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2016 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

Gas

Two Seaters
4 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26

Safety Signal

97 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

RecallsNHTSA campaigns 1

Complaintsnone reporting a crash, fire or injury 1

Crash ratingnot rated by NHTSA —

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 23 mpg

2027 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2016 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class is sold in the U.S. as a gas convertible with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the SL400, is EPA-rated at 23 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of A. Owners have filed 1 complaint, most often about the tires.

Mercedes-Benz SL-Class — photograph via Wikimedia Commons — Mercedes-Benz SL-Class · Photo: Alexander-93 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Annual fuel*
SL400	Gas	RWD	3.0L 6-cyl turbo	20	27	23	$3,550
AMG SL63	Gas	RWD	5.5L 8-cyl turbo	16	25	19	$4,350
SL550	Gas	RWD	4.7L 8-cyl turbo	16	24	19	$4,350
AMG SL65	Gas	RWD	6.0L 12-cyl turbo	14	21	17	$4,850

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 36516, 36517, 36554, 36555.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates

Configuration	Smog rating	Emission standard	Where it can be sold new	SmartWay
AMG SL63, SL400, SL550	5–6 / 10	Bin 5 / LEV-II ULEV	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—
AMG SL65	5–6 / 10	Bin 5 / LEV-III ULEV125	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Gas-guzzler tax applies to AMG SL65 — a federal excise the manufacturer pays and prices in.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body style	Convertible/Cabriolet
Doors	2
GVWR class	Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)

Engine Basics

Cylinders	6
Displacement	3 L
Engine configuration	V-Shaped

Fuel Economy

Fuel	Gasoline

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes one configuration rather than every trim (seen: SL400). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada

Length	181.9–182.3 in
Width (body, without mirrors)	74.0 in
Height	51.2–52.0 in
Wheelbase	101.6 in
Track, front	62.6 in
Track, rear	62.6 in
Curb weight	3,935–4,299 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear	50/50

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 3 configurations: SL550 2-door Convertible, SL63 AMG 2-door Convertible, SL65 AMG 2-door Convertible. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

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Recalls (1)

Source: NHTSA recall database

○minor

Communication

2019120008

24,226 vehicles 78% reported repaired built Jan 20, 2012 – Oct 6, 2016

Problem Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2013-2017 vehicles due to a software fault that may cause the date and time for the emergency call system (eCall) to differ from the actual date and time, potentially relaying an inaccurate vehicle location. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V787-4620.pdf Risk An inaccurate vehicle location may delay emergency responders, increasing the risk of injury. Fix MBUSA has initiated an Over the Air (OTA) remote update. MBUSA will also notify owners, and dealers will check software for a successful OTA or update the communication module software as needed, free of charge. The recall began December 23, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2019120008.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 19V787000 reported Nov 1, 2019 Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

NHTSA defect investigations

Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module — Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture open

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf. Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a subst

Opened Sep 17, 2021 · action EA21002 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific SL-Class

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2016 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Mercedes-Benz publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Mercedes-Benz’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2016 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

1complaints filed

0 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries · 0 deaths reported

3.0 per 10,000 built · Mercedes-Benz reported 3,305 SL-Class built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2021: 1

Most-cited components

Tires 1

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

While driving on expressway alert notification displayed that driver side rear tire pressure was low. These are MOE tires so there is no spar tire and should be able to drive at low speed. Car was bought new and had less than 17,000 miles on the tires. Found nearest exit from expressway and drove slowly to nearby service station.

Tires Jul 9, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11424029

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by Mercedes-Benz itself: 2 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 2 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 61 per 100,000 built. Every SL-Class model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

NHTSA has not published 5-Star crash ratings for this model year.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications

Extended coverage on file 4 filings by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

15 years or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first · Mercedes-Benz bulletin CL - EW M157Dear Mercedes-Benz Owner: In our continuing efforts to ensure the proper performance of Mercedes-Benz products and to enhance the satisfaction of our customers, Mercedes-Benz USA is extending the…
15 years or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first · Mercedes-Benz warranty extension EW - Vacuum Pump M157In our continuing efforts to ensure the proper performance of Mercedes-Benz products and to enhance the satisfaction of our customers, Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC is extending the warranty coverage on the…
15 years or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first · Mercedes-Benz warranty extension EW - Pressure Trans M157In our continuing efforts to ensure the proper performance of Mercedes-Benz products and to enhance the satisfaction of our customers, Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC is extending the warranty coverage on the…
13 years or 156,000 miles, whichever comes first · Mercedes-Benz bulletin ELW - M278 CatThis NCU replaces the prior NCU issued on May 11, 2023, and clarifies replacement part information.

The term and the vehicles it covers are the manufacturer’s, as NHTSA’s summary of each filing states them; a dealer checks one particular car by its VIN. Every Mercedes-Benz warranty extension (9) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 193

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-09-26

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 178 service bulletins, 7 others, 5 warranty extensions

Most often about: Exterior Lighting, Electrical System, Equipment, Engine, Structure.

LI27.00-P-073124 Service bulletin
2026-09-26 · Power Train
Complaint Customer complaints relating to automatic transmission 725.0 (NAG3 Classic /9G‑TRONIC automatic transmission) and 725.1 (NAG3 facelift/9G‑TRONIC automatic transmission facelift) For faster, more effective and more targeted diagnosis, Intelligent Predictive Repair (IPR) has been developed and integrated into XENTRY Diagnosis. This ensures an automated diagnosis process. Cause As part of t
LI42.10-P-078779 Service bulletin
2026-09-22 · Service Brakes
Complaint Repeat workshop visit for vehicle vibration while braking from 60MPH. NOTE: Although the symptom is similar to a tire or wheel vibration, it is usually readily noticeable that it is distinctly different if it happens at all times or only while braking. Cause Although the cause of the vibration is most likely due to excessive lateral runout on the rotor or hub/wheel bearing, the system as
LI82.62-P-078631 Service bulletin
2026-09-14 · Structure — Body
Complaint Clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors. Cause Under analysis. Remedy To narrow down the cause, first of all remove the door trim. • If the noise continues to occur even with the door trim removed, then continue the diagnosis working towards the speaker and if necessary, create a TIPS case with an informative video as an attachment. Note: Please refer to this document i
LI42.10-P-063502 Service bulletin
2026-09-01 · Service Brakes
Complaint Noises/ squealing from the service brake in various driving situations and ambient conditions. Cause Frictional vibrations Remedy The intent of this document is to reduce noise from high performance AMG brakes. AMG brakes are designed for performance under high load and in certain scenarios, can emit noise. Some scenarios are normal and some are induced by driving style like those listed
LI46.35-P-067339 Service bulletin
2026-08-28 · Steering
Complaint During part of the steering movement, it feels heavier or more difficult to steer in the same spot every time. OR Rattling, humming, dry sliding/gravel noise from the electric steering system when steering (see attachment). Complaint does not impact the ability to safely steer or control the vehicle. Cause Ball screw drive (KGT) of electric steering damaged by: 1. External force due to:
LI82.62-P-078631 Service bulletin
2026-08-06 · Structure — Body
Complaint Clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors. Cause Under analysis. Remedy To narrow down the cause, first of all remove the door trim. • If the noise continues to occur even with the door trim removed, then continue the diagnosis working towards the speaker and if necessary, create a TIPS case with an informative video as an attachment. Information: Please refer to this doc
LI35.30-P-058566 Service bulletin
2026-07-14 · Power Train
Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). The noise is heard once in each instance when changing direction of travel. Note: Sound file in attachment Cause If the complaint is eliminated by experimentally loosening the outboard collar nut (by 1 turn), the problem is due to cracking of the microweld between the wheel bearing inner race
LI33.20-P-078406 Service bulletin
2026-07-08 · Suspension
Complaint Creaking noise, in irregular sequence when driving slowly in combination with slight steering movements and/or Creaking/crackling noises from the area of the wheel bearing on the front axle when cornering/ maneuvering. Sound file attached for comparison. MUST match noise for proper diagnosis. NOTE: Steering functionality is not affected. Cause Contact area between wheel bearing and steer

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

SL-Class by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2027 A 0 0 23 mpg 2026 A 1 0 22 mpg 2025 A 1 0 22 mpg 2024 B 2 0 22 mpg 2023 C 5 1 23 mpg 2022 C 4 9 16 mpg 2020 B 3 2 22 mpg 2019 C 4 0 23 mpg 2018 B 2 2 23 mpg 2017 B 2 4 23 mpg 2016 this page A 1 1 23 mpg

Common questions about the 2016 SL-Class

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2016 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 1 recall campaign for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class. The most serious on file is 19V787000, covering Communication. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2016 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class?

NHTSA has not published a crash-test rating for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class yet. On the recall record WhichTrim grades it A (97/100), which measures open and severe recalls rather than crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2016 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class?

Across the 4 EPA-rated configurations of the 2016 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, the best EPA combined figure is 23 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2016 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class?

Transport Canada measured it at 181.9–182.3 in long, 74.0 in wide (body, without mirrors), 51.2–52.0 in tall, on a 101.6 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,935–4,299 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2016 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class?

Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 2016 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, most often about tires. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2016 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class?

The EPA smog rating for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class runs 5 to 6 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — Bin 5, LEV-II ULEV, LEV-III ULEV125 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class?

The manufacturer has filed 193 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, most often covering exterior lighting, electrical system, equipment. The most recent is dated 2026-09-26. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

Data	Held	Source	What it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations	4 configurations	EPA certification records	Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates	4 configurations	EPA emission certificates	Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls	1	NHTSA recall campaigns	A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints	1	NHTSA complaint database	Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings	none	NHTSA NCAP	NHTSA has not tested this model year. Cars are selected for testing, so untested is not unsafe.
Service bulletins	193	NHTSA manufacturer communications	Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations	1	NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation	Open and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
Driver-assist crash reports	none	NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01	No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA	7 fields	NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns	What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions	7 fields	Transport Canada, Canadian Vehicle Specifications	Length, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipment	none	Manufacturer press kit	We have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

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