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2009 MERCEDES BENZ SL550 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

fire · 2151270 · 2025-11-23

Vehicle

Make
MERCEDES BENZ
Model
SL550
Year
2009
Manufacturer
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Severity

Deaths
0
Injured
0
Fire
Yes
Crash
No
Police report
No
Medical attention
No
Vehicle towed
No

Narrative

I'm reporting a SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE affecting all Mercedes-Benz R230 series SL roadsters, model years 2003–2012, of which approximately 85,000 were sold in the United States: • There are numerous reports on R230 SL owners' online forums that an electrical device located in the trunk of these vehicles known as the BCM [Battery Control Module] is prone to CATASTROPHIC FAILURE and melt-down. • The failed BCM can subsequently CATCH FIRE – potentially destroying the vehicle and endangering lives and property nearby. See photos attached from one SL owner's experience. • MBUSA, its dealers, many SL owners, independent service centers and salvage yards are aware of this problem: multiple reports detailing it can easily be found on the Internet. Possible modifications to alleviate the danger have been affected by some SL owners, one picture of which has been uploaded here. • Mercedes-Benz is surely aware of the issue but has not recalled nor issued TSBs associated with this serious problem, nor has MBUSA acknowledged that vehicles modifications to alleviate the risk of failure and subsequent fires have been developed by owners and mechanics. • No symptoms are known to appear prior to melt-down, other than odors and/or smoke emanating from the SL's trunk. By then, it is TOO LATE. I respectfully request NHTSA open an investigation into this issue and require Mercedes-Benz address it by affecting modification or replacements of the faulty BCM system components in R230

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI Flat-File Downloads
ODI Number
11701077
Machine
JSON-LD · Markdown