The incident I am reporting is almost identical to the complaint I read on your web page. I was enroute to the Mercedes dealer ship to purchase a switch for my electric windows. I had noticed enroute that the vehicle seemed to not be shifting. I looked down to see if I had someway manually shifted down. I had not and when I attempted to accelerate it seemed I was in second gear. I was approx…
2007 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class powertrain problems
moderate 3 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Complaints
3
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
When does it fail?
Of the 3 powertrain complaints filed for the 2007 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 14 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Tl*the contact owns a 2007 Mercedes benz sl550. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle completely shut off without warning. Two minutes later, the vehicle restarted and was taken to the dealer. The dealer stated that the transmission needed to be replaced. The contact no longer wanted the vehicle because it only had 80 miles and the dealer provided him with a new one. The powertrain…
When the transmission was not functioning correctly, at least one of these events would occur: a) the vehicle would not downshift, it would remain stuck in high gear. B) the car would not shift into idle at stop, then it would stall. C) when the transmission would not up-shift, the car would be stuck in "limp home " mode (second gear?). D) peddles would not be functional. The proper operation…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2007 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2007 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 3 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Based on the 3 complaints filed, powertrain issues most often appear around 33,000 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2007/Mercedes-Benz/SL-Class.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.