that the leak was coming from the abc pump. After the pump was replaced, the abc valve blocks for the front and rear began to leak. We found that there were clogs in the front and rear valves. Going back to mercedes, the parts specialists informs us about the updated parts in the abc system that needed replacement. They also informed me that they normally have all the updated parts stocked and on-hand. I ended up replacing every part in the abc system since it was evident that contamination existed with the clogged valves. This includes the following part numbers: 220-320-12-58 $2499. 00; 220-320-0858 $750; power steering tandem abc pump $1015; hydraulic fluid $450, filters $40, oil lines $300, labor $800. Total is roughly $5000. The parts specialist was right about the problems of the abc system for my vehicle. I researched this problem and found that many people with the same vehicle have dealt with the problem that I currently have. I don’t think that replacing all components of the abc suspension system for a mercedes is routine maintenance/repair. How does the contamination occur in a closed system? this car was a luxury that became a nightmare. This is only a brief and simplified series of events leading up to a complete malfunction in the suspension system.

Tl- the contact owns a 2003 Mercedes Benz Sl500. The contact stated that while waiting at a stop sign, the vehicle lowered itself about 6 inches. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection and they stated that the hydraulic valve needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 50,000. Pmb.

Addendum info to original complaint #10308437 shows that mb service advisor j. Steach advised m . B. Not responsible as driver should "miss" potholes. Engineering analysis shows that it is not possible for driver to steer around potholes. At 70mph mb Sl500 travels 103 ft/sec and it is not possible to observe the pothole hazard and categorize as safety risk at speeds of 70mph(103ft/sec) react physiologically and actuate steering system -all in less than one second-one half second each for human response and same for mechanical actuation-insufficient time to avoid pot hole hit. Dark or low light conditions render pothole miss impossible. In any case, the improperly engineered soft low strength alloy wheel design leads any prudent vehicle driver into a crash trap. Wheel,tire, suspension damage evident-needs corrected immediately at expense of mercedez-benz. . Wife whiplash due to severe abrupt unanticipated forces in bringing vehicle to safe stop. I have neck soreness and aggravation of previous neck injury likely.

Active body control failure on Mercedes Benz sl (model r230) causes the car to lower all of a sudden, loss of control and steering locking. Car's abc suspension is pressurized, and it has a history of failures. Documented on NHTSA site. The abc hose has a recall already, but the abc pump itself can go bad anytime without warning. There are many documented cases, which I have from other mercedes owners. Mine occurred traveling 35 mph in northern virginia in a neighborhood road, and luckily I pulled over but noticed my car's rear was dropped 4 inches nearly touching the ground. Some sl owners have been driving at highways speeds and suddenly abc malfunctions causing serious damage and potentially deadly results if immediate precaution is not taken. Mercedes benz USA and it's dealers are well aware of abc issues effecting their line of models including: sl, s class, and cl class. No recalls on the abc pump has been issued, but the dealers politely tell owners it's a known issue and it will costs $5000. 00 to fix. That's unacceptable. I beg the NHTSA to investigate and if need be, I can gather more data and facts from owners and testimonials for dealer service advisors who know of this issue.

2003 Mercedes Benz 500sl driving down the road the car just dropped down , the active body control system failed it ruined the undercarriage of the vehicle the car does not even have 50,000 miles on it. It's hard to get it towed. It is very low and it can cause a very serious accident , the funny thing was the next day started the car up the car came up but knowing my undercarriage is destroyed . I had couple incidents happen to men luck I was not on the freeway. It also throws your alignment out.

Change tire and jack would not hold it weight and buckled inward dealer and Mercedes Benz not taking responsibility that the jack need to be recall and pay for the damage cause by the drop due to jack failure.

Due to deterioration of the wiring harness connection or failure of the hydraulic pump, the sensotronic brake control (sbc) system may default to the hydraulic back-up mode. In the back-up mode, the driver has braking power sufficient to stop the vehicle, but greater brake pedal pressure is required and brake pedal travel will be noticeably longer. Dealers will install a bracket and replacement ground wire to the sbc pump unit on all affected vehicles. Additionally, dealers will inspect and replace the ssc pump unit in certain sl models. The mercedes-benz recall numbers are 2005070007 and 2005110001. Research shows only 59% of the 100% required recall was done properly by an authorized dealer. This issue was not disclosed when I purchased this car and, the required work was not done and, mercedes said the 60 days from recall had passed - yet the reports sent to NHTSA by Mercedes Benz appears to be false data - this should be investigated.