Model year 2018 · Two Seaters

2018 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class: recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings

EPA rates the 2018 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class at 16–23 mpg combined across 4 versions. NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls and 2 owner complaints for this model year.

Safety recalls

2

EPA combined mpg

16–23

NHTSA overall rating

—

Recall file dated Oct 27, 2026 · EPA file dated Sep 29, 2026 · updated Oct 27, 2026, 7:34 AM EDT

NHTSA lists this vehicle as AMG SL63, AMG SL65, SL 450, SL 550.

Check your own car: enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls for that exact vehicle, and contact a Mercedes-Benz dealer to schedule the repair — safety recall repairs are free. The list below covers the whole model year, so not every recall applies to every car.

2018 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class recalls

NHTSA's recall file lists 2 safety recalls for the 2018 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, newest first.

Electrical system: Software and 1 more component

NHTSA 21V058000 Reported Feb 5, 2021
Filed by
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (manufacturer recall no. 2021020025)
Components
Electrical system: Software; Communication: Auto crash notification
Units affected
1,292,258 (estimate)
Problem
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 - 2021 CLA-Class, GLA-Class, GLE-Class, GLS-Class, SLC-Class, A-Class, GT-Class, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, CLS-Class, SL-Class, B-Class, GLB-Class, GLC-Class, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to the Part 573 report for specific vehicle model details. The software design of the communication module may fail to communicate the correct vehicle location for the emergency call system (eCall) in the event of a crash.
Risk
Failure of the eCall system may result in emergency responders being dispatched to the wrong location, increasing the risk of injury following a crash.
Remedy
MBUSA will notify owners, and the communication module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. The recall began March 12, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021020025.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Air bags: Frontal: Passenger side: Inflator module

NHTSA 19V571000 Reported Aug 2, 2019
Filed by
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (manufacturer recall no. 2019100016)
Units affected
457 (estimate)
Problem
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2018 SL65 AMG, 2019 SL63 AMG and 2018-2019 SL450 and SL550 vehicles. The front passenger air bag may have been improperly sewn, allowing the seam to tear during deployment.
Risk
A tear in the air bag may decrease performance and increase the risk of injury.
Remedy
MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag, free of charge. The recall began December 13, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2019100016.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Recall summaries are written by NHTSA from manufacturers' defect reports. Dates are when NHTSA received the report.

2018 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class fuel economy by version

EPA city/highway/combined estimates for each engine, transmission and drive combination. Annual fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year (55% city, 45% highway) at EPA's current fuel-price assumptions; your cost will vary.

2018 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class EPA fuel economy
VersionEngineTransmissionDriveFuelCity/Hwy/CombFuel cost/yrCO2 g/mi
AMG SL635.5L 8-cyl turboAutomatic 7-spdRear-Wheel DrivePremium16/25/19 mpg$4,350468
AMG SL656.0L 12-cyl turboAutomatic 7-spdRear-Wheel DrivePremium13/22/16 mpg$5,150546
SL4503.0L 6-cyl turboAutomatic 9-spdRear-Wheel DrivePremium20/28/23 mpg$3,550383
SL5504.7L 8-cyl turboAutomatic 9-spdRear-Wheel DrivePremium17/25/20 mpg$4,100442

Source: FuelEconomy.gov (U.S. DOE and EPA), file dated Sep 29, 2026. Each version links to its FuelEconomy.gov record.

EPA estimates come from standardized lab tests so cars can be compared fairly; real-world mileage depends on speed, weather, load, tires and driving style.

2018 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class crash-test ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the tested versions. More stars mean a lower chance of serious injury in that type of crash. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

2018 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
Tested vehicleOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover riskForward collision warning
2018 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class C RWDNot ratedNot ratedNot ratedNot rated—Optional

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program), checked Oct 26, 2026.

Star ratings compare vehicles of similar size and weight; a frontal rating for a large pickup is not directly comparable with one for a small car.

2018 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class owner complaints

Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, most recently on Feb 20, 2025. 0 mention a crash, 0 a fire, 0 injured people and 0 deaths. These are unverified reports; a complaint is not proof of a defect.

Most-cited components in 2018 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class complaints
Component named in complaintsMentions
Power train1
Unknown or other1
Vehicle speed control1

Source: NHTSA consumer complaint files (complaints received since January 1, 2015). One complaint can name several components.

Had a safety problem with your vehicle? You can report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem.

Other Mercedes-Benz SL-Class model years

Mercedes-Benz SL-Class by model year
YearCombinedRecallsComplaintsOverall rating
2027 SL-Class16–23 mpg———
2026 SL-Class16–22 mpg10—
2025 SL-Class16–22 mpg10—
2024 SL-Class16–22 mpg30—
2023 SL-Class16–23 mpg51—
2022 SL-Class16 mpg49—
2020 SL-Class20–22 mpg32—
2019 SL-Class18–23 mpg40—
2017 SL-Class16–23 mpg24—
2016 SL-Class17–23 mpg11—
2015 SL-Class17–23 mpg34—

All Mercedes-Benz SL-Class years compared · Decode a VIN

Other 2018 Mercedes-Benz models

2018 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT2018 Mercedes-Benz C-Class2018 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class2018 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class2018 Mercedes-Benz E-Class2018 Mercedes-Benz G-Class2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class2018 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class2018 Mercedes-Benz Metris Cargo2018 Mercedes-Benz Metris Passenger2018 Mercedes-Benz S-Class2018 Mercedes-Benz SLC-Class

Sources

  • Recalls: NHTSA recall flat file (FLAT_RCL_POST_2010), dated Oct 27, 2026, plus a live check of api.nhtsa.gov in your browser.
  • Complaints: NHTSA consumer complaint flat files (COMPLAINTS_RECEIVED), counts only — we do not republish complaint text.
  • Crash tests: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings API.
  • Fuel economy: FuelEconomy.gov vehicles file (U.S. DOE and EPA), dated Sep 29, 2026.
  • NHTSA, EPA and DOE do not endorse OpenVIN. Vehicle names identify vehicles only; OpenVIN is not affiliated with Mercedes-Benz.