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2016 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

Gas
Two Seaters
4 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
A
Safety Signal
94 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns1
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA1
Crash ratingNHTSA overall—
Fuel economybest combined, EPA23 mpg
20272026202520242023202220202019201820172016

The 2016 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class is sold in the U.S. as a gas sports car 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.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
SL400GasRWD3.0L 6-cyl turbo202723$3,350
AMG SL63GasRWD5.5L 8-cyl turbo162519$4,100
SL550GasRWD4.7L 8-cyl turbo162419$4,100
AMG SL65GasRWD6.0L 12-cyl turbo142117$4,550

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

Factory warranty running out?

The 2016 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (1)

Source: NHTSA recall database
●moderate

Communication

2019120008
24,226 vehicles
ProblemMercedes-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.pdfRiskAn inaccurate vehicle location may delay emergency responders, increasing the risk of injury.FixMBUSA 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.
NHTSA campaign 19V787000reported Nov 1, 2019Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC.

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 substa

Opened Sep 17, 2021 · action EA21002

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
1complaints filed

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

Filed per year: 2021: 1

Most-cited components

Tires1

What owners describe

“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 servi…”Jul 9, 2021 · Tires · NHTSA owner report

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.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

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

Other SL-Class model years

A

2027 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

0 recalls · 0 complaints

A

2026 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

1 recalls · 0 complaints

A

2025 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

1 recalls · 0 complaints

C

2024 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

2 recalls · 0 complaints

F

2023 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

5 recalls · 1 complaints

D

2022 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

4 recalls · 8 complaints

C

2020 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

3 recalls · 2 complaints

C

2019 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

4 recalls · 0 complaints

B

2018 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

2 recalls · 2 complaints

A

2017 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

1 recalls · 4 complaints

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). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

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

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