2013 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class holds 18 complaints after 14 years, a rate of 1 per year. That is more complaints per year than most SL-Class years here — over the median of the other years, which is 0. NHTSA has no recalls on file for this model year.

2012 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
Photo by Matti Blume, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

18

Per year

1

Recalls

0

Years on the road

14

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Steering (5 of 18), then Engine (4) and Powertrain (4). Those filings include 1 that reports a crash.

Next to 2012 and 2014

The 2012 SL-Class has 0 complaints, 0 per year, and the 2014 has 4 complaints, 1 per year. The 2013 has more complaints per year than the 2012. The 2013 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2014.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (0)

No recalls on file with NHTSA for this model year.

Complaints by component (18 total)

Steering
5
Engine
4
Powertrain
4
Wheels
3
Speed control
2
Electrical system
1
Exterior lighting
1
Service brakes
1
Suspension
1
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Crash-flagged

1

Fire-flagged

0

Injury reports

0

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

120141201522017220183201912020320214202412025
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "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…"
    Engine · filed 2025-03-28
  • "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…"
    Steering · filed 2024-12-09
  • "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…"
    Electrical system, Exterior lighting · filed 2024-08-19
  • "The rear subframe experienced excessive levels of rust which caused the rear left side to suddenly collapse. After the collapse, the car would fish tail at low speeds (i.e., less than 15 miles per hour). I am thankful…"
    Suspension · filed 2024-06-07
  • "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…"
    Powertrain · filed 2024-04-12

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2013 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class C RWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Specs and fitment

R231 generation, 2012–2021
Body styles Convertible
Oil 0W-30 or 0W-40 (verify Mercedes LL label) , 8.5 qt capacity
Tire size 255/40R18, 255/35R19, 285/35R18, 285/30R19

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Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class holds 18 complaints after 14 years, a rate of 1 per year. That is more complaints per year than most SL-Class years here — over the median of the other years, which is 0. NHTSA has no recalls on file for this model year.

What are common problems with a 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class?

The complaints owners file most often name Steering (5 of 18), then Engine (4) and Powertrain (4). Those filings include 1 that reports a crash.

Is the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2012 SL-Class has 0 complaints, 0 per year, and the 2014 has 4 complaints, 1 per year. The 2013 has more complaints per year than the 2012. The 2013 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2014.

Has the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class been recalled?

NHTSA has no recalls on file for the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class?

Owners have filed 18 complaints about the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class with NHTSA.

What engine oil does a US Mercedes-Benz SL-Class use?

0W-20 With filter, about 6.3 qt is commonly listed for this generation—confirm in the owner manual.

What tire sizes fit a US Mercedes-Benz SL-Class?

Published US specs commonly list front 255/40R18, 255/35R19, 285/35R18, 285/30R19 and rear 255/40R18, 255/35R19, 285/35R18, 285/30R19; confirm on the door jamb placard for your trim.

Where should I confirm Mercedes-Benz SL-Class maintenance specs?

Use the US owner manual and under-hood labels for oil grade, capacities, and tire pressures; this page summarizes common US fitments but does not replace the manual.